Poetry - Tam O' Shanter

Question 1

Who wrote Tam o’ Shanter?

Answer 1

Robert Burns

Question 2

When was Tam o’ Shanter written?

Answer 2

1790

Question 3

Where was Robert Burns from?

Answer 3

Ayr, Scotland

Question 4

Describe how Tam’s character relates to comedy?

Answer 4

He is the comic hero of the poem (mock hero?)

Question 5

Who is the comic villain of Tam o’ Shanter?

Answer 5

Nannie

Question 6

Give 5 features of comedy present in Tam o’ Shanter.

Answer 6

• Ordinary people are represented
• Bawdiness
• Strong female characters (Nannie, Kate, Maggie the horse)
• Male weakness (Tam + narrator)
• Journey –> tragedy averted

Question 7

Describe the comedy of male weakness in Tam o’ Shanter

Answer 7

• Drunkenness, lust, poor judgement, selfishness and ignoring his wife
• Is this ridiculed ? not really … more celebrated
• ‘Men will be men’ sort of stance

Question 8

How does Burns use structure to give Tam o’ Shanter an informal feel?

Answer 8

Single stanza form with indentations to indicate the development of the story and interjections from the narrator + scottish dialect = informal, conversational tone
- Reminds us of the oral tradition of storytelling

Question 9

Describe the rhyme and rhythm used by Burns in Tam o’ Shanter

Answer 9

• Rhyming couplets throughout (heroic couplets use iambic pentameter vs. mock-heroic couplets use iambic tetrameter)
• Overall, regular, fast, structure with no pauses/irregularities to slow down the story (no time to reflect until the end)