1

Lecture Nine

Early Romanticism

Robert Burns （ 1759-1796 ）

2

Scottish poet. He used a form of Scots dialect at a time when it was not considered suitably `elevated? for literature. Burns's first volume, Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, appeared 1786. In addition to his poetry (such as 'To a Mouse'), Burns wrote or adapted many songs, including 'Auld Lang Syne'. Burns Night is celebrated on 25 Jan, his birthday.

Robert BurnsRobert Burns

3

4

Biographical InformationBiographical Information

Burns wrote as well in English as he did in Scots. He is recognized as the culminating figure in two centuries' tradition of folk song and genre poetry and one of the greatest of all writers of love songs.

He contributed some 300 songs to James Johnson's Scots Musical Museum. Whether composing original pieces or, as in the case of 'Auld Lang Syne', revitalizing a song which had already passed through more than one version, he had the sure touch of lyric genius.

5

Robert BurnsRobert Burns

Burns was born in Alloway, near Ayr, and went to the village school. After his father's death, he became joint tenant with his brother Gilbert of the farm at Mossgiel 1784, but it was unsuccessful. Burns intended to emigrate to Jamaica with Mary Campbell as his wife, but she died. He later commemorated this romance in several poems, including 'Highland Mary'.

To earn money for his passage he published Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect, which was an immediate success. It contained much of his best work, especially in social criticism, including 'The Twa Dogs', 'Hallowe'en', 'The Holy Fair', 'To a Mouse', 'To a Mountain Daisy', and 'The Cotter's Saturday Night'.

Burns was thereafter welcomed among intellectuals and aristocrats and was dissuaded from going abroad. In 1788 he used his capital to try a new farm, Ellis land, on the banks of the Nith near Dumfries.

6

Robert BurnsRobert Burns

This farm also proving unsatisfactory, in 1791 he moved to Dumfries and became a full-time excise officer. In 1792 he nearly lost his job because of his radical opinions. Meanwhile he began the provision of songs for the Scots Musical Museum - many of his own composition, many based on older verses or fitted to old tunes. This was entirely a labour of love, for he received no payment.

His poetry owed much to Allan Ramsay and to Robert Fergusson, who stands in much the same relation to Burns as Marlowe to Shakespeare; but he far surpassed both his Scottish forerunners, and, though not a Romantic himself, the example of his work was one of the vital influences in the coming Romantic movement. His strength lies in his essential sincerity to his own experience and the extraordinary vitality of its expression.

7

O my luve's like a red, red rose

That's newly sprung in June;

O mu luve's like the melodie

That's sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair art thou, my bonie lass,

So deep in luve am I;

And I will luve thee still, my dear,

Till a' the seas gang dry.

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 awhile!

And I will come again, my luve,

Tho' 'twere ten thousand miles.

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.

A Red Red RoseA Red Red Rose

A R

ed R

ed R

ose

A R

ed R

ed R

ose

8

Questions:

How does the narrator in the poem express his love?

Why is this poem so touching to the readers?

9

一朵红红的玫瑰 啊，我的爱人像朵红红的玫瑰 花苞初绽六月里；啊，我的爱人像支美妙的乐曲， 奏得和谐有甜蜜。

你是多么娇美，我的漂亮姑娘 我爱你如此深情；我将永远爱着你，亲爱的 直到海枯不变心。

10

亲爱的，直到大海干枯了， 太阳把岩石熔化，啊，我将依然爱着你，亲爱的， 只要生命喷发火花。

再见吧，我唯一的爱人， 我俩只是暂时分别！我将回到你的身边，亲爱的， 哪怕相隔千里万里！

11

Form

This short lyric is essentially in the metrical form of the ballad stanza, i.e. quatrains with alternate lines of four and three feet, with rimes falling on the second and fourth lines of each stanza.

12

Theme• A Red, Red Rose is one of Burns’

popular love lyrics and is also a good example of how the poet created immortal lines by revising the old folk material. The poem expresses the poet’s deep and firm love towards his beloved by the use of the three images:, the dry seas, the melted rocks and the sands of life.

13

过去的时光

老朋友怎能忘记 怎能不时时想起？老朋友怎能忘记 那过去的记忆？

亲爱的朋友，为了过去的时光 为了那逝去时光，举起一杯友谊的酒 为了过去的好时光。

我们曾满山遍野 把美丽的雏菊采摘后来我们四处漂泊，精疲力竭 忆往昔的好时节！

14

我们曾赤脚蹚过小河， 从曙光明媚的早晨到日落时分但如今咆哮的大海把我们分开， 自从很久很久以来。

我可信赖的朋友，让我伸出手， 请你也伸出手，让我们举起一杯友谊的酒， 为过去的好时光！

15

The Life of Robert BurnsA Sample of Burns Writing

16

Do you know

• There is a Statue of Robert Burns in Central Park, New York.

• Auld Lang Syne' was originally set to a different tune but the publisher rejected it so Burns set it to the one commonly sung today, which the Japanese claim as their tune.

• His interest in writing in Scottish was prompted by his mother who sang to her children in 'auld' Scots.

• Sir Walter Scott said of Burns' famous love song, 'Ae Fond Kiss,' that, 'it was the essence of a thousand love tales.'

• The Kilmarnock Edition was published on April 14th, 1786 • Burns was born on January 25th, 1759 in Alloway.

1717

Subject Features of Robert Subject Features of Robert Burns’s poetryBurns’s poetry

Robert Burn’s poetry falls into seveRobert Burn’s poetry falls into several groups according to the subject ral groups according to the subject matters:matters:

a. Most of his poems are lyrics on loa. Most of his poems are lyrics on love and friendship.ve and friendship.

1818

b. Burns wrote some poems to b. Burns wrote some poems to express his hatred for the express his hatred for the oppression of the ruling class and oppression of the ruling class and his love for freedom. his love for freedom.

c. Burns wrote some patriotic c. Burns wrote some patriotic poems, in which he expresses his poems, in which he expresses his deep love for his motherland, deep love for his motherland, such as My Heart’s in the such as My Heart’s in the Highlands.Highlands.

19

• d. Burns wrote some verse-tales which he based on old Scottish legends. In these poems, he sings of the heroic spirit of the Scottish people in their struggle against their oppressors.

20

Artistic FeaturesArtistic Features

Burns’ poems have a great charm Burns’ poems have a great charm of simplicity. of simplicity.

His poems are very musical and caHis poems are very musical and can be sung, so he is regarded as one n be sung, so he is regarded as one of the greatest song writers in the wof the greatest song writers in the world.orld.

He is the national poet of Scotland. He is the national poet of Scotland. Most of his poems and songs were Most of his poems and songs were written in Scottish dialectwritten in Scottish dialect