Date of Award
1992
Document Type
Thesis
Publication Status
Version of Record
Submission Date
October 2026
Abstract
Arguing that "Tam o' Shanter" is a mock epic, this thesis defines the major epic conventions that Robert Burns uses in his masterpiece. As well as using epic features in the action portions of the narrative, Burns uses epic convention to craft a subtle episodic structure. In addition, throughout his poem, Burns subverts epic conventions associated with the epic hero as a way to create his anti-hero, Tam. Comparing Burns's poem to Alexander Pope's "The Rape of the Lock" (the standard for English mock-epic poetry), shows Burns's familiarity with the mock-epic genre generally and with Pope specifically (Burns read and especially admired Pope). The commonalities between the two poems are too numerous to be coincidental; in fact, many times Burns is parodying Pope's poem, thereby parodying a parody.
Extent
53 p.
Recommended Citation
Beggan, Patricia Louise, "Mock-epic elements in two masterpieces: Robert Burns's "Tam o' Shanter" and Alexander Pope's "The Rape of the Lock"" (1992). Electronic Theses and Dissertations 1990 - 1999. 333.
https://digitalcommons.fau.edu/etd_general_4/333
Identifier
FADT14793
Comments
FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection|Adviser: Carol McGuirk.|Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 1992.|FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection