Robert Burns: Poems Essay Questions

Essay Questions

  1. 1

    How does the imagery of a ‘roaring lion’ render the devil? - (“Address to the Devil”)

    Robert Burns writes, “Whyles, ranging like a roaring lion,/For prey a’ holes an’ corners tryin.”The ‘roaring lion” is a religious allusion which relates to the Biblical verse: 1 Peter 5:8. The metaphorical lion exposes the devil as an aggressive, predatory adversary that preys on the souls of humanity. The devil is an antagonist whose goal is to terminate humanity through malevolent schemes.

  2. 2

    What attributes justify the Dirge for Winter? (Winter: A Dirge)

    According to Robert Burns, inter is depressing due to the dreary storms, and snow. Submitting to the unfavorable ambience during the winter occasions discontent. The wintry conditions are not pacifying for they generate a mournful ambiance.

  3. 3

    Compare Mary Morison to the Virgin Mary. (“Mary Morrison”)

    Robert Burns alludes to the Virgin Mary’s comeliness through “Mary Morison”. Both are fair and tender women; hence, if Robert Burns had excluded the surname Morison from the title, the song would have been pertinent to the Virgin Mary.

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