Transcript Slide 1

Robert Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was born on
25 January 1759 in the
village of Alloway, about
two miles from Ayr.
Burns’ Birthplace
• The cottage at Alloway
which Burns was born in
survives to this day.
• He spent his first
seven years here,
before moving to nearby
Mount Oliphant farm.
• Here Burns attended a local
school set up by his father and
four neighbours.
Family Background
• Burns’ mother, although she could not read, was a lively and
intelligent woman who knew many traditional poems and tales.
• The old songs meant a great deal to her. She possessed a fine
musical ear and loved singing.
• There can be little doubt that Robert got his interest in Scots
folksong from her.
The Lasses O’
• In 1773 aged 14 and inspired by Nelly Kirkpatrick who was his
companion at harvest, Burns wrote his first song ‘Handsome
Nell’.
• He later recalled the incident stating: ‘I never had the least
thought or inclination of turning poet till I once got heartily in
love, and then rhyme and song were … the spontaneous
language of my heart.’
Burns: the Farmer
• From childhood, Burns worked on farms. This combination of
very hard work in a harsh climate with a poor diet did much to
contribute to the ill-health that plagued him all his life.
• ‘At the age of 13 Robert assisted in threshing the corn crop,
and at 15 was the principal labourer for the farm … I doubt not
but the hard labour of the period of his life was in great
measure the cause of the depression of spirits with which
Robert was so often afflicted through his whole life afterwards.’
from Gilbert Burns (younger brother of Robert)
From Ploughman to Poet
• Burns was having farming and personal difficulties. The farm
was not profitable and Jean Armour was pregnant. Although
Burns was willing to marry her, her father was opposed to this.
• Burns planned to sail to Jamaica, but events took an
unexpected turn. He had been advised by his friend to finance
his voyage by publishing some of his poems.
• Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, printed in Kilmarnock in
July 1786, cost three shillings and sold out within a month.
Needless to say his plans to emigrate were put on hold!
‘To a Mouse on Turning Her
up With the Plough,
November 1785’
‘To a Mouse’
Wee, sleekit, cowrin', tim'rous beastie
O, what a panic's in thy breastie!
Thou need na start awa sae hasty,
Wi' bickering brattle!
I wad be laith to rin an' chase thee
Wi' murd'ring pattle!
‘To a Mouse’
I'm truly sorry man's dominion
Has broken Nature's social union,
An' justifies that ill opinion
Which makes thee startle
At me, thy poor, earth-born companion,
An' fellow-mortal!
‘To a Mouse’
I doubt na, whyles, but thou may thieve;
What then? poor beastie, thou maun live!
A daimen icker in a thrave
'S a sma' request;
I'll get a blessin' wi' the lave,
And never miss't!
‘To a Mouse’
Thy wee-bit housie, too, in ruin!
It’s silly wa's the win's are strewin!
An' naething, now, to big a new ane
O' foggage green!
An' bleak December's wins ensuin,
Baith snell an' keen!
‘To a Mouse’
Thou saw the fields laid bare an’ waste,
An' weary winter comin fast,
An' cozie here, beneath the blast,
Thou thought to dwell,
Till crash! the cruel coulter past
Out thro' thy cell.
‘To a Mouse’
That wee bit heap o' leaves an' stibble,
Has cost thee monie a weary nibble!
Now thou's turned out, for a' thy trouble,
But house or hald,
To thole the winter's sleety dribble,
An' cranreuch cauld!
‘To a Mouse’
But Mousie, thou art no thy lane,
In proving foresight may be vain:
The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men
Gang aft agley,
An' lea'e us nought but grief an' pain
For promis'd joy.
‘To a Mouse’
Still thou art blest, compared wi' me!
The present only toucheth thee:
But och! I backward cast my e'e
On prospects drear!
An' forward tho' I canna see,
I guess an' fear!
‘A Man’s a Man for a’ That’
• Burns was a great believer in common humanity.
• He believed that honesty and dignity were priceless virtues and
that a man should be judged on his character, and not by rank,
wealth or birth.
‘A Man’s a Man for a’ That’
Is there for honest poverty
That hings his head, an’ a’ that?
The coward slave, we pass him by,
We dare be poor for a’ that!
For a’ that, an’ a’ that,
Our toils obscure, an’ a’ that,
The rank is but the guinea’s stamp,
The man’s the gowd for a’ that.
‘A Red, Red Rose’
A Poem and a Song
O, my luve’s like a red, red rose,
That’s newly sprung in June;
O’, my luve’s like the melodie,
That’s sweetly play’d in tune.
As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in luve am I,
And I will luve thee still, my Dear,
Till a’ the seas gang dry.
‘A Red, Red Rose’
Till a’ the seas gang dry, my Dear,
And the rocks melt wi’ the sun!
O I will luve thee still, my Dear,
While the sands o’ life shall run.
And fare thee weel, my only Luve,
And fare thee weel a while!
And I will come again, my Luve,
Tho’ it were ten thousand mile!
Burns in Edinburgh
• Burns first came to Edinburgh in 1786, following the success of
the ‘Kilmarnock’ edition of his poems. He stayed at Baxter’s
Close in the Lawnmarket.
• One of the people he met in Edinburgh was Agnes McLehose,
with whom he established a platonic relationship.
• Agnes McLehose and Burns would sign their letters to each
other as Clarinda and Sylvander. After their final meeting Burns
composed ‘Ae Fond Kiss’.
Burns and Song
• Burns' songs express every emotion and include passionate
love lyrics, rousing drinking songs and songs of freedom.
• His sympathies and affections range from humanity and nature
to his own Scotland, and he celebrated heroes like William
Wallace and Robert the Bruce.
‘Scots, Wha Hae’
Scots, wha hae wi’ Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led,
Welcome to your gory bed
Or to victorie!
Now's the day, and now's the hour:
See the front o' battle lour,
See approach proud Edward's power
Chains and slaverie!
‘Scots, Wha Hae’
Wha will be a traitor knave?
Wha can fill a coward's grave?
Wha sae base as be a slave?
Let him turn, and flee!
Wha for Scotland's King and Law
Freedom's sword will strongly draw,
Freeman stand or Freeman fa',
Let him follow me!
‘Scots, Wha Hae’
By Oppression's woes and pains,
By your sons in servile chains,
We will drain your dearest veins,
But they shall be free!
Lay the proud usurpers low!
Tyrants fall in every foe!
Liberty's in every blow!
Let us do, or die!
The Death of Caledonia’s Bard
• Burns spent the final years of his life
in Dumfriesshire.
• In 1789 he began to work
for the Excise as a
tax-collector.
• His health was failing,
and the years of hard
labour working on a series
of unproductive farms were
taking their toll.
Premature Death
• Burns’ doctor advised
him to bathe in the sea
waters, believing this
would help him. Instead
it effectively killed him.
• Burns died at the age
of 37, on 21 July 1796.
• On the day of his funeral
his wife gave birth to
their youngest son, Maxwell.
• Large crowds lined the streets
of Dumfries to pay their respects.