MCQs on Robert Burns
1. What is the full name of Robert Burns?
a) Robert Alexander Burns
b) Robert James Burns
c) Robert William Burns
d) Robert Burns
2. In which century did Robert Burns live?
a) 16th century
b) 17th century
c) 18th century
d) 19th century
3. Where was Robert Burns born?
a) Glasgow
b) Edinburgh
c) Alloway
d) Aberdeen
4. What is the title of Robert Burns’s first published collection of poems?
a) Songs of Innocence
b) Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect
c) Lyrical Ballads
d) Auld Lang Syne
5. What nickname is often given to Robert Burns?
a) The Scottish Bard
b) The Poet Laureate
c) The Bard of Avon
d) The Ploughman Poet
6. Which famous poem by Burns addresses a field mouse?
a) To a Louse
b) To a Mouse
c) To a Skylark
d) To the Nightingale
7. What is the title of Robert Burns’s most famous song, often sung on New Year’s Eve?
a) A Red, Red Rose
b) A Man’s a Man for A’ That
c) Ae Fond Kiss
d) Auld Lang Syne
8. What is the central theme of “To a Louse”?
a) Love
b) Nature
c) Social Critique
d) Patriotism
9. In which literary form is “Tam o’ Shanter” written?
a) Sonnet
b) Ballad
c) Epic Poem
d) Ode
10. What is the name of Robert Burns’s farm?
a) Ellisland Farm
b) Alloway Farm
c) Bard’s Retreat Farm
d) Highland Farm
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11. Which of the following poems by Burns is a love ballad?
a) The Twa Dogs
b) A Red, Red Rose
c) The Cotter’s Saturday Night
d) To a Mouse
12. What is the title of the poem in which Burns reflects on the social equality of all people?
a) Auld Lang Syne
b) A Man’s a Man for A’ That
c) Tam o’ Shanter
d) To a Louse
13. Which Scottish dialect did Robert Burns often use in his poetry?
a) Gaelic
b) Doric
c) Scots
d) Pictish
14. What is the subject of Burns’s poem “Address to a Haggis”?
a) A love affair
b) A political revolution
c) A culinary dish
d) A journey through nature
15. What is the meaning of the title “Auld Lang Syne”?
a) Old Long Ago
b) Goodbye, My Love
c) To a Mouse
d) Red, Red Rose
16. What is the significance of Burns Supper, an event celebrated in honor of Robert Burns?
a) Commemorating his birthday
b) Marking his wedding anniversary
c) Remembering his death
d) Honoring his contributions to science
17. Which poem by Burns expresses sympathy for a wounded hare?
a) To a Mouse
b) To a Louse
c) The Twa Dogs
d) The Haggis Hunt
18. What is the central theme of Burns’s poem “A Red, Red Rose”?
a) Nature’s beauty
b) Eternal love
c) Political revolution
d) Human mortality
19. Which famous historical figure is mentioned in Burns’s poem “Scots Wha Hae”?
a) William Wallace
b) Mary, Queen of Scots
c) Robert the Bruce
d) Bonnie Prince Charlie
20. What is the meaning of the term “Bard” in relation to Robert Burns?
a) A type of musical instrument
b) A traditional Scottish dance
c) A term for a poet or storyteller
d) A nickname for a farmer
21. Which of Burns’s poems celebrates the simple joys of rural life?
a) Holy Willie’s Prayer
b) The Cotter’s Saturday Night
c) Tam o’ Shanter
d) The Jolly Beggars
22. What is the title of the poem that reflects on the fleeting nature of time and the inevitability of death?
a) To a Louse
b) To a Mouse
c) A Man’s a Man for A’ That
d) Holy Willie’s Prayer
23. What is the name of the woman often associated with Burns’s love poems?
a) Jean Armour
b) Mary Campbell
c) Agnes Maclehose
d) Clarinda
24. In “A Man’s a Man for A’ That,” what is the phrase “for A’ That” often interpreted to mean?
a) Regardless
b) Forever
c) For All Time
d) For Nothing
25. What is the significance of the line “We twa hae run about the braes” in Burns’s poem “Auld Lang Syne”?
a) It expresses the joy of youth
b) It laments the passage of time
c) It celebrates enduring friendship
d) It reflects on the beauty of nature
26. Which poem by Burns describes the life of a common farmer and his family?
a) To a Mouse
b) The Twa Dogs
c) Holy Willie’s Prayer
d) A Man’s a Man for A’ That
27. What is the meaning of the term “selkie” in Burns’s poem “The Selkie Wife”?
a) A mythical sea creature
b) A type of fish
c) A ghostly figure
d) A Scottish dance
28. Which of Burns’s poems addresses the hypocrisy of religious leaders?
a) A Red, Red Rose
b) Holy Willie’s Prayer
c) To a Mouse
d) The Cotter’s Saturday Night
29. What is the title of the poem that expresses Burns’s admiration for a young woman’s beauty?
a) Ae Fond Kiss
b) My Luve is Like a Red, Red Rose
c) To a Mouse
d) To a Louse
30. What is the traditional Scottish dish mentioned in “Address to a Haggis”?
a) Neeps and Tatties
b) Bannocks
c) Haggis
d) Cock-a-Leekie Soup
31. In “To a Mouse,” what famous line does Burns use to express the sentiment that
even the best-laid plans can go awry?
a) “Man’s inhumanity to man”
b) “Ae fond kiss, and then we sever”
c) “The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men”
d) “Should auld acquaintance be forgot”
32. Which poem by Burns is a satirical attack on religious hypocrisy and self-righteousness?
a) The Cotter’s Saturday Night
b) Holy Willie’s Prayer
c) Tam o’ Shanter
d) To a Mouse
33. What is the central theme of “Ae Fond Kiss”?
a) Patriotism
b) Lost love and farewell
c) Nature’s beauty
d) The joys of friendship
34. Which poem by Burns tells the story of Tam, a farmer who encounters supernatural beings during a wild ride?
a) The Twa Dogs
b) Holy Willie’s Prayer
c) Tam o’ Shanter
d) To a Mouse
35. What is the meaning of the term “louse” in Burns’s poem “To a Louse”?
a) A small insect
b) A type of bird
c) A flower
d) A musical instrument
36. What does the phrase “gang aft a-gley” mean in Burns’s poem “To a Mouse”?
a) Go often astray
b) Dance merrily
c) Sing loudly
d) Work diligently
37. What is the title of the poem that reflects on the power of music to bring people together?
a) A Man’s a Man for A’ That
b) Ae Fond Kiss
c) A Red, Red Rose
d) The Power of Music
38. Which poet greatly admired Robert Burns and considered him a major influence?
a) William Wordsworth
b) John Keats
c) Samuel Taylor Coleridge
d) Percy Bysshe Shelley
39. What is the significance of the line “Gie me a spark o’ Nature’s fire” in Burns’s poem “Epistle to a Young Friend”?
a) It celebrates the beauty of nature
b) It expresses the desire for inspiration
c) It laments lost love
d) It criticizes social inequality
40. Which poem by Burns describes a gathering of beggars and their joyous celebration?
a) To a Mouse
b) The Twa Dogs
c) Holy Willie’s Prayer
d) The Jolly Beggars
41. What is the title of the poem in which Burns addresses the Devil?
a) Holy Willie’s Prayer
b) To a Mouse
c) The Twa Dogs
d) Tam o’ Shanter
42. Which musical genre is often associated with Burns’s songs and poems?
a) Jazz
b) Country
c) Folk
d) Rock
43. In “To a Mouse,” what is the speaker’s response to the mouse’s plight?
a) Sympathy and regret
b) Laughter and mockery
c) Indifference
d) Anger and frustration
44. What is the name of the river mentioned in Burns’s poem “Tam o’ Shanter”?
a) Clyde
b) Tweed
c) Nith
d) Tay
45. Which poem by Burns celebrates the egalitarian spirit and the dignity of common people?
a) The Twa Dogs
b) To a Mouse
c) The Jolly Beggars
d) Holy Willie’s Prayer
46. What is the title of the poem in which Burns reflects on the beauty of his lover’s smile?
a) To a Louse
b) Ae Fond Kiss
c) The Cotter’s Saturday Night
d) Tam o’ Shanter
47. What is the meaning of the term “Ae Fond Kiss”?
a) A Last Farewell
b) A Sweet Embrace
c) A Joyful Reunion
d) A Loving Greeting
48. What is the significance of the phrase “Man’s inhumanity to man” in Burns’s poetry?
a) It celebrates human kindness
b) It laments the cruelty of humanity
c) It praises social harmony
d) It criticizes political leaders
49. Which of Burns’s poems is a humorous and satirical work?
a) A Red, Red Rose
b) Holy Willie’s Prayer
c) Tam o’ Shanter
d) To a Mouse
50. What is the traditional Scottish dance often associated with Robert Burns’s songs and poems?
a) Waltz
b) Highland Fling
c) Jig
d) Ceilidh
Answer
1. d) Robert Burns
2. c) 18th century
3. c) Alloway
4. b) Poems, Chiefly in the Scottish Dialect
5. a) The Scottish Bard
6. b) To a Mouse
7. d) Auld Lang Syne
8. c) Social Critique
9. b) Ballad
10. a) Ellisland Farm
11. b) A Red, Red Rose
12. b) A Man’s a Man for A’ That
13. c) Scots
14. c) A culinary dish
15. a) Old Long Ago
16. a) Commemorating his birthday
17. b) To a Louse
18. b) Eternal love
19. a) William Wallace
20. c) A term for a poet or storyteller
21. b) The Cotter’s Saturday Night
22. d) Holy Willie’s Prayer
23. a) Jean Armour
24. a) Regardless
25. c) It celebrates enduring friendship
26. b) The Twa Dogs
27. a) A mythical sea creature
28. b) Holy Willie’s Prayer
29. b) My Luve is Like a Red, Red Rose
30. c) Haggis
31. c) “The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men”
32. b) Holy Willie’s Prayer
33. b) Lost love and farewell
34. c) Tam o’ Shanter
35. a) A small insect
36. a) Go often astray
37. d) The Power of Music
38. a) William Wordsworth
39. b) It expresses the desire for inspiration
40. d) The Jolly Beggars
41. a) Holy Willie’s Prayer
42. c) Folk
43. a) Sympathy and regret
44. c) Nith
45. a) The Twa Dogs
46. b) Ae Fond Kiss
47. a) A Last Farewell
48. b) It laments the cruelty of humanity
49. b) Holy Willie’s Prayer
50. d) Ceilidh
