Robert Burns: Poems Symbols, Allegory and Motifs

Robert Burns: Poems Symbols, Allegory and Motifs

Lion versus Prey- “Address to the Devil”

Burns speaks to Satan, “Whyles, ranging like a roarin lion,/For prey a' holes an' corners tryin.” The roaring lion embodies Satan whereas the prey characterizes the souls/individuals that Satan is endeavoring to gulp through his scheming methodologies.

Red, Red Rose- “A Red, Red Rose”

Burns writes, “O my Luve is like a red, red rose/That’s newly sprung in June.” The duplication of red accentuates the immensity the speaker’s passion. The redness infers that the love is unduly vehement.

Melody-“A Red, Red Rose”

The emblematic melody relates to the synchronisation of the love. Burns explicates, “O my Luve is like the melody/That’s sweetly played in tune.” The love is amiably and symphonic that it assures supreme efficacy to the lovers.

The mouse’s nest-“To a Mouse”

The nest epitomizes a portion of nature that has been dented by man. Burn repents, “I’m truly sorry Man’s dominion/Has broken Nature’s social union,/An’ justifies that ill opinion,/Which makes thee startle,/At me, thy poor, earth-born companion.” Both man and mice are mortal, but man is more prevailing. Man’s pre-eminence is detrimental to the mice as it backs the meddling with the mice’s domicile.

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