What is the general tone of this poem?
A combination of love for the child and remorse that she was born out of marriage
A combination of celebration for the birth and defiance towards people who criticised him
A combination of anger and resentment that he will have to support his daughter
What does the speaker think about others views of his personal life?
It is a lot of petty and malicious gossip
It is a serious threat to his career and happiness
It is a hurtful personal attack by people he knows well
How does the speaker now feel about the passion which created his daughter?
He is ashamed
He is not embarrassed
He is sorry
What does the reference to my last plack in stanza 4 mean?
my last plack
He will share his plack with the child as it does not have much value.
plack
He is poor and cannot afford to look after the child.
He will provide for the child right up to his last coin.
What is the purpose of the strong rhymes in stanza 5: bested, clad, bread and bed?
bested
clad
bread
bed
It emphasises that the speaker’s determination to support her
It emphasises the finality that he will help her only once
It emphasises the speaker’s anger about their poverty
Which aspect of the attitudes of his time does Burns challenge in stanza 6?
The view that the poor and their children do not matter
The view that personal morality should be based on strict religion
Traditional view that fathers should support their families
What does the use of thee when addressing his daughter suggest?
thee
A feeling that she is inferior to him
A feeling of closeness and love
A feeling that he is still trying to get to know her
What is the speaker’s attitude to Betty, the child’s mother, in stanza 7?
He is proud of her because she is a beautiful person, both in appearance and personality
He is ashamed of her because of her one bad action, her relationship with him
He is sorry because he has ruined her life as she now has an illegitimate child
What attitude to himself does he reveal in stanza 7?
Self-important
Self-centred
Self-depreciating
What is the tone at the end of the poem?
Anger and bitterness
Sorrow and remorse
Pride and defiance