The creation of a distinct Scottish Voice in the works of Walter Scott and Robert Burns

Abstract

This essay discusses how different Scottish voices are represented in their texts, the purpose of their respective authors, and their effect on the reader. In order to demonstrate this discussion, the essay focuses on Robert Burns poems Tam o’ Shanter and To a Mouse, contrasting with Walter Scott’s The Bride of Lammermoor. The essay argues that there cannot be a single narrative voice that encompasses all of Scottish experience and demonstrates how, although there are aspects of Scottish society with transcend social classes, oral tradition is present at every level of Scottish society. Furthermore, the essay encompasses both Burns and Scott’s exploration of the world of oral tradition in their texts, how they convey into their works the rich tapestry of Scottish storytelling, a world, as the author suggests, is often left unexplored. Nonetheless, the essay provides evidence of how although they differ in their purpose and context, they both offer a valid account of the Scottish experience of life. In addition, through the discussion of superstition portrayed in both Tam o’ Shanter and The Bridge of Lammermoor, the essay argues its power and its importance in how belief can shape the course of our lives. At the end of the essay, the author examines the internal structure of the Scottish class system, which allows the final conclusion revealing a strong and distinctive Scottish narrative.