Robert Burns Research Paper

Burn’s works were most greatly influenced by his relationships, whether it was with people, things, or interests. The effects that these relationships had on Burns are what is echoed throughout his poetry. His connections to other people, including successful and unsuccessful familial, acquainted, and romantic relationships, acted as inspiration and subjects for Burns. As well, Burns created a strong personal connection with each of his passions, including politics, literature, music, and nature, which also impacted his poetry. In this essay, I will discuss and analyze the significance of these key influences in Burns’ life: his relationships with his family, with his acquaintances, with his romantic partners, and with his preoccupations and
John Moore, Burns explained that he made great “progress in the knowledge of mankind” while learning contraband trade away from home during the summer of his seventeenth year. This experience, along with winning the affections of yet another girl, supported Burns’ expand of skillset and literary knowledge. Other hobbies, such as songwriting, affected his works. Around 1787, for example, Burns travelled through the Highlands, Stirlingshire, and the Borders collecting folk stories, songs, and art to use for his own inspiration (Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, 2018). Burns rescued traditional songs, rewrote their words, and added new words to create his own art derived from traditions (Scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk, 2018). “Tam o’ Shanter” and two main collections, “The Scots Musical Museum” and “A Select Collection of Scotish Airs,” came from expeditions such as these (Scottishpoetrylibrary.org.uk, 2018). In response to one of his poems, Burns noted that his heart “glowed” when he was filled with passion and away from the negativity of reality (BBC.co.uk, 2018). The influences behind his poems seemed to come to him as he was writing, but could not necessarily be revisited. Lastly, Burns’ experience in Edinburgh gifted him with a fresh outlook as he began to mingle with many new types of people. In his letter, Burns concludes that “Fancy and Whim, keen Sensibility and riotous Passions” tend to guide man’s path in life; however, this does not strip man of his honor (Cobbler.plus.com, 2018). ______