Scottish romanticism and its impact on early Canadian literature

Woolner, Victoria Evelyn (2014) Scottish romanticism and its impact on early Canadian literature. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This research considers the impact of Scottish romanticism on the construction of literary identity in the Canadas prior to Confederation (1867). I argue that early Scottish dominance in literary Canada, and similarities faced by both countries in defining a sense of self—including participation in a wider empire (or Union), populations divided by language and religion, and the need for a distinct identity in the face of a dominant neighbour to the south—all contributed to a tendency on the part of Canadians to look to Scotland as a model. Through an examination of early Canadian literature and on-going British constructions of the colony, the thesis considers the manner in which Scottish romantic strategies of literary nationalism are deployed and manipulated in the process of articulating a Canadian identity. Particular attention is paid to the works of John Galt and Major John Richardson, while tropes examined include the construction of landscape and settlement narratives, stadial histories, the historical novel, national tale and the depiction of a national history, and the manipulation of a romanticised Scottish military past in constructing Canadian history.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: The electronic version of this thesis has been edited and some or all third party copyright material removed.
• Keywords: Romanticism, Scottish literature, Canadian literature, national identity
• Subjects: P Language and Literature > PR English literature
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > English Literature
• Supervisor's Name: Pittock, Professor Murray G. H.
• Date of Award: 2014
• Depositing User: Ms Victoria Woolner
• Unique ID: glathesis:2014-5071
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 01 Apr 2014 15:13
• Last Modified: 30 Oct 2024 09:57
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.5071
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/5071