The literature of the Highlanders : $b a history of Gaelic literature from the earliest times to the present dayMacNeill, Nigel
History
The literature of the Highlanders : $b a history of Gaelic literature from the earliest times to the present day
MacNeill, Nigel
Scottish Gaelic literature -- History and criticism
IV. The Protestant and Jacobite Period extends from the middle of the
sixteenth century to the year 1745, when Jacobitism on Culloden Moor
received its death-blow. The nominal first, afterwards the actual,
acceptance of the Reformation doctrines by the Scottish Celts in the
sixteenth century has very vitally affected their literature, as well
as completely changed their relations with the Irish Celts.
V. The Anglo-Gaelic Period begins in 1745. The influence of the
English language and English thought has been extending in the
Highlands since then; while through the general intermingling of
races, and a better mutual understanding, the prejudices of Celt and
Saxon respectively have been everywhere dying away, especially among
the classes by whom the force of the democratic tendencies of our age
has been felt and acknowledged.
The dates assigned to the above periods are only approximately
accurate, but they may serve to shadow forth some of the chief
influences which have been at work in the history of Celtic Scotland,
and of which we have traces in the literary annals of the Gael.
Perhaps the surprising thing in connection with these meagre annals
is the fact that there are any literary remains at all, when it is
remembered how frequent and how violent have been the changes which
have occurred in the course of the history of Albin.
The Anglo-Gaelic era of Highland history commences, as has been
pointed out, with the decay of the Jacobite cause. The changes that
have taken place since 1745 have deeply affected the destiny and
character of the people. In some respects the contact with the fresh
forces brought into play was beneficial, in other respects it was a
moral loss; but it is to be hoped that on the whole there has been
considerable gain, and that not altogether material.
Under the social and educational changes that have been taking
place during the last century the Highlanders have shown wonderful
adaptableness in the course of the process they have been undergoing.
The revival of a more earnest spirit of Christianity in many
districts has completely altered the social habits of the people,
while the influence of educational agencies has reached the most
secluded glen and remote headland.
The English language is everywhere taught, the people, knowing its
use in the sphere of secular success, preferring to have their
children educated in a purely English rather than in a Gaelic school.
The present rising generation all understand and talk a little Saxon
of some sort, but Gaelic will be the language of the mass of the
population for some generations yet. English thought and culture also
reach the people through the hundreds of University-bred ministers
who preach Gaelic in Highland pulpits.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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