Our language focus this month is modifiers and collocations. Watch the video and then look at our interactive blog about Burns to work on your reading skills too! Make sure to subscribe to our YouTube Channel so that you never miss a videoWe did a fantastic Scottish History class about Robert Burns and Burns Night which is available to all of our Online Unlimited students. You can join our Scottish History, Vocabulary Building, Lunchtime Lessons and Book Group classes as well as have access to all of our self study and skills resources for only £50 a month! We also offer a one week trial FOR FREE!
Despite going on to hang out with aristocrats, he never forgot his origins and a lot of his poems and songs talk about both nature and the countryside as well as express egalitarian views. When his father died, Robert tried to take over the family farming business, but he was as bad as his father. He was also in need of money as thanks to being popular with the ladies he already had a number of children from various women. How did Robert Burns become a poet?Looking for options for work, he was offered a position as a bookkeeper in Jamaica. At the time, Jamaica was a British colony producing sugar through slave labour. The position of “book-keeper” was misleading as the job really entailed over-seeing slaves. In order to take the job he needed to raise money for the ticket there, so he published a collection of poems. This collection is known as the Kilmarnock edition. It was published on the 31st July 1786 and quickly became a hit all over the country. This is now a holy grail for Burns fans, and a first edition of the book sold for £40,000 in 2012! Rabbie was all set to head off to Jamaica and had said goodbye to his friends and family when his publisher suggested a second expanded edition, and went to Edinburgh instead. Here he fell in with the literati, those at the heart of the Scottish Enlightenment and became a big hit. Here’s what Walter Scott, who met him when he was 16 years old, had to say about him: "His person was strong and robust; his manners rustic, not clownish, a sort of dignified plainness and simplicity which received part of its effect perhaps from knowledge of his extraordinary talents. ... there was a strong expression of shrewdness in all his lineaments; the eye alone, I think, indicated the poetical character and temperament. It was large, and of a dark cast, and literally glowed when he spoke with feeling or interest. I never saw such another eye in a human head, though I have seen the most distinguished men of my time." This popularity wouldn’t last though, as Burns would go on to write a great many poems with egalitarianism as their theme. These ideals, along with his interest in the American and French revolutions did not sit well with his upper class friends, and they eventually cut ties.
In his song Westlin’ Winds he criticises man for disrupting nature’s social union, and John Steinback’ novel “of Mice and Men” got its title from Burns’ poem “To a Mouse”. And of course his love poems and songs are extremely popular. Bob Dylan said the song “My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose” has been his greatest inspiration. He died young at only 37 on the 27th July 1796, and his 13th child was born on the day of his funeral. 5 years after his death 9 of his friends decided to meet at his old cottage and celebrate his life. They made a toast to him and sang his songs and read his poems. And they had a delicious meal which included haggis! They decided to do it again on his birthday, and this is how the Burns’ Supper began. It was also around this time that the first Burns Club was formed. The Robert Burns World Federation had 250 clubs on their books in 2013 all over the globe, so you can see that they were popular!
Haggis is a traditional Scottish dish (not a wild animal like we sometimes like to tell tourists). It’s made with oats and the cheap cuts of meat like the heart, lungs and liver. It’s mixed up with lots of spices and then traditionally wrapped in a sheep’s stomach. It sounds horrible, but it’s delicious! Ig it’s not your thing, you can also get some delicious vegetarian haggis as well these days. Neeps are turnips, and tatties are potatoes. Sometimes they are mixed together and mashed, and then it’s called clapshot. Finally, for dessert, it’s again usually a traditional Scottish sweet like cranachan (raspberries with whipped cream, whisky and honey), and there is often a cheese board too. What do you do at a Burn’s Supper?An informal supper will mainly consist of eating a meal and reading Burns poems or singing his songs, but a more formal supper has an established order. Piping in the guests - You’ll be welcomed to your Burns’ Supper but a bagpiper leading you into the room The Host’s Welcome - Here the host will give a welcome speech The Selkirk Grace - Although this poem is attributed to Burns he probably didn’t write it. He did however recite it when he was at a dinner in Selkirk, hence the name. It is read out before the start of the meal Some hae meat and canna eat, Address to a Haggis - Before the main course, the poem “Address to a Haggis” is read. It’s a poem basically talking about how brilliant haggis is, and that Burns would eat it before other posh food. It includes a line about sharpening a knife and cutting the haggis open, and when the (usually) host reads these they also take out and sharpen a knife, then cut the haggis. The Toasts - After the food, the speeches and toasts begin. There are 3 toasts you need to do: The Immortal memory, Address to the Lassies, and Reply to the Laddies. The Immortal Memory - this is a speech which celebrates the life of Burns, includes anecdotes about him and generally talks about how brilliant he is. Address to the Lassies - originally, this was just a thank you for the women who had prepared the meal, but now it’s wide-ranging and gives the speaker’s view on women. It’s meant to be funny and tongue in cheek, but not offensive. Reply to the Laddies - the follow on is this toast which replies to the comments the speaker of Address to the Lassies made. It’s also supposed to be funny, and again not offensive. Both speakers usually work together so the speeches compliment each other, and some are even written in verse! Works by Burns - After all the speeches, it’s time to celebrate the bard. If you’re lucky enough to have musicians at your supper you might get some songs as well as poems. At a really big Burns supper there is sometimes ceilidh dancing, a party with traditional Scottish dances. However you choose to celebrate, we hope that you have a brilliant time and raise a glass to our national bard! Wishing you a very happy Burns’ night.
3 Comments
Ned Keating
1/23/2021 08:23:39 pm
Ah simply love it! But how tae say " Champit Tatties and Bashit Neeps" in Spanish.
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Margaret Simms
1/24/2021 10:42:34 pm
What a lot of material and varied.
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Elena Nicolson
1/25/2021 08:41:05 pm
Beautifully and simple explained. I like the questions first followed up by the answers.
Reply
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