Makar
A makar (
Since the 19th century, the term The Makars has been specifically used to refer to a number of poets of fifteenth and sixteenth century Scotland, in particular Robert Henryson, William Dunbar and Gavin Douglas, who wrote a diverse genre of works in Middle Scots in the period of the Northern Renaissance.
The Makars have often been referred to by literary critics as Scots Chaucerians. In modern usage, poets of the Scots revival in the 18th century, such as Allan Ramsay and Robert Fergusson are also makars.
Since 2002, the term "makar" has been revived as the name for a publicly funded poet, first in Edinburgh, followed by the cities of Glasgow, Stirling and Dundee. In 2004 the position of Makar or National Poet for Scotland, was authorized by the Scottish Parliament.
Etymology
Middle Scots makar (plural makaris) is the equivalent of Middle English maker. The word functions as a calque (literal translation) of Ancient Greek term ποιητής (poiētēs) "maker; poet". The term is normally applied to poets writing in Scots although it need not be exclusive to Scottish writers. William Dunbar for instance referred to the English poets Chaucer, Lydgate and Gower as makaris.[1]
The Makars in history
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The work of the Makar of the fifteenth and early sixteenth centuries was in part marked out by an adoption in
The first of the Makars proper in this sense, although perhaps the least Scots due to his education predominantly in captivity at the English court in
A high point in cultural patronage was the Renaissance Court of
Qualities in verse especially prized by many of these writers included the combination of skilful artifice with natural diction, concision and quickness (glegness) of expression. For example, Dunbar praises his peer, Merseir in The Lament (ll.74-5) as one
- That did in luf so lifly write, So schort, so quyk, of sentence hie...
- "That did in love so lively write, So short so quick, of sentence high..."
Some of the Makars, such as Dunbar, also featured an increasing incorporation of Latinate terms into Scots prosody, or aureation, heightening the creative tensions between the ornate and the natural in poetic diction.
The new plane of achievement set by Douglas in
The Makars have often been referred to by literary critics as Scots Chaucerians. While Chaucer's influence on fifteenth-century Scottish literature was certainly important, the makars drew strongly on a native tradition predating Chaucer, exemplified by Barbour, as well as the courtly literature of France.[4]
In the more general application of the term which is current today the word can be applied to poets of the Scots revival in the eighteenth century, such as Allan Ramsay and Robert Fergusson. In recent times, other examples of poets that have seemed to particularly exemplify the traditions of the makars have included Robert Garioch, Sydney Goodsir Smith, George Campbell Hay and Norman MacCaig among many others.[clarification needed]
Modern usage
The Scots Makar
A position of national laureate, entitled The Scots Makar, was established in 2004 by the Scottish Parliament. The first appointment was made directly by the Parliament in that year when Edwin Morgan received the honour to become Scotland's first ever official national poet.[5][6] He was succeeded in 2011 by Liz Lochhead.[7] Jackie Kay was announced as the third holder of this post in 2016.[8] Before Kay was appointed, it was suggested that the role might now only be referred to as the National Poet for Scotland, because of concerns that the word makar had to be explained outside of Scotland.[9] Kay states that she argued for retaining the Makar name, which is still used.[10][11] In August 2021 Kathleen Jamie was announced as the fourth holder of the post.[12]
The city Makars
In 2002 the City of Edinburgh, Scotland's capital, instituted a post of makar, known as the Edinburgh Makar.[13] Each term lasts for three years and the first three incumbents were Stewart Conn (2002), Valerie Gillies (2005), and Ron Butlin (2008, 2011). The current incumbent (as of 2021) is Hannah Lavery.[14] The previous Edinburgh makars were Alan Spence.[15] and Shetlandic dialect writer and advocate Christine De Luca.
Other cities to create Makar posts include
Other uses
- American poet John Berryman uses the word in The Dream Songs #43 and #94.
- Makar is the name of a fictional character in the video game The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, see The Wind Waker characters.
- Makar is a New York indie rock band formed in 2002 by singer/songwriters Mark Purnell and Andrea DeAngelis.[20]
- The Edinburgh Makars is an Amateur Drama Group founded in 1932 by Christine Orr, the well-known Scottish actress, broadcaster and playwright.[21]
See also
References
- ^ For example in The Lament Archived 2009-04-06 at the Wayback Machine (ll.50–1):
- The noble Chaucer of makaris flour,
- The Monk of Bery, and Gower, al thre.
- ^ "Scottish Literature: 1600 and All That". Archived from the original on 11 February 2012. Retrieved 18 October 2011.
- ^ [1] Written in the Language of the Scottis Nation, p.64 (online source)
- ^ Kinsley, James. William Dunbar: Poems Oxford clarendon Press, 1958. (Introduction, p.xiii)
- ^ "The Scots Makar" (Press release). Scottish Government. 16 February 2004. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
- ^ "ASLS: A National Poet for Scotland". Archived from the original on 26 September 2008.
- ^ "Liz Lochhead confirmed as new Scots Makar". BBC News. 19 January 2011. Retrieved 19 January 2011.
- ^ "Jackie Kay named as new Scottish makar". The Guardian. 15 March 2016. Retrieved 29 March 2016.
- ^ "Search for new national poet will dispense with 'lovely old Scots name' Makar". The Courier. 9 February 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- ^ "Jackie Kay". Saturday Live. 8 August 2020. BBC Radio 4. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- ^ "Scotland's new Makar". Scottish Government. 15 March 2016. Archived from the original on 15 March 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2020.
- ^ "Kathleen Jamie announced as Scotland's new Makar". BBC News. 18 August 2021.
- ^ "Meet the Makar". Edinburgh City of Literature.
- ^ "Award-winning poet and playwright is new Edinburgh Makar | Museums and Galleries of Edinburgh |". literaturealliancescotland.co.uk. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
- ^ "Alan Spence – new Edinburgh Makar | Literature Alliance Scotland | Caidreabhas Litreachais Alba". 28 November 2017.
- ^ "Word on Street: Top Scottish writer Liz Lochhead is unveiled as Poet Laureate".[dead link]
- ^ "Magi is Stirling's Makar". Archived from the original on 6 June 2011. Retrieved 16 August 2009.
- ^ "Makar Making". www.wordfringe.co.uk.
- ^ Cowing, Emma (15 September 2013). "Dundee appoints WN Herbert as first makar". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
- ^ "MAKAR". www.makarmusic.com.
- ^ "Edinburgh Makars History of the Club". www.edinburghmakars.com.
External links
- The full text of Lament for the Makaris, a poem by William Dunbar, at Wikisource
- Edwin Morgan
- Stewart Conn
- Valeris Gillies
- Ron Butlin
- The Edinburgh Makars
- Makar Allmusic