There are two reasons that Robert Burns is the national poet of Scotland. The first is his "rags to riches" success story, and the second is "the way in which Burns in his songs identified himself with the Scottish folk tradition" (Scott-Kilvert 310). The poems of Robert Burns contain many appealing elements, such as colorful, vivid imagery and specific diction, allowing Burns to convey exactly what he is picturing while writing them. These characteristics, influenced by his Scottish background, are easily identified in his classic poem To A Mouse.
Burns was born and raised in Alloway, Ayrshire. During his upbringing, Burns" father, continually prone to bad luck, suffered sickness and a series of bankruptcies until he finally passed away in 1784 (Scott-Kilvert 313). From this stemmed Burns" matchless satire of the social structure of his day and hardened his heart against "all forms of religious and political thought that condoned or perpetuated inhumanity" (Scott-Kilvert 313).
Burns" schooling involved everything from French to a minute amount of Latin. Heavily imposed on him during his education were the works of such literary greats as William Shakespeare and John Dryden, orienting most of his formal education toward English culture (Scott-Kilvert 313). During the middle years of his life, Burns was known to those close to him as simply "an occasional poet" that only wrote verse to express his love and emotions for others. It wasn't until 1786 that, dissatisfied and disgusted with his monetary problems, Burns published a collection of his poems, planning to take the proceeds and immigrate to Jamaica. The collection, entitled Poems Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect was a huge success, and Burns soaked in the fame. It proved, however, to be short lived, as he wrote little poetry for publication after the publication of his book (Scott-Kilvert 315).
The imagery used by Burns is so detailed and vibrant that it gives the reader a sense of actually seeing what he describes.
Robert Burns represented the true Scotsman who openly expressed himself. ... Most critics say that the Church was Robert Burns' favorite subject to write about. ... Robert Burns wrote during the Romantic Age. ... Burns wrote more than 300 original songs. ... Robert Burns was taken during the prime of his life. ...
The Life of Robert Burns Robert Burns was one of Scotland's most celebrated literary figures, producing some of the most beloved Scottish poems ever. ... Robert met thirteen year old Peggy Thompson there, and wrote another masterpiece I Met With My Angel (Burns, Robert 709). ... Robert and his brother Gilbert rented a farm near Mossgiel, where Burns lived until 1786. ... Unexpectedly, this collection was successful, so instead of going to the plantation in Jamaica, Burns went to Edinburgh (Burns, Robert 709). ... Robert Burns has been viewed as the beginning of a literary tradition...
Tam O" Shanter by Robert Burns is considered by many to be a mock epic due to Burns's skillful use, manipulation, and exaggeration of the conventions inherent to epic poetry. ... Burns was a common man who found beauty and delight in both the world and language considered to be common place. ... Burns mocks almost every facet of epic poetry in Tam O" Shanter. ... Burns also makes a mockery of the epic convention of cataloging. ... In addition Burns mocks the convention of the tragic flaw or moral lesson that is inherent to most works of epic poetry. ...
Scotch Drink The Poem Scotch Drink by Robert Burns was the second poem in the Kilmarnock Volume, Burns first published book of poems, written in the mid 1780's. ... Which show that burns is well educated, not illiterate and old-fashioned. Burns also shows that he is a master of the traditional but difficult verse of Habbie. ... Then Burns leaves this stereotype of persons with a curse. ... Each Stanza follows a rigid structure and it is to be marveled that Burns can make this so conversational rather than forced. ...
Robert Boyle was born on January 25, 1627. ... One of the experiments was that Boyle wanted to know was if when wood burned, was the smoke and ash already there. He found no proof that ash, smoke, or flame were there before the wood was burned. ... Robert never considered a chemical to be an element. ... Will there ever be another Robert Boyle? ...
Robert Hooke was born on July 16,1635 at Freshwater, which lies on the Isle of Wight. ... As a result, he became Robert Boyle's assistant, who specialized in chemistry. ... Robert spent the majority of his life in a group of rooms at the college. ... To this day, there is not a single portrait of Robert Hooke. ... He observed several comets and asked a number of important questions about them, including why the tail points away from the sun, how it burns without oxygen and how it burns for so long. ...
Robert Burns loved poetry. ... Burns also uses a theme that everyone can understand - though different, we are all similar. ... Burns uses very vivid imagery to describe the ordeal - Your small house, too, in ruin!... It is a hole, but to make it more relatable, Burns uses imagery. ... Burns is trying to show all of us not only his pain for the mouse, but his pain for mankind. ...
Robert heard a long white noise. ... Robert burned it in the middle of the floor. ... Throughout the novel, Roberts love and devotion for Rowena was evident, but it was not displayed to such an extent until he burned her picture as "an act of charity." ... Robert shot him between the eyes." ... "Robert." ...