Robert Burns’ “To a Mouse” Essay Example for Free

Robert fire To a Mouse EssayIn the poesys Robert burn To a Mouse and The Mouses Petition by Anna Letitia Barbauld, many feelings and emotions about mice atomic number 18 brought forth. While both poems were written by assorted authors, many of the feelings they share towards mice are viridity. The analysis of the two poems w disappointment serve well to find the comparisons and differences in theme, political and social issues, diction, and emotional state. Examples from the poems will help to show the similarities and differences in the two. The tone of each poet in the poems, many similarities become evident. Both poets face a sad and guilty tone when talking about mice. When Barbauld begins to write about what she believes the mouse is feeling inside of the test cage, the lecturer gets an idea how the poet whitethorn also feel.For here forlorn and sad I sit, within the wiry grate. (Barbauld, 5-6) Barbauld uses a line in the poem to show how she thinks the mouse is fe eling. Robert Burns expresses an concern amount of remorse for the mouse in his poem. He does so by using his sad regretful and remorseful tone, much like Barbauld. Im truly sorry mans dominion has broken Natures social union. (Burns, l.7-8) Burns makes it obvious how he feels by using his tones end-to-end the poem to relay a message of guilt and sadness. The two poems share identical endings Burns as well as Barbauld make reference to the position that mice are much like men. Barbauld indicates, So when destruction lurks unseen, which men, like mice, may share. (Barbauld, l.45-48) Oddly enough, speaking to a mouse in the same tone, Burns states, The best-laid schemes o mice an men Gang aft a-gley. (Burns, l.39-40) While both poems are written by different poets, in different years, the two share the same tone to help portray their views of mice and how they are misunderstood.The themes in both of the poems are very(prenominal) similar also both poems are about mice and their l ife changing experiences with them. The usual theme in Anna Barbaulds, A Mouses Petition, is cruelty and unfairness. The mouse Barbauld speaks of is universe utilize for tests in a science lab, and will eventually be killed in such experiments. Anna writes through and through poem that this act is unjust and should not happen to such a creature. Through the use of the poem she tries to tell the scientist Beware, lest in the worm you crush, a brothers soul you find. (Barbauld, l.35-36) Barbauld relates that killing a mouse is not morally different from taking the life of a fellow man. The poems theme is telling and pushes the reader to feel sorrow for the poor mouse. In To a Mouse by Robert Burns, the ongoing themes are guilt and fear.Burns knows what mice are up to, larceny his food from his crops and ruining his walls within his home to make homes of their own. Burns however, does not care because he himself feels guilty for the little mice. Burns feels like even though they may be a nuisance to some humans, the mice take on no choice but to do these things to live to see another day. I incertitude na, whiles, but thou may thieve What then? Poor beastie, thou maun live (Burns l.13-14) Burns explains why he is not bothered that the mice steal his food. Burns also has the theme of fear in his poem. The mice fear men, and for good reason, Burns is aware of this and makes minimal effort to scare the mice while they are at work.An justifies that ill opinion which makes thee startle, (Burns, l.9-10) Burns discusses how the fear mice have for men is due to the brutes who have no patience to understand what the mice go through. While the two poems have different themes, one cosmos cruelty and unfairness and the other being guilt and fear, the themes are similar in the fashion that both poets show remorse for the mice and what they go through. Barbauld never once mentions how mice may in fact have it easier than humans do, but in the final lines from To a Mou se Burns does indicate being a mouse may sometimes be easier.Still thou art blest compared wi me (Burns, l.43) Burns states that even though a mouse may not demand to be a human, Burns believes a mouse has the ability to solely live in the present, and cannot remember the past or have to think of the future. Burns shares the dread he feels when he must remember the past or think about the future. Burns wishes he never had such a burden, and believes mice would not want to have such a burden either. For this reason while the two poems themes are very similar, they still have contact lens differences in how they view mice and men.Many Political issues were raised when the two poems were written. In 1773, the same year The Mouses Petition was written, the Boston tea fellowship movement had happened. This happened soon after the British parliament granted it a monopoly to the North American tea trade. While this made the British happy it was the rootage of a revolt by the Americans. They felt they should not have to be taxed for their own goods. The Americans fought stand by raiding the tea ships going to the British and put away all the tea into the ocean. While this was a revolt for the Americans, for the British not much had happened except for the fact they had seen what happens as a result of people being pushed into something they didnt want to do. This conjunction can be made to the Mouse in A Mouses Petition because the mouse did not want to be a test subject but was forced to do so, left without a choice.Wither or not Barbaulds writing was impact by the Boston Tea Party movement or not, the two happening in the same year seems to be enough of a connection to assume this was an effect. In 1785, the same year To a Mouse was written, Scotland was under the beginning of the highland clearances. Before 1785 many families and clans were getting relocated to other part of Scotland so that the land could be used to raise big black sheep instead. The succ ess of relocating humans for the use of their land became so popular that the evil countess of Sutherland used the threat of clearances to blackmail every young man on her vast estates to enlist in her regiment.She then evicted their families later anyway. One is left to wonder if Burns was forced to take part in one of these dreadful moves, or simply had to experience seeing these events happen. Either way having to leave your land unexpectedly would take a toll on your mind mentally and physically. Especially if you were sent to war with promise your land would be safe, only to come back realizing your land had been taken away anyways.In, To a mouse, burns refers by stating through a part of his poem that he does not like the fact that he can remember the past, The present only touchect thee But och I backward cast my ee On prospects drear An forward though I canna see, I guess an fear (Burns, l.49-53) Burns talks about how looking back on the past brings him disappointment and sorrow. Maybe this is because he was in the nitty-gritty of relocation or had already gone through one due to the highland clearance. While material has not proven or disproven that Burns was a part of the highland clearance one can be left wondering if those events had an impact on his poem.The poetic diction in the two poems is very unique. While both use plenty of metaphors, there vocabulary is much different. This is partly because Burns uses a Scotish accent in his poems to give off the Scots feel. Barbauld uses regular 1700s English, much like other poets of the time from Britain. Burnss Scottish accent is used in the poem to give the reader an idea what it would sound like if he himself was to recite the poem. While the reader may not understand as quickly as if reading in regular English, it helps to read the poem exactly like it would be read. While at first it is a challenging task to understand, it later becomes simple to translate. Barbaulds poem is much more generic f or what the poems looked like in her area in the 1700s, there is no accent used like in Burnss which makes the initial reading of her poem much easier.One thing To a Mouse and A Mouses Petition have in common is there use of metaphors. Burns uses metaphor less often than Barbauld, An bleak Decembers winds ensuin, Baith snell and keen (Burns l.28-29) Burns discusses with the mouse about how the winter winds are sharp like a knife, a metaphor for the winter wind being cold and seeming like it can go right through your body. Barbauld uses metahphors more frequently, May some kind angel clear thy path, And break the hidden snare. (Barbauld, l.47-48) Barbauld is saying metaphorically that she hopes the man has a sudden change of mind and his thoughts are changed for the good, not to use the mouse as a scientific test dummy.The two poems being compared and contrasted show that the two are not so different. While there are many similarities and differences analysing political and social is sues, diction, and tone have helped to find these similarities and differences. The two poems about mice are much more building complex than the initial read. The reader must dig deep into the meanings of the poems, the diction, the time they were written, the social issues that were happening in those times, and the poets tones to reveal the true meanings of the poems.Works CitedBurns, R. To a Mouse. The Longman Anthology British Literature. David Damrosch and Kevin J.H. Dettmar. Pearson Education, 2010. 359-360. Latitita, A. The Mouses Petition. The Longman Anthology British Literature. David Damrosch and Kevin J.H. Dettmar. Pearson Education, 2010. 62-63.