Scottish poet and novelist. Scott is a source for some of Ruskin's earliest imitations of imaginative writing.
In
January 1834, when
Ruskin's father wrote in reply to
James Hogg (ca. 1770–1835),
who had asked for an account of
Ruskin's progress in using his wonderful abilities,
John James included a sample of
John's rhymes, possibly taken from
Account of a Tour on the Continent, which Ruskin was composing at that time.
Hogg's critique of the lines, which is known only from
Ruskin's reply to
Hogg, dwelled on the boy's imitation of
Scott and
Byron,
presumably intending to encourage greater originality.
Ruskin's comment identifies the boy's touchstone in
Scott's poetry:
"If I could write one piece of poetry in my lifetime at all resembling the description of the battle of Flodden field,
I think toward the conclusion of Marmion, it would be enough honour for me"
(
Garden, ed., Memorials of James Hogg, 277).
Striking poetic diction in
Ruskin's verse often can be traced to
Scott's novels and poetry; see, e.g.,
, line 12;