Makar

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A makar in Scottish literature is a poet or bard, often attached to the royal court, usually writing in Scots. The Scots word makar (English: maker) refers to the craft of "making" poems, and is a calque of the Greek ποιητής (poiētēs) "maker, poet". See also for comparison scop.

In general use the Scots Makars refers to a Middle Scots literary genre of the late Middle Ages. In England the Makars are often referred to as the Scottish Chaucerians.

In specific use in modern Scotland, The Scots Makar (abbreviation: The Makar) is the Scottish national poet, appointed by the Scottish Parliament, equivalent of the English Poet Laureate. In 2004 Edwin Morgan was named the first official national poet: The Scots Makar.

William Dunbar, an earlier Makar, wrote the Lament for the Makaris.

[edit] See also

• Makars' Court, Writers' Museum, Edinburgh
• Ollamh rígh

There is a Makar for the City of Edinburgh known as the Edinburgh Makar. The current incumbent (2007) is Valerie Gillies.

Makar is also the name of a fictional character in the video game "The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker", see The Wind Waker characters.

The most famous of the Medieval Scottish Makars are Robert Henryson, William Dunbar and Douglas.

[edit] External links

• Press release - The Scots Makar - Scottish Executive