The heaven-taught ploughman and the Caledonian boar: a comparison of Robert Burns and James Hogg in relation to the concept of ‘natural genius’

Ferguson, Joanne (2022) The heaven-taught ploughman and the Caledonian boar: a comparison of Robert Burns and James Hogg in relation to the concept of ‘natural genius’. MPhil(R) thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

This thesis seeks to understand why Robert Burns was more successful in retaining the label of ‘natural genius’ than James Hogg, despite similarities in their writing, background and personalities. Chapter one establishes the definitions of the term ‘natural genius’, by referring to the work of a number of key Enlightenment figures including Thomas Blackwell, Alexander Gerard, James Beattie and David Hume. In chapter two the first notable poetry collections of Burns and Hogg are examined, illustrating how each could fairly claim the title of ‘natural genius’. The comparison of the early reviews of their work, by Henry Mackenzie and John Wilson respectively, given in chapter three illustrates that Hogg seems to have been less successful in retaining the label. Chapter four explores how their reputations as natural geniuses were damaged and subsequently defended by themselves and their allies. This thesis concludes that it was the varying extent of this defence, combined with changes in the meaning of the term ‘natural genius’ in the Romantic period, which caused this disparity between the receptions of Burns and Hogg.

• Item Type: Thesis (MPhil(R))
• Qualification Level: Masters
• Colleges/Schools: College of Arts & Humanities > School of Critical Studies > Scottish Literature
• Supervisor's Name: McCue, Prof. Kirsteen and Brown, Dr. Rhona
• Date of Award: 2022
• Depositing User: Theses Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:2022-83264
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 14 Nov 2022 16:31
• Last Modified: 14 Nov 2022 16:32
• Thesis DOI: 10.5525/gla.thesis.83264
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/83264