Ossianism

9.9

A style of writing that copies old heroic stories and makes new works sound ancient

noun
/ˈɑːsiənˌɪzəm/

Archaic

: ossianismo

During the nineteenth century, Ossianism influenced many writers seeking to evoke a mythical past.

Examples

Many writers during the 18th century embraced Ossianism in their poetry, imitating epic themes from ancient myths.
The critics debated whether the novel's embrace of Ossianism was authentic or merely a literary affectation.
The poet's fascination with Ossianism is evident in his numerous ancient-sounding ballads.
The poet's work reflects a deep sense of Ossianism.
Many writers during the 18th century embraced Ossianism in their poetry.
The critics debated whether the novel's embrace of Ossianism successfully captured the essence of ancient epic literature.
The poet's fascination with Ossianism is shown in his latest collection of ballads that echo legendary themes.

Surface Forms

Ossianism singular

Ossianisms plural

Morphology

Ossianism = Ossian (semi-transparent) = Ossian + ism

Formed regularly from the proper name 'Ossian' + the productive suffix '-ism', but the full literary meaning requires knowledge of the proper name and historical context.

Etymology

Ossianism comes from Ossian, the name a writer in the 1700s used for poems he said were old Gaelic songs by a legendary poet, and those poems sounded grand and 'ancient'. So, Ossianism means a literary style that copies those epic, 'ancient' sounds or treats new work as if it were old.