Robert Burns Trivia

1. Arguably the most famous work of the Scottish national poet, Robert Burns, is a poem and song that is traditionally performed on Hogmanay. Can you name it?

From Quiz Best Laid Schemes

Answer: Auld Lang Syne

Hogmanay is the Scottish name for December 31st and is particularly used to refer to the New Year celebrations - traditionally a bigger event on the Scottish calendar than Christmas. Although written in the Scots language, the performance of 'Auld Lang Syne' is definitely not limited to Scotland. It is sung right around world (particularly in English-speaking countries) and uses the tune of a traditional Scottish folk song. Tradition also suggests that groups performing the song should cross arms and link hands (i.e. use their right hand to link with their left-hand neighbour and vice versa), although there is some controversy over at what point during the song the crossed arms part should be introduced - in Scotland it is for the last verse only, while elsewhere the arms are crossed from the start. The British press were apparently unaware of this nuance when they berated Queen Elizabeth II for 'getting it wrong' when she followed the Scottish version of the tradition at the Millennium celebrations. What many people don't realise is that Burns's poem includes five separate verses, all with different lyrics. Most people will just be familiar with the English version of the first verse and chorus (and repeat them over and over): "Should old acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind? Should old acquaintance be forgot, and old lang syne?" "For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne, we'll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne."

From Quiz Robert Burns: "To a Mouse" Gobbets

Answer: panic

In Burns' poems, there are numerous Lowland Scots words. Awa means away in Scots, and na means never. This stanza of the poem was written on Burns' birthday, or so it is said.

From Quiz Poet Robert Burns

Answer: Selkirk Grace

There is some controversy about who wrote the Selkirk Grace!

From Quiz Robert Burns

Answer: 1759

He was born on January 25, 1759 in Alloway on the River Doon.

From Quiz Best Laid Schemes

Answer: Kilmarnock volume

Kilmarnock is a large town in the historic Scottish county of Ayrshire. Robert Burns, who is sometimes referred to as the 'Bard of Ayrshire', was born in the then Ayrshire village of Alloway in 1759 - modern-day Alloway is a suburb of Ayr, the county town. The 'Kilmarnock volume' contained some of Burns's well-known works, including 'Halloween' and 'To a Mouse'. Burns first submitted his poetry for publication in 1786 as a means of raising money to pay for his passage to Jamaica, where he had been offered a job on a slave plantation. However, the success of this initial volume led to Burns completely rethinking his plans for his future and he opted for a move to Edinburgh instead. Fame soon followed - 'Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect' was republished by a large Edinburgh publishing firm, he had his portrait painted by the noted artist Alexander Nasmyth and he was granted entry to the highest levels of Scottish society. Not bad for the son of an itinerant tenant farmer.

From Quiz Robert Burns: "To a Mouse" Gobbets

Answer: brattle

A pattle, in Scots, means a plough.

From Quiz Poet Robert Burns

Answer: To learn the flax business

His lodgings in Irvine were in Glasgow Vennel which is now marked by a plaque.

From Quiz Robert Burns

Answer: Scotland

From Quiz Best Laid Schemes

Answer: Witches

'Tam o'Shanter' was written by Robert Burns in 1790, specifically for inclusion in the second volume of 'Antiquities of Scotland' by Francis Grose. In fact, its first appearance in print was in March 1791 in editions of the 'Edinburgh Herald' and the 'Edinburgh Magazine'. In it, the eponymous Tam o'Shanter stops off at the pub on his way home from the marketplace in Ayr and proceeds to get drunk. He eventually continues his journey home towards his angry wife on his faithful horse, Meg. Unfortunately, along the way he witnesses a group of witches, warlocks and the Devil partying outside the haunted Alloway Kirk (church). The witches then lead an attack on Tam and Meg, who flee towards the river (as their pursuers are unable to cross flowing water) and escape just in time - but with the lead witch left in possession of Meg's tail. Presumably the story, which Burns stated was based on a traditional folk tale of the local area, was meant to be a moralistic statement on the dangers of drinking. Burns concluded his work with the verse: "Whene'er to Drink you are inclin'd, Or Cutty-sarks rin in your mind, Think ye may buy the joys o'er dear; Remember Tam o'Shanter's mare."

From Quiz Robert Burns: "To a Mouse" Gobbets

Answer: social union

Burns always was wondering about how man came to triumph over other creatures.

From Quiz Poet Robert Burns

Answer: Dumfries

Burns and family rented a large house in Mill Hole Brae. It was renamed Burns Street, the building is now a museum.

From Quiz Robert Burns

Answer: farmer

Burns started working on the farm at a young age.

From Quiz Best Laid Schemes

Answer: Rose

'A Red, Red Rose' (which also has longer versions of its title based on its first line) is a sweet song that compares the speaker's love to a fresh flower and a sweet melody, which will last even if the "seas gang dry" and the "rocks melt wi' the sun". It is one of the hundreds of traditional Scottish songs that Robert Burns helped to preserve for future generations. Although attributed to Burns, many of the lyrics of 'A Red, Red Rose' and others such as 'Auld Lang Syne' are likely to have come from older sources that Burns either transcribed or incorporated into his own work. Burns contributed around 300 songs to the six volumes that made up the collection of traditional Scottish songs known as the 'Scots Musical Museum' and also collaborated with George Thomson on his 'A Select Collection of Original Scottish Airs for the Voice'.

From Quiz Poet Robert Burns

Answer: To a Louse

Composed after seeing a louse on a Lady's bonnet in Church.

From Quiz Robert Burns

Answer: a few years

Although he didn't spend much time at school his father and mother encouraged him in his self education.

From Quiz Robert Burns: "To a Mouse" Gobbets

Answer: winds

Robert Burns was also known as Rabbie Burns; he felt sympathetic to the plight of animals.

From Quiz Poet Robert Burns

Answer: Hugh Montgomerie

Hugh Montgomerie (Earl of Eglinton) served in the Army and rose to the rank of Colonel of the West Lowland Fencibles in 1793.

From Quiz Robert Burns

Answer: Edinburgh

From Quiz Best Laid Schemes

Answer: Scots Wha Hae

'Scots Wha Hae' is sung to the tune of a traditional Scottish melody called 'Hey Tuttie Tatie'. Folklore states that the music was performed by Robert the Bruce's army at Bannockburn in 1314, ahead of their battle against the forces of King Edward II of England. It is also possible that the music inspired the Scottish army - the battle was a famous victory in their centuries' long struggle against their English neighbours. The lyrics of 'Scots Wha Hae' ('Scots, Who Have' in English) form a fictional speech to his troops by Robert the Bruce before the start of the Battle of Bannockburn. Bruce invokes the memory of the Scottish hero William Wallace ("Scots, wae hae wi Wallace bled"), speaks of the upcoming battle ("Now's the day, an now's the hour") and finally motivates them with the idea of their independence: "Lay the proud usurpers low, Tyrants fall in every foe, Liberty's in every blow! - Let us do or dee." This final verse might also explain why the song was adopted by the pro-independence Scottish National Party and played at the end of their annual political conferences.

From Quiz Robert Burns: "To a Mouse" Gobbets

Answer: nibble

Robert Burns died in Dumfries, in 1796.

From Quiz Poet Robert Burns

Answer: Mossgiel Farm

Robert and his brother Gilbert rented Mossgiel farm near Mauchline

From Quiz Robert Burns

Answer: two years

He had a second book of poems published during this time. After his marriage he returned home and worked on the farm for a while.

From Quiz Best Laid Schemes

Answer: Is There for Honest Poverty

'Is There for Honest Poverty' is the first line of 'A Man's a Man for A' That', which was written in 1795 - just a year before Burns died. The song has been interpreted as promoting liberalism and equality. In particular, the final two lines of each verse champion the idea that a person's wealth should not define their importance to society. The last lines of the final verse then point out that people throughout the world should consider themselves equal: "That Man to Man, the world o'er, Shall brothers be for a' that." The Scottish Parliament itself was first convened in 1999 following the 1997 referendum in favour of the devolution of some powers from Westminster to Edinburgh. The Scottish Parliament Building at Holyrood was not opened until 2004.

From Quiz Robert Burns: "To a Mouse" Gobbets

Answer: foresight

This poem provided John Steinbeck with the title of his novel "Of Mice and Men".

From Quiz Poet Robert Burns

Answer: 612

Published by John Wilson of Kilmarnock in July 1786, at the cost of three shillings per copy.

From Quiz Robert Burns

Answer: exciseman

An exciseman is a tax and customs official. Burns needed more money to support his growing family.

From Quiz Best Laid Schemes

Answer: Agnes "Nancy" McLehose

A familiarity with the lyrics of 'Ae Fond Kiss' would definitely be helpful for answering this question as the first lines of the second verse identify the subject of the song: "I'll ne'er blame my partial fancy; Naething could resist my Nancy" The full title of 'Ae Fond Kiss' gives away the fact that Burns wrote the song after the end of their brief relationship. Agnes "Nancy" McLehose was separated from her husband, but eventually left Edinburgh in 1791 to be reunited with him in Jamaica. Burns wrote the song and sent her the manuscript of it prior to her departure. Robert Burns was notorious for his various affairs. Elizabeth Paton became the mother of his first child in 1785. Around 1786 he fell in love with Mary Campbell; her untimely death led him to write poems in her memory, including 'To Mary in Heaven' and 'Highland Mary'. He then married Jean Armour in 1788. Between 1785 and 1796 (when he died at the age of 37) Burns managed to father 12 children - however, only nine of them were also his wife's.

From Quiz Robert Burns: "To a Mouse" Gobbets

Answer: grief

Before Communist Russia, Burns' poems were inspiration for the Russian poor.

From Quiz Poet Robert Burns

Answer: Gilbert

Gilbert later moved with his family to East Lothian.

From Quiz Best Laid Schemes

Answer: Haggis

Haggis is the stomach of a sheep stuffed with sheep's heart, lungs and liver, along with suet, oatmeal, onion and spices. A modern variant uses an artificial casing instead of the sheep's stomach and the sheep's lungs are often omitted in American recipes. The dish is the focal point of a traditional Burns Supper event: the guests stand when the haggis enters the room, usually accompanied by someone playing Scottish music on the bagpipes; Robert Burns's poem 'Address to a Haggis', the opening lines of which were given in the question, is then recited; finally, the haggis is ceremonially sliced open and the meal begins. Cullen skink (a type of fish soup), neeps and tatties (mashed turnips and mashed potatoes) and cranachan (a dessert involving whisky, cream and honey) are other traditional Scottish dishes that may also be on the menu. 'Address to a Haggis' was written by Burns in 1786.

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