Burns is considered one of the most influential writers in the eighteenth century. Burns is regarded as a pre-Romantic poet, which can be seen through his writing that elaborated on his sensitivity through nature, religious practice, and traditional culture during his time. Coming from a humble background made him the voice of the common Scottish man. Robert Burns was born in Scotland during a tempestuous time. There were several transitions that impacted the way of life of the Scottish. One of them was the Scottish language and culture being impacted by the English language and poetry.
How important was it to keep their Scottish identity is unknown. He also tended to elaborate on the distinct social classes throughout his poems, which were evident (the changes from agricultural to Industrial). Burns’ poetry was written in his native Scottish language and English. Although his writing appears to be simpleminded, it was very pragmatic and had more to offer to the reader. He was a good casual observer, and would write with strong feeling and empathy, which are reflected in “Too Louse” and “Tam O’ Chanter” poems.
Sympathy is defined as the harmony of, or agreement in feeling, as between persons, or on the art of one person with respect to another. Robert happened to convey Just that in his poem “To a Louse. ” The poem is written in a six-line BAOBAB rhyme scheme for each stanza. He uses Scottish colloquialism as well as some English. It is clear that in this poem there are some religious and class distinction undertones. Burns introduces us to a louse crawling on a ladies’ bonnet in the first stanza. In lines nine and ten he states, “How dour ye set your fit upon her- See fine a lady? Burns is outraged that a louse is on a pious woman. He seems to feel embarrassed for her nice it looks strange that a louse would be on an elegant woman. The louse signifies the sins, or imperfections this woman has. On the outside it looks quite strange that a woman would have such a degrading parasitic insect on her bonnet. The louse on the other hand, signifies impurity, filthiness, and imperfections. A “fine” woman of the church who is well dressed is usually wealthy and close to God. Burns also juxtaposes a saint and a sinner (poor and rich), which implies the Catholic dogma at that time.
The Catholic Church was in control and Burns openly challenges the old ways of thinking. The woman could have offered money as an (indulgence) in order to receive forgiveness and be close to God. He implies by lines eleven and twelve that the louse should be on a beggar instead of the fine lady. In the sixth stanza he elaborates more on how he would not be surprised if a louse was on a poor child or on an old ladies’ flannel cap. On the seventh stanza he cannot bare it any longer that the louse on the ladies bonnet and tells her of the incident.
He seems to know her since he calls her by the name of “Jenny. ” Burns tells her not to move, or tilt her head in order not to draw too much attention. That could Just save her from embarrassment. Lastly, the last stanza is what really brings this poem together. The deep meaning behind is what puts everything into perspective in lines twenty-nine through thirty-four: “O wad some Power the gift gig us Robert Burns: ay marigold 1 Rorer Runs Poetic Anal) Robert Burns is considered century. Urns IS regarded uniting that cooperated or traditional cutter during voice to common Scot tempestuous time.
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This was an unfair treatment since people free ticket in order to be granted forgiveness. It is apparent rebelling and voicing their opinions (Burns being one of the less controlled ruled Church. “Tam O’ Chanter” is a narrative poem which was which t Ray (2 mi from the town he was born). It contains both hum e seen as the poem unfolds. Burns’ skillful writing is papa poem that contains several statistically couplet verses. It is language, but uses English only in one of his stanzas to chi cheery to a more serious tone of voice.
The first paragraph starts off describing the town as pee after a long day. The busy town is dying slowly, as night AP waiting anxiously at home, knowing that her husband will night. The second paragraph lets the reader become familial protagonist Tam as we move on to the rest of the unfolding followed by the third paragraph lets the reader know that pub where Tam is. The reader thus becomes the casual b tit his friends and having a merry time, they remind him ironic how then Tam then makes a remark how stupid men wives’ advice (not including himself).
As time is passing by, the raucous is increasing by the drunken men at the pub mad to see a man see happy 0 Nee drowned himself among the nappy As bees flee hammer Wi’ lades o’ treasurer The minutes winged their way Wi’ pleasures Kings may be blest, but Tam was glorious O’er a’ the ills o’ life victorious! ” Burns sympathizes with Tam, as he is Joyful and filled with keeps going by late at night. Tam forgets about his daily troubles, and thinks he can unique any sort of problem due to the euphoria the alcohol tends to inhibit. Tam got used to the routine of going to the pub since he has been getting drunk for over month.
The tone suddenly becomes melancholy and more serious in the seventh stanza, lines 1-4: But pleasures are like poppies spread:0 You seize the flower, its bloom is shed;0 Or like the snow fall on the river,0 A moment white – then melts forever Burns compares Tam’s Joy with that of nature. When poppies spread their petals (spring) there is Joy since the poppies are full of life, but soon that happiness dwindles and dies (winter). This is the cycle of nature, yet we all tend to follow a cycle when it comes to life, emotions, and struggles.
Any sort of emotion is only temporary and comes and goes like the wind. Burns’ comparison with nature is preparing the reader for a dramatic shift that changes from cheery to a more suspenseful scene that is about to follow. Another comparison is of the snow falling peacefully on the river. The beautifully covered white snow melts. Beauty and Joy seem to be intertwined when comparing that of Tam and nature. When you lose that sudden moment of pleasure, or beauty, and it fades away, you find infinite value in what you once had observed or contemplated.
The comparison with nature Burns made lets the reader know that Tam’s Joy will not last, and the turning of events is about to come. Tam leaves the pub in the cold, windy, and rainy night with his horse Maggie leading the way. Tam and Maggie cross the ford as they are getting closer to the abandoned Allow Church. The ford here may symbolize the division that leads to the sinners dwelling place in the night, which can be depicted as hell. Horrible thin occurred to the townspeople that crossed the ford (suicide, murder, and accidents).
When Tam saw a glimmering light coming from the inside of the church he peeked inside, and was surprised beyond his imagination. Taw saw witches dancing around the abandoned church, a huge monster playing music, a dead thief with a rope around his neck, and some of the townspeople he recognized. Tam was seeing ridiculous things due to his intoxication and being out late at night. Burns here is laughing at the idea of such crazy things, since during his time this type of oral folklore was very popular. This does not lessen the suspense however, since Tam ends up shouting and disrupting the witches dancing.
Tam and Maggie end up bee chased by the monsters across the ford. The moral of the story is not to end up drum (since it is a sin), and roaming around the town late at night. Tam should have know better instead of ending up in a worse situation than he had planned. Robert Burns was a man that tended to write about the religious, social, and economical problems that every person faced during that time. His poems were a sense of relief and commonality to everyone that was literate. Burns was the spokesperson of the common Scottish man which made him quite popular after poems such as “Tam O’ Chanter”.
The narrative poem talks about the typical farmer and their religious stance, economic struggles, as well as cultural distinctions. Burn used sentiment in order to appeal to the people. He was regarded a Pre-Romantic poet due to his skillful writing and craftsmanship. One of his many other popular poems included “To a Louse. ” This poem is full of humor with a lot of religious remarks. Catholicism was the main religion during that time and had control over everyone. Due to the struggles and the way he wrote about his country made him the national poet he is regarded today.
