The thesis will consider the concept of national identity focusing primarily on the period between 1746 and Scott´s lifetime (he died in 1832); in addition to examining how the manifestations of Scottish identity during this period continue to resonate in mass media today. This period is especially important with regard to the Jacobite Rebellion and its implications after its defeat at Culloden. This lost battle not only ended the Stuart aspirations for the Scottish-English throne, it also marked the start of a brutal campaign against the Highland culture and Gaelic language with the aim of erasing it (cf. Oliver 2011: 320f.).
In retrospect, Scottish nationalism became de facto extinct in the decades that were to follow. In Scott’s early lifetime, people were therefore badly informed about their country’s history, the clan structure diminished and the Lowlands close to the English border were more attached to England than to their own fragmented country. Many Scots immigrated to the colonies across the Atlantic, and those who stayed were busy trying to survive, with little interest in the past or politics (cf. Oliver 2010: 355f.).
The following chapters will outline the development from this fragmented state of affairs towards the deep consciousness of nationality that permeates in Scotland today in addition to how Scott personally contributed to this transformation and how he continues to echo in today’s literature (> Diana Gabaldon´s "Outlander") and popular culture, notably within mass media (> the TV adaptation of the "Outlander"-series on starz) as well as the tourism industry.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 HYPOTHESIS
1.2 OUTLINE
2. NATION AND NATIONALISM IN THIS PAPER
2.1 NATION AND NATIONALISM IN SCOTLAND
2.2 SCOTT-LAND: STAGING SCOTTISH CULTURE?
3. REPRESENTING SCOTLAND IN WAVERLEY
3.1 SCOTT’S PALIMPSEST OF SPACE MIRRORING NARRATIVE
3.1.1 Antagonisms and Binary Oppositions
3.1.2 Threat of the Wilderness
3.1.3 War and Destruction
3.1.4 Restoration of Scotland with English help
3.2 TRAVELLING SCOTLAND
3.3 CULTURAL ELEMENTS
3.3.1 The Highland Costume
3.3.2 Scottish Food
3.3.3 Gaelic and Scottish English
4. SCOTT’S ECHO TODAY
4.1 DIANA GABALDON’S OUTLANDER
4.1.1 SPACE AND THE NARRATIVE
4.1.2 TRAVELLING SCOTLAND
4.1.3 CULTURAL ELEMENTS
4.2 EXCURSION INTO MASS-MEDIA: TV-ADAPTATION OF OUTLANDER AND ADVERTISEMENTS IN TOURISM
5. CONCLUSION
Objectives and Core Topics
This paper examines whether the contemporary national image of Scotland is rooted in 19th-century literature, specifically investigating how Sir Walter Scott’s novel Waverley established foundational tropes that were later reinforced by Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series. The research question explores the transition from a fragmented national identity to a modern cultural consciousness through the lens of literary representation and its subsequent commodification in tourism and mass media.
- The literary construction of Scottish national identity in Waverley.
- Comparative analysis of narrative motifs (space, travel, and culture) in Waverley and Outlander.
- The evolution of Scottish "Highlandism" and the role of the "romanticized" Highlander.
- The influence of literature on contemporary tourism and media representations of Scotland.
Book Excerpt
3.1.1 Antagonisms and Binary Oppositions
In Waverley, antagonisms can be spotted on various levels. First and foremost, there is the conflict between the Hanoverian monarchy and the Jacobite revolutionaries, which symbolizes the universal opposition of England and Scotland on a political level. Also, there are other binary oppositions of characters such as Rose Bradwardine (the Baron of Bradwardine’s daughter) and Flora Mac-Ivor (sister of a Highland chieftain), two women for whom Waverley has romantic feelings. The English soldiers and the Highland clansmen present another opposition; in addition to the siblings Flora and Fergus Mac-Ivor.
Some of these are vividly exemplified in the pass of peril scene in chapter 22. Edward Waverley stays at Glennaquoich, Fergus’ estate, and is led outside the castle by the chieftain’s sister Flora. She promised to translate an earlier recited battle song for him, but can only do so in the proper surrounding. She leads him outside the castle, under a dangerous bridge, towards a waterfall. In this scene, space not only functions as a vehicle into the Scottish Highland culture, but also mirrors a few binary oppositions of the narrative.
[…] In a spot, about a quarter of a mile from the castle, two brooks, which formed a little river, had their junction. […] These streams were also different in character .The larger was placid, and even sullen in its course, […] but the motions of the lesser brook were rapid and furious, issuing from between the precipices like a maniac from his confinement, all foam and uproar. (Scott 2015: 116)
Summary of Chapters
1. INTRODUCTION: This chapter introduces the core hypothesis that modern Scottish identity is derived from 19th-century literary tropes and outlines the methodological approach.
2. NATION AND NATIONALISM IN THIS PAPER: This section defines key theoretical concepts like "nation" and "nationalism" while analyzing the socio-political context of 18th and 19th-century Scotland.
3. REPRESENTING SCOTLAND IN WAVERLEY: This chapter investigates how Scott uses landscape, travel, and cultural elements to construct a romanticized, stable vision of Scottish history.
4. SCOTT’S ECHO TODAY: This section applies the criteria established in the previous chapter to Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander to demonstrate the continuity and evolution of Scott’s literary motifs.
5. CONCLUSION: The final chapter synthesizes the findings, confirming the lasting impact of Scott's work on both modern literature and the tourist-driven national image of Scotland.
Key Words
Scotland, Waverley, Outlander, Sir Walter Scott, Diana Gabaldon, National Identity, Nationalism, Highlandism, Literary Representation, Jacobite Rebellion, Cultural Tourism, Palimpsest, Binary Oppositions, Romanticism, Print-Capitalism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this academic paper?
The paper explores the literary origins of the contemporary national image of Scotland, arguing that Sir Walter Scott's 19th-century novels created a lasting cultural template that continues to resonate today.
What are the primary thematic fields covered in the text?
Key themes include national identity formation, the representation of the Scottish Highlands, the role of literature in shaping cultural history, and the intersection of fiction with tourism and media.
What is the central research question?
The research asks whether the modern vision of Scotland—often seen in tourism and popular media—is a direct descendant of the images constructed in Sir Walter Scott's Waverley novels.
Which scientific methods are employed?
The author uses a comparative literary analysis, applying a set of criteria derived from Scott’s Waverley to Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander, supported by theoretical frameworks regarding nationalism and space.
What topics are discussed in the main body of the work?
The main body examines narrative techniques such as the "palimpsest of space," the use of binary oppositions, the motif of travel, and specific cultural elements like the Highland costume, food, and language.
How would you describe the key terms of this study?
The study is characterized by concepts like "Scottishness," "Highlandism," "romanticism," and the distinction between political facts and literary fiction.
How does the author distinguish between Scott’s and Gabaldon’s approach to landscape?
While Scott utilizes landscape as a primary narrative vehicle and mirror for plot dynamics, Gabaldon focuses more on personal relationships and supernatural legends, though she still utilizes the "threatening wilderness" motif.
What role does the "English intruder" play in the analyzed novels?
In both novels, the English protagonist serves as a vehicle for the reader to navigate and understand Scottish culture, often acting as a stabilizing force that contributes to the "restoration" of Scottish order.
- Citation du texte
- B.A. Marlene Weber (Auteur), 2016, Building Scotland in Literature. Sir Walter Scott and Diana Gabaldon. Scottish Nation and Nationalism, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/379460
