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.