"Rude Bard of the North": James Macpherson and the Folklore of Democracy

This article examines the influence of James Macpherson's Ossianic verse on American cultural critics and writers. Remarks on the textual history of Macpherson's work in America--in Scottish, English, and domestic editions--are followed by an exploration of Macpherson's impact on Amer...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:	The Journal of American folklore 2001-10, Vol.114 (454), p.464-477
Main Author:	Bold, Valentina
Format:	Article
Language:	eng
Subjects:	Bards Civilization Cognitive problems, arts and sciences, folk traditions, folklore Cultural factors Cultural identity Democracy Ethnology Folklore Generalities Governors Influence Libraries Literary criticism Macpherson, James, 1736-1796 Macpherson, James,. Ossian National identity Neoclassical poetry Oral/folk literature Poetry Poets Politics Scottish influences United States United States history War
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Summary:	This article examines the influence of James Macpherson's Ossianic verse on American cultural critics and writers. Remarks on the textual history of Macpherson's work in America--in Scottish, English, and domestic editions--are followed by an exploration of Macpherson's impact on American culture, including his period as Secretary to the Governor of British West Florida. By looking at a selection of poetic and political responses to Macpherson's Ossian, I suggest that the image of the Celt in America is founded in Macpherson's vision. Furthermore, I propose that Macpherson's folklore of an idealized, democratic Scotland had an indirect influence on the emergence of an American national identity.
ISSN:	0021-8715 1535-1882 1535-1882