"...of mice and men"??

[meinfs]

A couple of questions:

I heard this phrase, "... of mice and men" in Burns' poem "To The Mouse."

- Is Robert Burns the original writer of this phrase?
- Did John Steinbeck get inspiration from Burns to use this as his novel's title?

Thanks.

[Bugbear]

Oops, Mein, yes it was. I had to go listen to the poem that you had posted. Never mind what I wrote before; I was just having a mental block.

[McMurdo]

Yes you are right, Steinbeck did indeed take inspiration from Burns, as I might say did many. Ted the exact phrase is:
"The Best laid schemes of Mice and Men Gang aft agley"
It does indeed comes from To a Mouse

[jkruger]

Robert Burns was the original writer of the phrase. The title of the book Of mice and Men was inspired by the poem.

[Chas]

Hi,

I've just done a Google search and found this:

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition. 2002.

The best-laid plans of mice and men often go awry


No matter how carefully a project is planned, something may still go wrong with it. The saying is adapted from a line in “To a Mouse,” by Robert Burns: “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft a-gley.”

Regards

Chas

[meinfs]

How truly wonderful, for me to discover these things.

At the Burns Supper+Kilt Night we had in Maryland last weekend, I remarked to Mael Coluim and to svc40bt -- that the more I hear and learn about Robert Burns, the more I am liking him!!!!!!!


During that evening's program, the organizer of that Supper did a presentation on the Immortal Memory. I learned from that presentation that Burns was a man far ahead and beyond his time with, in particular, his resistance to slavery and his belief in the notions of equality of men and respect for all things. (Though I don't know what his views are of equality between men AND women)


The poem "A Man's A Man for A' That" (how lyrical!) reflects his belief of equality. "To A Mouse" was of respect for things even though as a small and as seemingly insignificant as a mouse. [I've only heard these poems spoken and just learning about them, so please forgive if my interpretations are erroneous].

It gives me chills! And I desire to learn more about Robert Burns and his works. How fun it would be to be able to get a book of his works and commentary about him... suggestions?

Thank you gentlemen.

[McMurdo]

Mein
You may like to go looking around this website, it has all his works, including a poem entitled The Rights of Women.

http://www.robertburns.org/

As for books there are many I would suggest "The Works of Robert Burns" from the Wordsworth Poetry Library
ISBN 1-85326-415-6

I also have a very good pocket edition from Dover Thrift Editions Titled "Robert Burns Poems and Songs"

I picked it up from ebay as my old pocket edition was printed in 1942 and I was afraid it would fall apart, as it is a paperback.

[meinfs]

Thanks Glen. Excellent resource.


Ahh, I have to read The Rights of Woman several times more and read commentaries on it for me to get a fuller understanding...

Thanks.

Mein
You may like to go looking around this website, it has all his works, including a poem entitled The Rights of Women.

http://www.robertburns.org/

As for books there are many I would suggest "The Works of Robert Burns" from the Wordsworth Poetry Library
ISBN 1-85326-415-6

I also have a very good pocket edition from Dover Thrift Editions Titled "Robert Burns Poems and Songs"

I picked it up from ebay as my old pocket edition was printed in 1942 and I was afraid it would fall apart, as it is a paperback.

[starbkjrus]

snip..

that the more I hear and learn about Robert Burns, the more I am liking him!!!!!!!


...snip.

I couldn't agree more. When I made reservations for my first Burns Supper I was like Robert who?....oh yeah, THAT guy.

Now the more I read the more I appreciate his work.

[McMurdo]

Mein
If you want to see what Burns thought of lesser creatures look no further than

To a Louse
Ha! whaur ye gaun, ye crowlin ferlie?
Your impudence protects you sairly;
I canna say but ye strunt rarely,
Owre gauze and lace;
Tho', faith! I fear ye dine but sparely
On sic a place.

Ye ugly, creepin, blastit wonner,
Detested, shunn'd by saunt an' sinner,
How daur ye set your fit upon her-
Sae fine a lady?
Gae somewhere else and seek your dinner
On some poor body.

Swith! in some beggar's haffet squattle;
There ye may creep, and sprawl, and sprattle,
Wi' ither kindred, jumping cattle,
In shoals and nations;
Whaur horn nor bane ne'er daur unsettle
Your thick plantations.

Now haud you there, ye're out o' sight,
Below the fatt'rels, snug and tight;
Na, faith ye yet! ye'll no be right,
Till ye've got on it-
The verra tapmost, tow'rin height
O' Miss' bonnet.

My sooth! right bauld ye set your nose out,
As plump an' grey as ony groset:
O for some rank, mercurial rozet,
Or fell, red smeddum,
I'd gie you sic a hearty dose o't,
Wad dress your droddum.

I wad na been surpris'd to spy
You on an auld wife's flainen toy;
Or aiblins some bit dubbie boy,
On's wyliecoat;
But Miss' fine Lunardi! fye!
How daur ye do't?

O Jeany, dinna toss your head,
An' set your beauties a' abread!
Ye little ken what cursed speed
The blastie's makin:
Thae winks an' finger-ends, I dread,
Are notice takin.

O wad some Power the giftie gie us
To see oursels as ithers see us!
It wad frae mony a blunder free us,
An' foolish notion:
What airs in dress an' gait wad lea'e us,
An' ev'n devotion!