Editing History of Scotland (section)

===Literature===
{{Main|Literature of Scotland}}
[[File:Robert burns.jpg|thumb|right|[[Robert Burns]] (1759–1796) exalted as Scotland's national poet.]]
Although Scotland increasingly adopted the English language and wider cultural norms, its literature developed a distinct national identity and began to enjoy an international reputation. [[Allan Ramsay (poet)|Allan Ramsay]] (1686–1758) laid the foundations of a reawakening of interest in older Scottish literature, as well as leading the trend for pastoral poetry, helping to develop the [[Habbie stanza]] as a [[poetic form]].<ref>Buchan, ''Crowded with Genius'', p. 311.</ref> [[James Macpherson]] was the first Scottish poet to gain an international reputation, claiming to have found poetry written by [[Ossian]], he published translations that acquired international popularity, being proclaimed as a Celtic equivalent of the [[Classical antiquity|Classical]] [[Epic poetry|epics]]. ''Fingal'' written in 1762 was speedily translated into many European languages, and its deep appreciation of natural beauty and the melancholy tenderness of its treatment of the ancient legend did more than any single work to bring about the [[Romantic movement]] in European, and especially in German, literature, influencing [[Johann Gottfried von Herder|Herder]] and [[Goethe]].<ref>Buchan, ''Crowded with Genius'', p. 163.</ref> Eventually it became clear that the poems were not direct translations from the Gaelic, but flowery adaptations made to suit the aesthetic expectations of his audience.<ref>{{Citation |last=D. Thomson |title=The Gaelic Sources of Macpherson's "Ossian" |year=1952 |place=Aberdeen |publisher=Oliver & Boyd}}</ref> Both the major literary figures of the following century, [[Robert Burns]] and Walter Scott, would be highly influenced by the Ossian cycle. Burns, an Ayrshire poet and lyricist, is widely regarded as the [[national poet]] of Scotland and a major figure in the Romantic movement. As well as making original compositions, Burns also collected [[folk songs]] from across Scotland, often revising or [[Literary adaptation|adapting]] them. His poem (and song) "[[Auld Lang Syne]]" is often sung at [[Hogmanay]] (the last day of the year), and "[[Scots Wha Hae]]" served for a long time as an unofficial [[national anthem]] of the country.<ref>{{Citation |last=L. McIlvanney |title=Hugh Blair, Robert Burns, and the Invention of Scottish Literature |date=Spring 2005 |journal=Eighteenth-Century Life |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=25–46 |doi=10.1215/00982601-29-2-25 |s2cid=144358210}}</ref>