Being the son of a farmer, Robert Burns was used to hard manial work from childhood on. But his father, William Burns, saw to it that his son got as good an education as
was possible under the circumstances. Despite his talent as a poet and his efforts as a farmer, Robert Burns stayed a poor man all his life. Allen Cunningham states, in the biographical
notes of the 1855 edition of the complete works of Robert Burns, that due to his being a poet Burns was never able to make a living out of his farm, as writing poetry did not agree with this kind of work. This stands to doubt, as writing poetry cannot bring on adverse weather conditions, or cause fields to be stony, pastures to be wet, and rents to rise. And Robert Burns
surely put a lot of effort in farming. He tried to be well informed by reading about new and better farming methods, and he enjoyed rural life, as can be seen in many of his poems and
songs, where he lovingly portraits the contryside and its inhabitants - humans as well as animals.
Robert Burns was an intelligent man with an independent mind, who had strong political and humanitarian opinions.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction: Robert Burns
2. Calvinism
3. The Calvinistic Doctrine
4. The importance of the Kirk in the 18th century
5. The attitude of Robert Burns towards Calvinism
6. The Kirk satires
7. Conclusion - Robert Burns and his set of beliefs
8. List of Literature
Research Objectives and Core Themes
This academic assignment examines the complex and critical relationship between the renowned Scottish poet Robert Burns and the dominant Calvinist church of the 18th century, exploring how Burns's humanistic values conflicted with the rigorous, often hypocritical, orthodoxy of his time.
- Historical context of the Scottish Kirk and its social influence.
- The theological tenets of Calvinism (T.U.L.I.P.) and their impact on daily life.
- Burns's satirical critique of church hypocrisy and rigid clerical authority.
- The distinction between Burns's critique of orthodox dogmatism and his personal religious beliefs.
- Analysis of specific literary works as vehicles for social and religious commentary.
Excerpt from the Work
6. The Kirk satires:
In other poems Burns uses irony and sarcasm to critizise. His best known clerical satires are “Holy Willie’s Prayer”, “The Holy Fair”, “Address to the Deil”, and “Twa Herds”, all of them written between 1784 and 1786, before Burns left his farm in Mauchline in the care of his brother Gilbert and went to Edinborough. They expose the bigotry and hypocrisy of the self-styled saints as well as the controversy between Old Light and New Light congregations, and the fearful uncertainty of the congregation’s members that led to superstition and an almost hysterical fear of the devil.
“The Holy Fair” draws a vivid picture of a religious gathering at Mauchline in Ayrshire, where the poet encounters three allegorical figures named Hypocrisy, Superstition, and Fun. This is exactly what people get at the meeting, once the have paid the entrence fee of tuppence:
“On this hand sits a chosen swatch,
Wi`screw`d up, grace-proud faces;
On that a set o`chaps, at watch,
Thrang winkin`on the lasses”
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Robert Burns: Provides a biographical overview of Robert Burns, highlighting his education, social background as a tenant farmer, and his early commitment to preserving Scottish culture.
2. Calvinism: Details the origins of the Scottish Reformation under John Knox and the democratic yet rigid structure of the Presbyterian Kirk.
3. The Calvinistic Doctrine: Outlines the five points of Calvinism (T.U.L.I.P.) and discusses the tension between orthodox dogma and emerging "New Light" liberalism.
4. The importance of the Kirk in the 18th century: Examines the Kirk's role as a powerful social institution that enforced strict moral discipline and controlled education.
5. The attitude of Robert Burns towards Calvinism: Analyzes Burns's personal disdain for the bigotry and hypocrisy he perceived among church elders, illustrated through his poetic addresses.
6. The Kirk satires: Investigates Burns’s use of irony and sarcasm in his major clerical satires to critique ecclesiastical authority and religious superstition.
7. Conclusion - Robert Burns and his set of beliefs: Summarizes Burns’s stance as neither strictly atheist nor orthodox, but rather a man of humanistic faith who valued compassion over dogma.
8. List of Literature: A comprehensive collection of secondary sources, poems, and web resources used for the analysis.
Keywords
Robert Burns, Calvinism, Scottish Kirk, 18th Century Scotland, Religious Satire, Presbyterianism, T.U.L.I.P., Humanism, Enlightenment, Hypocrisy, Holy Willie's Prayer, The Holy Fair, Church Reform, Theology, Social Criticism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this assignment?
The assignment explores the critical and often antagonistic relationship between Robert Burns and the orthodox Calvinist church of 18th-century Scotland.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
The central themes include the influence of the Kirk, the rigidity of Calvinist doctrine, the cultural tension between "Old Light" and "New Light" factions, and Burns’s use of satire to challenge moral hypocrisy.
What is the main research objective?
The goal is to demonstrate how Burns utilized his poetry to critique religious institutions that he felt prioritized rigid dogma over humanistic values like honesty and compassion.
Which methodology is employed in this research?
The author uses a literary and historical analysis, comparing theological texts (like the Westminster Confession) and historical accounts of the Kirk with Burns’s poems and personal letters.
What topics are covered in the main body of the text?
The body covers the history of Calvinism in Scotland, the specific theological points of the doctrine, the social power of the Kirk, and an in-depth analysis of Burns’s satirical works.
Which keywords best characterize this work?
Key terms include Robert Burns, Calvinism, Kirk, Satire, 18th-century Scotland, hypocrisy, and humanism.
How does Burns's view on predestination manifest in his poetry?
Burns critiques predestination by highlighting the cruelty of a system that condemns the majority of mankind, often using his poems to suggest that even "Satan" might find salvation if his nature changed.
Does the author consider Burns to be an atheist?
No, the author concludes that while Burns was highly critical of orthodox church hypocrisy, he maintained a respect for genuine Christianity and a personal belief in a merciful, non-vengeful God.
- Quote paper
- Laura Endrizzi (Author), 2011, The attitude of Robert Burns towards Calvinism, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/296256
