| Despite his tragic demise at a young age of only | | | | church; the church remained a strong force in |
| 37, Robert Burns' collection of poetry and songs | | | | Scottish society and Burns' verse was most |
| has elevated him to the position of being | | | | humorous when he was attacking it and its |
| Scotland's national bard. His work had the ability to | | | | ministers. He aimed his commentary particularly at |
| convey the imagery of liberty and independence | | | | the Calvinist preachers with their 'fire and |
| for both the common man as well as for the | | | | brimstone' approach to preaching. This had the |
| Scots themselves that made Burns a literary hero | | | | affect however of galvanising them against him |
| - a bard. | | | | and quickly he became the object of criticism in |
| Born January 25, 1759 the son of a | | | | their sermons which was responded to by Burns |
| tenant-farming family, Robert Burns was | | | | with even more savage verses. 'Holy Willie's |
| educated well and was well read. During his | | | | Prayer' is the best example of this. |
| teenage years and through early manhood, Burns | | | | As we have already seen, Burns - and the Scots |
| worked on farms and it is during these formative | | | | of his time we waking up to the realisation that |
| years that he developed some of the passions | | | | their simply agrarian lifestyle was passing and had |
| that remained with him and were expressed | | | | seen the crushing of the Jocobite Rebellion and |
| through his works. Putting the period into a social | | | | the tragedy in the Highlands. Burns and his |
| context will help to see how some of these | | | | contemporaries raised the public consciousness of |
| passions were fuelled by what Burns could see | | | | the Jocobites and Highland traditions and there |
| around him. | | | | grew a perpetuating hunger for tales of the |
| This was an age of revolution. The second half of | | | | adventures of the rebels and other characters |
| the eighteenth century gave rise to two of the | | | | associated with these passing times. The song |
| most far-reaching social events in modern history. | | | | 'Charlie, He's My Darling' is about Bonny Prince |
| Firstly, the American revolutions (1775) followed | | | | Charlie (the Young Pretender) and would be the |
| by those in France (1789). The latter part of | | | | most well remembered. |
| Burn's life also saw the heralding of the Industrial | | | | Although Burn's had fame he had little fortune to |
| Revolution and although he died before mass | | | | go with it and it was the need to support his wife |
| exodus of the countryside to the growing city's | | | | and family that forced him to become an excise |
| factories was some way off, it was imminent. As | | | | officer - part of the establishment he had |
| a counter towards this 'Scottish Enlightenment' | | | | fervently attacked -- a position he held until his |
| movement there was a growth towards | | | | death. This contrary stance was not something |
| romanticising rural life and its communities - the | | | | lost on Burns and during this time he wrote the |
| old agrarian Scotland. In deed, Burns' legacy is one | | | | poem 'The De'ils Awa' Wi' The Exciseman'. |
| of 'ploughman poet' an image that he was happy | | | | Burns' lasting legacy is that of champion to the |
| to develop and portray by turning his work | | | | common man and champion to Scotland. 'Auld |
| towards attacking the new establishment. His | | | | Lang Syne' is an anthem to brotherhood and |
| works celebrating the countryside - 'The Cotter's | | | | although it is strongly associated with ushering in a |
| Saturday Night' and 'The Twa Dugs' where he | | | | New Year it has a wider context. His reputation, |
| took the side of tenant farmers, are testament | | | | as the meaning of his poetry and other works, is |
| to this. | | | | truly international and will be celebrated globally |
| There were other strong forces to which Burns | | | | this January 25th at Burns Night celebrations |
| also turned his attention. Firstly, the kirk, or | | | | anywhere there is an ex-pats Scottish presence. |