Tam O'Shanter: Form and Structure

Tam O’Shanter: Form and Structure

Introductory Thoughts:

  • “Tam O’ Shanter” is a long, narrative Burns poem.
  • The piece is presented as a form of tale or folk story, with Burns introducing it as a “tale”.
  • It utilises a combination of four-line and six-line stanzas, exhibiting Burns’ flexibility with verse structures.

Form & Verse Structure:

  • An uncompromisingly long poem, it emerges episodically over 14 Spenserian stanzas.
  • The stanzas are written in a Spenserian form – nine lines long, arranged in the rhyme scheme ‘ababbcbcc’, with the 1st, 3rd, and 9th lines written in iambic pentameter and the others in iambic hexameter.

Rhyming & Meter:

  • Burns is able to exhibit his skill with complex rhyming, by manipulating the Spenserian stanza form.
  • The laborious rhyme scheme of ‘ababbcbcc’ allows for intricate rhyming patterns, creating an engaging rhythm for the reader.

Tiered Narrative Structure:

  • Burns uses the frame-narrative technique of a story within a story to present Tam’s adventure.
  • The tale begins and ends in the third person but changes to Tam’s perspective during the main happenings of the anecdote.

Temporal & Setting Structure:

  • The poem’s temporal structure moves from evening to early morning, reflecting the overall theme of moral progression and revelation.

Tone & Mood Transitions:

  • The narrative starts off in a jovically droll tone but transitions to an ominous one as the protagonist, Tam, heads towards Alloway Kirk.
  • This shift in tone and mood is a clever Blaze construction by Burns to provide dramatic impact.

Narrative Progression & Conclusion:

  • Burns skilfully weaves a pacey plot development laced with fear, tension, and tragedy.
  • The conclusion provides a dramatic and moral message, tying back to the beginning of the tale, reinforcing the poem’s cyclic episodic nature and cautionary purpose.

Perspective:

  • The poem moves through different viewpoints to deliver a well-rounded view: it provide elements of third-person narrative interspersed with monologues and dialogues.
  • The verse composition and movements give the reader insights into the lives of both Tam and his wife, Kate, thus exploring human nature from various aspects.

Overall Assessment:

  • Tam O’Shanter is a highly structured, skilfully constructed, and rhythmically engaging narrative.
  • Burns explores the depths of his style and verse proficiency to construct a tale laden with wit, caution, and pathos.