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Nation and Word, 1770-1850
Religious and Metaphysical Language in European National Consciousness
Introduction
The emergence of the modern nation state in Europe and the accompanying rise in national consciousness led to a heightened awareness of the close relationship between language and national identity.
The Language of Nationhood
In this book the author shows that this relationship was expressed through the themes and figures of a ’language of nationhood, drawn from a common European cultural heritage, particularly the Classical and Christian traditions.
Shared Roots and Diversity
Despite its common roots, this language became the medium through which the diversity of national characters was expressed.
Religious and Cultural Symbols
The idea of the divine Word, for example, enabled the sacredness and power of national language to be celebrated.
Poets, Prophets, and National Identity
The identification of poet and prophet gave Romantic nationalists an authority to speak for and to the nation, and the theme of the Chosen People was often adopted to express the elect status of a writer’s own nation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, it is shown that this language of nationhood remains a powerful force at the end of the twentieth century.
