Ossian’s Hall of Mirrors at the Hermitage in Dunkeld, Scotland. Like Macpherson’s Ossian poems themselves, the hall and the nearby cave of Ossian are Georgian follies, gradually improved over the late 18th century to honour the legendary Irish bard Ossian. See The Hermitage (National Trust).
Introduction
James Macpherson published two poems, ‘Fingal’ in 1762 and ‘Temora’ a year later, which he said were translations of Irish oral tradition. He attributed them to Ossian, the legendary 3rd century Irish bard, who told of the ‘endless battles and unhappy loves’ of his father Fingal and son Oscar. Dr Johnson was, like most modern scholars, unconvinced.
AT this time the controversy concerning the pieces published by Mr James Macpherson, as translations of Ossian, was at its height.* Johnson had all along denied their authenticity; and, what was still more provoking to their admirers, maintained that they had no merit.
The subject having been introduced by Dr Fordyce, Dr Blair, relying on the internal evidence of their antiquity, asked Dr Johnson whether he thought any man of a modern age could have written such poems?* Johnson replied, ‘Yes, Sir, many men, many women, and many children.’
Johnson, at this time, did not know that Dr Blair had just published a Dissertation, not only defending their authenticity, but seriously ranking them with the poems of Homer and Virgil; and when he was afterwards informed of this circumstance, he expressed some displeasure at Dr Fordyce’s having suggested the topic, and said, ‘I am not sorry that they got thus much for their pains. Sir, it was like leading one to talk of a book when the author is concealed behind the door.’
From ‘Life of Johnson’ Vol. 1 by James Boswell (1740-1795).
See ‘Fragments Of Ancient Poetry’, by James MacPherson.
Hugh Blair (1718-1800) was minister in charge at the High Church of St Giles in Edinburgh, the highest post in the presbyterian Church of Scotland, and considered one of the finest critics of his day. James Fordyce (1720-1796) was also a Scottish Presbyterian minister, and a poet. His brother Sir William Fordyce (1724–1792) was a physician with a research interest in rhubarb cultivation for medicinal purposes.
Questions for Critics
1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate his ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.
Précis
James Fordyce asked Samuel Johnson what he thought of James Macpherson’s ‘Ossian’ poems. Johnson, who did not know that another member of their company was on record as a loyal fan, dismissed the poems roundly, just as Fordyce knew he would. When Johnson found out, he was inclined to resent being led deliberately into hurting the feelings of a friend. (60 / 60 words)
James Fordyce asked Samuel Johnson what he thought of James Macpherson’s ‘Ossian’ poems. Johnson, who did not know that another member of their company was on record as a loyal fan, dismissed the poems roundly, just as Fordyce knew he would. When Johnson found out, he was inclined to resent being led deliberately into hurting the feelings of a friend.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: besides, despite, if, may, must, or, otherwise, whether.
Archive
Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 No. Only. Piece.
2 All. Modern. Not.
3 Express. Its. Talk.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
x
0
Add
Your Words ()
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