Song (Ae Fond Kiss)

Question 1

Robert Burns

Answer 1

1759-1796
Famous Scottish poet
Pioneer of romantic movement
Most of his poetry concerned ordinary person due to time spent working as tenant farmer
Almost left wife for lover
Agnes was married woman and propriety dictated their relationship should be secret
She left Scotland for Jamaica to reconcile with husband and never saw Burns again

Question 2

Typicality

Answer 2

Mostly written in dialectical form
Romantic period - intense emotion
Religion
Genre - detailed outpouring of love and emotion
‘Nancy’ - traditional pet name for Ann or Agnes
Female obedience to husband and inability to leave for another

Question 3

Structure

Answer 3

Addressed to Agnes with whom he had engaged in passionate correspondence
Sentimental poem in song form
Rhyming couplets
Trochair tetrameter - creates falling rhythm
Biblical imagery
Cyclical structure
Repeated first Stanza
Ends as it begins - no resolution

Question 4

Types of love

Answer 4

Pain of parting
Lost love
Intense love
Bids farewell and happiness
Acceptance
Platonic love
Separation
Affection

Question 5

Gatsby

Answer 5

Daisy, Gatsby and Tom
Secret romance with upper class married woman
Who, in the end, leaves with husband
Whilst Burns understands the reality of his situation, Gatsby does not, causing deeper tragedy
Gatsby hopes and doesn’t accept
No resolution - Gatsby is chasing from beginning to death