The thesis, 'Cianalas Redefined', examines a selection of modern Gaelic literature by writers from the island of Lewis. The texts include: the poetry of Derick Thomson and Iain Crichton Smith, Iain Crichton Smith's short stories and novellas, and novellas by Norman Malcolm MacDonald and Alasdair Campbell. The thesis explores how the common and traditional theme of exile has come to be manifest in modern Gaelic literature in a form similar to European Existential literature. In illustrating the connection between exile and Existential literature, it is hoped that a new form of the Gaelic term 'cianalas' (homesickness/nostalgia) may be understood. In order to redefine cianalas, the following are some of the topics considered in relation to the chosen texts: intrinsic love of island home and culture; conventional physical exile; the 'split' between primary and secondary environments; crisis of personal identity; clarification of different types of exile present in the literature, including metaphysical and temporal exile; whether this literature fulfils the prerequisites of Existential literature, as described elsewhere; Existential concepts of 'authentic' and 'inauthentic existence' and 'bad faith'; the 'outsider' living in a close-knit community; cultural stereotypes; the 'Gaelic psyche' and 'unconscious'.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Glasgow, 1994. / Ph.D. thesis submitted to the Department of Celtic, Faculty of Arts, University of Glasgow, 1994. Includes bibliographical references. Print version also available.