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 | | | Portrait: Robert Burns by Alexander Nasmyth, from the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, Edinburgh. |
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| 1/25/1759 |
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"Gie her a Haggis!"
On this day in 1759 Robert Burns was born in Alloway, Scotland, and on this night lovers of Burns or Scotland or conviviality will gather around the world to celebrate the fact. Burns was elevated to national hero in his lifetime and cult figure soon afterwards, the first Burns Night celebration occurring almost immediately upon his death. If the haggis has changed, the Night has not. . . . |
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| 7/11/1818 |
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Keats, Burns and the Gatekeeper
On this day in 1818, John Keats visited Robert Burns's first home in Alloway, and wrote his sonnet, "Written in the Cottage Where Burns Was Born." Keats was twenty-two years old, barely published, and on a summer-long walking tour of the North Country -- twenty or thirty rugged miles a day and "No supper but Eggs and Oat cake," which corrects the wan-and-weary side of the Keats myth. |
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| 7/21/1796 |
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Robert Burns as "Dirt and Deity"
On this day in 1796 Robert Burns died in Dumfries, Scotland, at the age of thirty-seven. This was a decade, almost to the day, of the publication of Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect (Kilmarnock edition), the collection which caused Burns to be as "ploughman poet" in Scotland and then around the world; some friends and early biographers blamed the fame for the death. |
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| 8/6/1786 |
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Robert Burns and the "Creepie Chair"
On this day in 1786, twenty-seven-year-old Robert Burns served the last of three public penances for "ante-nuptial fornication" with his eventual wife, Jean Armour. The "fornication police," as Burns called them, allowed the poet to stand in his usual pew, rather than make him sit on the penitential stool -- or, again in Burns parlance, "the Creepie Chair." |
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| 8/23/1305 |
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Burns, Blind Harry & Braveheart read it now!
On this day in 1305 Scotland's William Wallace was executed -- to be accurate: hanged, disemboweled, beheaded and quartered. The William Wallace legend and the popularity of the Braveheart movie owe much to a 15th century epic poem by Blind Harry the Minstrel. Robert Burns added to Wallace literature too, though his "Scots Wha Hae" went forth behind cover. |
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| 10/31/1820 |
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Irving, Burns and Keats on Halloween
On this storied day or hallowed eve are based many spirit-world tales; some are of horror, such as Washington Irving's "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow"; some are of love, or thereabouts, such as Robert Burns's "Halloween." Among the "principal charms and spells of that night," says Burns, are those which might have the lasses "come to the marriage-bed anything but a maid. . . ." |
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A Tribute to Scotland's National Bard
Offers essays, answers to frequently asked questions, quotes, facts about the poet's life and works, and literary criticism and analysis of poems including:
"Tam o'Shanter"
"Auld Lang Syne"
"Holy Willie's Prayer"
"Address to a Haggis"
"Love and Liberty, The Jolly Beggars"
"The Cotter's Saturday Night"
"To A Mouse"
"To a Louse"
"To A Mountain Daisy"
"Scotch Drink"
"Death and Dr Hornbook"
"Address to the Deil"
"Epistle to Davie"
"The First Epistle to John Lapraik"
"The Holy Fair"
"The Death and Dying Words of Poor Mailie"
"Mary Morison" |  | Academy of American Poets
Burns biography, poetry, and links. Selected poems include "Afton Water," and "A Red, Red Rose."
"Most of Burns' poems were written in Scots, a northern dialect of English. They document and celebrate traditional Scottish culture, expressions of farm life, and class and religious distinctions. Burns wrote in a variety of forms: epistles to friends, ballads, and songs. ... He is also well known for the over three hundred songs he wrote which celebrate love, friendship, work, and drink with often hilarious and tender sympathy. Even today, he is often referred to as the National Bard of Scotland." | | Burns Country: The Official Website
This extensive website features a mailing list, discussion board, encyclopedia and glossary of terms, and the complete works, including "A Man's A Man For A' That," "Ae Fond Kiss," "Auld Lang Syne," "Comin thro' The Rye," "Duncan Gray," "Scots Wha Hae," "Sweet Afton," and "Ye Jacobites By Name." Links to a Burns biography, chronology of life events, literary criticism and analysis, and other resources are also provided. | | Robert Burns National Heritage Park
Find images and information about the home of Robert Burns, which is today a national park and popular tourist attraction. The website also offers a biography and resources for teachers include downloadable themed activity sheets. A separate kidszone features a coloring book, wordsearch and maze games, and several multiple choice quizes for the classroom.
"Burns belongs to a very small number of poets whose work transcends national, cultural and language barriers. His work is translated into hundreds of languages and genuinely enjoyed by countless people across the world. Perhaps only Shakespeare and Homer have achieved a similar universal appeal. Yet Robert Burns had humble origins...." | | The Robert Burns Federation
This fine resource for students and teachers features a beginner's guide to the life and legacy of the Bard of Scotland, excerpts of letters and manuscripts, electronic texts, articles and critical analysis and commentary, a discussion forum, and a collection of 100 Burns facts. On the poet's importance and enduring legacy:
"Firstly, and most importantly, Burns work is the continuing story of an ordinary Scotsman, his background, his encounters, his observations & thoughts. His poems & letters give a detailed account of the life & times, culture & politics of the day, all of which are readily apparent. ... Secondly, the content, quality, interpretation and variety of his work is quite remarkable." | |
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The TinL masthead features photography by
Natasha D'Schommer
, and the book art featured is by Jim Rosenau.
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