What is it about?
This chapter assesses the importance of Homer and Homeric scholarship in the Scottish Enlightenment. It follows two main themes. Firstly it examines the impact of the Aberdonian Professor Thomas Blackwell's work on Homer. Secondly it examines the poems of Ossian, a supposed third century bard with similarities to Homer, which were uncovered by James Macpherson, whom Blackwell taught.
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Why is it important?
The Scottish Enlightenment can often be thought of as something primarily forward looking. However, this chapter investigates the importance of the classical world in 18th century Scotland. Where the impact of the classical world on Scotland has been identified previously it has tended to focus on the Latinate impact rather than the Grecian.
Perspectives
Writing this chapter has opened up the opportunity to demonstrate the importance of Thomas Blackwell to the development of literary criticism in Scotland. While the significance of Scottish contributions to English Literature have been long established they have previously focused on a period beginning in the 1750s, whereas Blackwell was writing in the 1730s.
Ralph McLean
National Library of Scotland
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This page is a summary of: Homer in the Scottish Enlightenment, November 2025, De Gruyter,
DOI: 10.1163/9789004750791_014.
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