History Creator / RobertBurns

* MassivelyNumberedSiblings: The oldest of seven children, who had twelve children, the youngest [[SomeoneToRememberHimBy born the day of Burns’ funeral]]. Even though only 5 lived to adulthood, some 300 years after his death, Burns has at least '''900''' direct descendants living today.

* MassivelyNumberedSiblings: Had twelve children, the youngest [[SomeoneToRememberHimBy born the day of Burns’ funeral]]. Result: some 300 years after his death, Burns has at least '''900''' direct descendants living today.

* IDontWantToRuinOurFriendship: ''Love in the Guise of Friendship''

* IDontWantToRuinOurFriendship: ''Love in the Guise of Friendship''

For further study into the works and life of Robert Burns, see this free online course "Robert Burns: Poems, Songs and Legacy" from the University of Glasgow: https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/robert-burns

* MemeticMutation: The UrExample. When UsefulNotes/RichardDawkins introduced the concept in ''The Selfish Gene'', he illustrated it by reference to "Auld Lang Syne".

* GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff: His works are extremely popular in Russia.

* NightmareFuel: ''Tam o' Shanter'' is practically the Scottish equivalent of WashingtonIrving's TheLegendOfSleepyHollow.
* SecondVerseCurse: "Auld Lang Syne" may be one of the most famous songs ever written, but few people know more than the first verse and refrain.
* UrExample: of MemeticMutation. When UsefulNotes/RichardDawkins introduced the concept in ''The Selfish Gene'', he illustrated it by reference to "Auld Lang Syne".

Also, he wrote ''Comin’ Thro the Rye'', or at least one version thereof, which was mentioned in ''TheCatcherInTheRye'' and provided its title... in a way.

* SelectiveObliviousness: Despite his legendary and greatly respected status in UsefulNotes/{{Scotland}}, some readers who are perhaps more objectively critical regard and less starry-eyed view his famous "Address to a Haggis" as being a rather poor poem that is not helped by being written and delivered (traditionally) in a mixture of [[FunetikAksent phonetic Scottish]] and ordinary English.
** This can easily reach levels of BerserkButton for critical fans of poetry when [[RobertBurns Robbie Burns]] is held up in the same light as WilliamShakespeare, with the following example providing a comparison of two famous verses from each poet:
---> '''Shakespeare:''' But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks?
----> It is the east, and Juliet is the sun.
----> Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon,
----> Who is already sick and pale with grief,
----> That thou her maid art far more fair than she
--->
---> '''Burns:''' Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
----> Great chieftain o' the puddin-race!
----> Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
----> Painch, tripe, or thairm:
----> Weel are ye wordy o' a grace
----> As lang's my airm.

Even Scots who ''don't'' need an excuse to get pissed celebrate Burns Night: His birthday, 25 January. The celebrations involve bringing the haggis in and reciting part of its poem (it's a really long poem) before cutting it open.

Even if you haven't heard of him, you've heard some of his stuff; he's one of those guys whose works have dissolved into collective memory. Unofficial New Year's Eve song "Auld Lang Syne" is his[[note]]well, sort of - he claimed it was a pre-existing folk sing that he just wrote down and tidied up[[/note]]. He also wrote "To A Mouse", a line of which was pressed into service for Creator/JohnSteinbeck's novel ''Literature/OfMiceAndMen''. Another of his poems, "To A Louse", gave us the proverb

To see oursels as others see us!''

* UrExample: of MemeticMutation. When UsefulNotes/RichardDawkins introduced the concept in ''The Selfish Gene'', he illustrated it by reference to "Auld Lang Syne".

* UrExample: of MemeticMutation. When RichardDawkins introduced the concept in ''The Selfish Gene'', he illustrated it by reference to "Auld Lang Syne".

* [[GermansLoveDavidHasselhoff]]: His works are extremely popular in Russia.

Even if you haven't heard of him, you've heard some of his stuff; he's one of those guys whose works have dissolved into collective memory. Unofficial New Year's Eve song "Auld Lang Syne" is his[[hottip:*:well, sort of - he claimed it was a pre-existing folk sing that he just wrote down and tidied up]]. He also wrote "To A Mouse", a line of which was pressed into service for Creator/JohnSteinbeck's novel ''Literature/OfMiceAndMen''. Another of his poems, "To A Louse", gave us the proverb

Rabbie Burns! BonnieScotland's favourite poet; TheBard of Ayrshire; author of a poem called "Address To A Haggis". Yes, really.

Rabbie Burns! BonnieScotland's favourite poet; Bard of Ayrshire; author of a poem called "Address To A Haggis". Yes, really.

----

->To see oursels as others see us!''

To see oursels as others see us!''

Even if you haven't heard of him, you've heard some of his stuff; he's one of those guys whose works have dissolved into collective memory. Unofficial New Year's Eve song "Auld Lang Syne" is his[[hottip:*:well, sort of - he claimed it was a pre-existing folk sing that he just wrote down and tidied up]]. He also wrote "To A Mouse", a line of which was pressed into service for JohnSteinbeck's novel ''Literature/OfMiceAndMen''. Another of his poems, "To A Louse", gave us the proverb

->O wad some Pow'r the giftie gie us\\
To see oursels as others see us!\\