Robert Burns – "To a Mouse"

1. Robert Burns – "To a Mouse" By: Tristan Whitenight, Emily Parker, and Olivia Dumez

2. Robert Burns Life! • Born on January 25, 1759 • He was born in Alloway, Scotland • His parents were tenant farmers but ensured Robert with a relatively good education . • He fathered twins with his eventual wife Jean Armour, but a rift in their relationship nearly led to Burns emigrating to the West Indies with lover Mary Campbell. • Mary's sudden death and the success of his first published collection of verse kept him in Scotland. • At just the age of 27, Burns had already become famous across the country. • Burns died on July 21, 1796. (37 years old)

3. Essential Question! • What kind of relationship do you have with nature? Do you believe people should appreciate the nature around them? Do you have any experiences with nature? If so, explain.

4. Background of "To a Mouse" • To a Mouse” was written in November 1785 • Gilbert Burns, brother of the poet, wrote that this poem was actually composed while Burns was plowing a field. • The poem demonstrates the poet's sympathetic attitude toward nature and toward man. • Many of Burns' early poems were inspired by his observations of the world around him. • Born the son of farmer in Ayrshire, Burns was literally "bred to the plow.“ • “To a Mouse” is a vernacular poem that tells a little story in an English dialect called Scots. • It contains eight stanzas, each with six lines.

5. Analyzing Poem • “To a Mouse” is a vernacular poem that tells a little story in an English dialect called Scots. • It contains eight stanzas, each with six lines. • The rhyme scheme is AAABAB • The meter is iambic tetrameter and iambic diameter • In this poem Burns develops the theme of respect for nature and innocence • Setting is in on a farm in Scotland • The time was in the late 18th century • In the poem the man ploughed up the mice home on accident • The poem expresses a sad and hopeless tone

6. Theme! • The relationship between man and nature is a major theme in this poem. Burns devotes the poem to contemplating a bad situation of a field mouse, using the mouse’s circumstances as a metaphor for the lower social classes. This sort of romantic idealism fits in with the growing social consciousness spreading through Europe during this time period. The romantics, were infatuated with the beauty of the natural world, saw this world as the perfect example for exploring the social issues of the day. Burns uses a mouse as a stand in for the poor, which is an example of this new thinking.

7. Literary Devices! • The poem is one big metaphor comparing the speaker’s life to the mouse’s life. This is the only metaphor in the poem, there are also no similes in the poem. There is one example of personification that gives nature a human like characteristic. The only other literary devices are alliteration found throughout the poem.

8. Why a Romantic Poem? • Burns expresses his childhood memories through relating them to a mouse’s life. The author’s tone shows these feelings he had when he was a child in poverty.

9. Summary! (Stanza 1) • Small, sleek, cowering, timorous beast,O, what a panic is in your breast!You need not start away so hastyWith hurrying scamper!I would be loath to run and chase you,With murdering plough-staff.

10. Summary! (Stanza 2) • I'm truly sorry man's dominionHas broken Nature's social union,And justifies that ill opinionWhich makes thee startleAt me, thy poor, earth born companionAnd fellow mortal!

11. Summary! (Stanza 3) • I doubt not, sometimes, but you may steal;What then? Poor beast, you must live!An odd ear in twenty-four sheavesIs a small request;I will get a blessing with what is left,And never miss it.

12. Summary! (Stanza 4) • Your small house, too, in ruin!It's feeble walls the winds are scattering!And nothing now, to build a new one,Of coarse grass green!And bleak December's winds coming,Both bitter and keen!

13. Summary! (Stanza 5) • You saw the fields laid bare and wasted,And weary winter coming fast,And cozy here, beneath the blast,You thought to dwell,Till crash! the cruel plough pastOut through your cell.

14. Summary! (Stanza 6) • That small bit heap of leaves and stubble,Has cost you many a weary nibble!Now you are turned out, for all your trouble,Without house or holding,To endure the winter's sleety dribble,And hoar-frost cold.

15. Summary! (Stanza 7) • But Mouse, you are not alone,In proving foresight may be vain:The best laid schemes of mice and menGo often askew,And leaves us nothing but grief and pain,For promised joy!

16. Summary! (Stanza 8) • Still you are blest, compared with me!The present only touches you:But oh! I backward cast my eye,On prospects dreary!And forward, though I cannot see,I guess and fear!

17. Group Opinion • The poem was interesting to read due to it being an entire metaphor. • Burns wrote the poem in a way that was easy for anyone to understand. • Lastly, this poem teaches the life lesson of helping the innocent because everyone has been in a helpless situation.