Robert Burns

Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet, was born on January 25, 1759 in Scotland. His father, William Burns, was a poor farmer. There were seven children in the family, and Robert was the eldest. His father knew the value of a good education, and he tried to give his children the best education he could afford. Robert was sent to school at the age of six, but as his father could not pay for the two sons, Robert and his brother Gilbert attended school in turn. When not at school, the boys helped their father with his work in the fields. But soon the teacher left, and so Burns's father invited a young school teacher to teach the boys. When the teacher left, the poet's father taught the children himself. Reading and writing, arithmetic, English grammar, history, literature, French and Latin - that was Robert Burns's education.

Robert's mother knew many Scottish songs and ballads and often sang them to her son in his childhood. His mother's friend Betty told Robert many fantastic tales about devils, fairies and witches. Burns's mother died in 1820. She lived long and enjoyed the fame of her poet son. Robert Burns became fond of reading. He read whatever he could lay his hands on. His favourite writers were Shakespeare, Smolett, Robert Fergusson, a talented Scottish poet (1750—1774). Robert Burns began to write poetry when he was fifteen. He composed verses to the melodies of old folk-songs, which he had admired from his early childhood. He sang of the woods, fields and wonderful valleys of his native land. Burns published some of his poems in 1786. Their success was complete. And Robert Burns became well known and popular. When Burns came to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, a new and enlarged edition of his poems was published. But soon Edinburgh society grew tired of him and forgot about the poet. He always lived in poverty. Robert Burns died in June 21, 1796.

Words and expressions:

value - ценность
to afford - быть в состоянии позволить себе что-либо
fairy - фея
witch - ведьма
to enjoy - наслаждаться
to lay - положить, класть
to devote - посвятить
to admire - восхищаться
to compose - сочинить
poverty – бедность

Answer the questions:

1. When was Robert Burns born?
2. How many children were there in their family?
3. What did Robert's father try to give his children?
4. Who knew many Scottish songs and ballads?
5. What did his mother's friend Betty tell Robert?
6. When did Robert begin to write poetry? 7. When did he die?