French philosopher Voltaire once commented on Dante that he’s one of these writers that most people are aware of but nobody actually reads. Robbie Burns is fortunately spared this indignity. Every year on 25th January, his life and work as Scotland’s National Poet is celebrated in ceremonies around the world where people enjoy (seriously, it’s delicious) haggis, neeps and tatties, followed a whisky and maybe a bit of tablet. At these celebrations there is at least one (misattributed) Burns prayer and also “Address to a Haggis” (which everyone reads far too seriously, in my view, it’s actually pretty comedic). We all know some facts about him, he was a famous womaniser, for example, but that’s it.
Thing is, as a graduate of a History and Literature degree, there is much more to say about Burns and it often gets ignored in a party of tartan and whisky. Nothing against parties, by the way, but today I want to share a couple things about Burns which I believe makes him not just a good poet, but a great poet. Do not think I am here to abolish the party, but to fulfil it. Let me do what your high school English teachers always intended and make old poetry actually relevant and fun.
So who was Robbie Burns? A brief biography of Robert Burns
He was the son of farmers and that was the life he was to pursue as well, often unsuccessfully. His biography is a history of farm failures and romantic pursuits. At one point his farming was so bleak he almost went on to become a bookkeeper to a slave plantation in the Caribbean, which is a very unfortunate truth and peculiar given so much of his work is about the essential dignity of man (see “A Man’s a Man”, if you can’t read the Scots, here is a video recital).
Burns was saved from this life by the fact his parents advocated for his education. They encouraged reading widely. Literacy was encouraged in Scotland at the time by the Presbyterian Church (“Kirk” in Scots), and it was policy to have at least one school per parish. The Kirk taught English rather than Scots. Scots is its own language with an accomplished literary history of at least a thousand years, and Robbie Burns is said to have learned this from his granny (tried looking up a source for this as I can’t recall where I heard it, it sounds good though and I’m going to keep it in as a timely reminder of the wisdom of elders, also this is not for university so there is nobody to punish me for not sourcing).
We know Burns was versed in Scots because he quotes Blind Harry, a wandering minstrel from the 15th Century who wrote “The Wallace”, an epic-length set of poetry about William Wallace which is pure fantasy in many areas and is said to be the primary source inspiration for the film Braveheart.
Why is Robert Burns Considered Scotland’s National Poet?
So that’s some information about the guy, but why is he so important as to be Scotland’s National Poet? I have two angles here, economic and romantic . I’ll start with the economic because it gives a somewhat cynical answer which makes the romantic answer more valuable. In understanding the two it becomes easier to understand his influence on Scottish national identity as well as his impact on poetry.
Robbie Burns is huge because he broke the American market in a way other performers from the British Isles called Robbie haven’t managed. Burns’ work was favoured by Andrew Carnegie, the Scottish-born American industrialist and philanthropist. He once wrote:
“the words of Burns […] created in me a vein of Scottish prejudice (or patriotism) which will cease to exist only with life.”
How Robert Burns’ Work Gained Global Recognition
Which is pretty strong but also accurate to the feelings of a great many Scots towards our culture. Of course, Carnegie was just one man. But he was one man with a lot of pull: he funded 2509 libraries, for example. As well as this, Robbie Burns work was adored by many prominent American poets, such as Walt Whitman and Ralph Waldo Emerson, which enabled his fame to continue spreading over there. Burns influence had an enormous impact on his reputation. As a result, you can still find quotations from him in unexpected places. Such as in the title of John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men” which is taken from Burns phenomenal nature poem “To a Mouse” (this version is pure Scots).
Now, it doesn’t diminish Burns’ brilliance to say there’s an economic and societal aspect to his fame and position as Scotland’s National Poet. But it does require some enquiry and is worth examining in relation to the central question of this article: why is he the national poet of Scotland?
The fact is, his works came out in the last decades of the 18th and early decades of the 19th century but really began to explode in international popularity more and more after 1822 when George IV made his royal visit in a kilt that was a bit too short (risky click). Scottish culture was in vogue and Burns became emblematic of this, greatly helped by the fact that Nasmyth’s portrait of him, which was to inspire most of the 60 public statues around the world, is very attractive. His poetry became dramatically popular, his birthday became the day to have his favourite food, tartan became more systematised than before, and Burns became this icon of a Scottish cultural renaissance.
The Role of Burns in Scottish Culture and Identity
The problem with this sort of angle is that it would be ignoring something which needs to be said about Burns – he was a romantic hero of a man. He was writing when Scotland felt it was not at its peak. We had become part of Britain and the cultural focus of the combined countries was always going to be in the capital, London. Along comes Burns speaking and writing in the language of the people, which was literally a different language.
The urban people of Edinburgh, who had been feeling low since the Union, becoming ever dirtier in cramped and squalid housing that repeatedly collapsed, found a champion declaring they were of equal dignity to anyone else. Burns travelled all over Scotland and collected inspiration from everywhere, while also preserving cultural artefacts like musical instruments. In these ways, Burns became a major cultural influence and figure for us before he became world famous. He became Scotland’s National Poet through his romantic image and behaviour, as well as the power of his work.
The Meaning Behind ‘A Red, Red Rose’
And you know the thing that makes him very impressive? His work shows someone who was lyrical and deeply involved in the intellectual currents of the time. Get a load of his actual work (English modernisation).
Robert Burns “A Red, Red Rose” translation
A Red, Red Rose
by Robert Burns
translation/interpretation/modernization by Michael R. BurchOh, my love is like a red, red rose
that’s newly sprung in June
and my love is like the melody
that’s sweetly played in tune.And you’re so fair, my lovely lass,
and so deep in love am I,
that I will love you still, my dear,
till all the seas run dry.Till all the seas run dry, my dear,
and the rocks melt with the sun!
And I will love you still, my dear,
while the sands of life shall run.And fare you well, my only love!
And fare you well, awhile!
And I will come again, my love,
though it were ten thousand miles
Burns’ Use of Romantic Imagery and Scientific Ideas
This poem/lyrics sounds great but more than this it’s the meaning that I think makes it great. The main topic is nature and love, roses are flowers of love after all, but the thing is so much larger than it appears.
Working backwards through the imagery, “ten thousand miles” is larger than the diameter of Earth (approx eight thousand miles). This takes a fairly classic romantic image, loving someone for a great distance, but puts a specific number on it which back in a day before trains and air travel was basically unimaginable to go in any sort of reasonable time.
Furthermore, when Burns says “Till the rocks melt with the sun”, he’s talking about the sun in Scotland. In Summer, it does shine for a long time but the hottest temperature recorded here is barely above 35C (95F), that isn’t going to melt any rock unless it’s made of lead. Thing is, in a geological sense one day perhaps the rocks here will melt. Perhaps the climate will change so much that they will indeed melt! Burns was a visionary.
And this is what leads to my favourite thing about the poem. When he says “Till all the seas go dry” (much better in Scots “Till a’ the seas gang dry”), this shows a keen understanding of intellectual discourse. “The Theory of the Earth” by James Hutton was presented to the Royal Society of Edinburgh in 1788 and is the beginning of geology as a study and the start of understanding the world as a much older object than previously believed: “we find no vestige of a beginning, no prospect of an end”. Hutton published his work in 1788 and Burns published “Red, Red Rose” six year later. Burns was prepared to wade into controversial topics, Hutton’s work was unpopular with the church, but Burns did so for love and to make a really sweet image. Even in one of Burns shortest and most accessible poems you can find excellence.
Why Robert Burns’ Poetry Still Matters Today
That’s why Burns continues to hold a high place of honour amongst the Scottish people. His poetry is honestly amazing, very memorable, and told an important story to people not going through the best time. Burns shows that brilliant writing ability can be cultivated like crops on a farm, through reading and curiosity, and being inspired by nature leads to grander ideas about our world and how it’s made. His work was equally as inspiring abroad and this is not something which lessens it but actually heightens its importance. Burns brought an interest to Scotland which did not exist before, and his writings inspired a pride in Scottishness which carries on to this day in the heart of the country.
The Legacy of Burns in Modern Scotland
Burns is still a huge deal in modern Scotland. His image is on statues and books. There are plaques on buildings where he stayed for even as little as one night. Scottish politicians like to quote Burns when they talk. During the Burns Night festivities on the 25th of January you can find dramatic performances of his poetry in every pub and at special events full of tartan and bagpipers. To some it may seem unreal but it has become absolutely real to the millions of Scots who live in the country and the tens of millions of people with Scottish descent and cultural affinity who live abroad. People are proud to have a link to the history of Scotland and are proud to have ties to a country which can have such an influence.
This is why Robbie Burns will remain our national poet forevermore. There are other great Scottish poets in the modern day, too, but they all recognise they owe a debt of gratitude to Burns. (For some ideas, Liz Lochhead is good and I’ve lately found myself appreciating Jackie Kay). Robbie Burns work will continue to have much influence on us here in Scotland and on people internationally. His enduring genius will live on forever. I would encourage you to look for more of his poetry, there’s a selection of titles available here. Let me know your favourites!
Visiting Edinburgh and interested in hearing more? Consider a walking tour with us!
A human person interested in our goings on? Follow us on instagram or Facebook @streethistorians
Also, tell me about your favourite poem!
The writer of this piece has been sheltering from Storm Eowyn while watching photos of flying trampolines shared in group chats.
Leave a Reply