Robert Burns

England and Scotland Scotland ruled from London since James I (James VI of Scotland) takes English throne in 1603 as first Stuart king [James I, Charles I, Charles II, James II] Stuarts were Catholic; England was Anglican – Stuarts lose throne to Puritans in 1649; regain it after the Commonwealth fails in 1660 – Lose it again in “Glorious Revolution” 1688 to Mary, d of James II and her husband William of Orange (Hanover) Two rebellions against Hanovers led from Scotland – 1715 – nearly succeed – 1745 – clans massacred at Culloden – breaks Highland

Burns, briefly Son of a farmer from Ayrshire (near English border); no university education – man “of the people.” Fiercely proud of Scotland and Scots heritage. Project to capture in book form the traditional oral ballads and lyrics of folk tradition in Scotland Wrote often in “Scots English” dialect (not in Gaelic spoken in the Highlands – he was a not a Highlander) Blurs the line between “song lyric” and “lyric poem” Sympathizes with the French Revolution and its democratic ideals

Tam O’Shanter Nannie is wearing a “cutty sark” –Scots for “petticoat”