'John Barleycorn' by Robert Burns


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There were three kings into the east,
Three kings both great and high,
An' they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn should die.

They took a plough and ploughed him down,
Put clods upon his head;
An' they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn was dead.

But the cheerfu' spring came kindly on,
And show'rs began to fall;
John Barleycorn got up again,
And sore surprised them all.

The sultry suns of summer came,
And he grew thick and strong;
His head weel armed wi' pointed spears,
That no one should him wrong.

The sober autumn entered mild,
When he grew wan and pale;
His bending joints and drooping head
Showed he began to fail.

His colour sickened more and more,
He faded into age;
And then his enemies began
To show their deadly rage.

They've ta'en a weapon long and sharp,
And cut him by the knee;
Then tied him fast upon a cart,
Like a rogue for forgerie.

They laid him down upon his back,
And cudgelled him full sore;
They hung him up before the storm,
And turned him o'er and o'er.

They filled up a darksome pit
With water to the brim;
They heaved in John Barleycorn,
There let him sink or swim.

They laid him out upon the floor,
To work him farther woe,
And still, as signs of life appeared,
They tossed him to and fro.

They wasted, o'er a scorching flame,
The marrow of his bones;
But a miller used him worst of all,
For he crushed him 'tween two stones.

And they hae ta'en his very heart's blood,
And drank it round and round;
And still the more and more they drank,
Their joy did more abound.

John Barleycorn was a hero bold,
Of noble enterprise;
For if you do but taste his blood,
'Twill make your courage rise;

'Twill make a man forget his woe;
'Twill heighten all his joy:
'Twill make the widow's heart to sing,
Tho' the tear were in her eye.

Then let us toast John Barleycorn,
Each man a glass in hand;
And may his great posterity
Ne'er fail in old Scotland!

Editor 1 Interpretation

John Barleycorn: An In-Depth Literary Criticism

Oh, John Barleycorn, thou king of grain! Thou art the subject of one of the most iconic poems in Scottish literature. Written by Robert Burns in 1782, this ballad tells the story of a man's struggle to harvest and process barley into whisky. But is that all there is to this poem? Let's dive in deeper and explore the rich symbolism and themes within John Barleycorn.

Historical Context

Before we delve into the poem itself, it is important to understand the historical context in which it was written. In the 18th century, whisky production was a vital part of the Scottish economy. Farmers would grow barley, which would then be malted, mashed, fermented, and distilled into whisky. Robert Burns himself was a farmer and a whisky enthusiast, so it's no wonder that he chose to write about this subject.

However, the poem also has deeper meanings beyond the surface-level story of whisky production. It is a symbol of the cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth, and the sacrifices that must be made in order to sustain life.

The Narrative

The poem begins with a description of John Barleycorn, who is personified as a living being:

There was three kings into the east,
Three kings both great and high,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn should die.

Here we see a reference to the wise men who visited Jesus in the Bible, but instead of bringing gifts to the newborn king, these kings are plotting John Barleycorn's demise. The personification of Barleycorn as a king himself sets the stage for the rest of the poem's symbolism.

The next stanza describes the ways in which John Barleycorn is attacked:

They took a plough and ploughed him down,
Put clods upon his head,
And they hae sworn a solemn oath
John Barleycorn was dead.

Here we see a common metaphor for death: being buried under the earth. But John Barleycorn is not dead yet. He rises again, albeit in a weakened state:

But the cheerful Spring came kindly on,
And showers began to fall;
John Barleycorn got up again,
And sore surprised them all.

The use of the word "cheerful" here is significant. Spring is a time of renewal and growth, and it is this renewal that brings John Barleycorn back to life. However, he is not the same as he was before. He is weak and vulnerable:

They wasted, o'er a scorching flame,
The marrow of his bones;
But a miller used him worst of all,
For he crushed him 'tween two stones.

The process of turning barley into whisky involves heating and grinding the grain, which is what is described in this stanza. But this process also symbolizes the sacrifices that must be made in order to sustain life. John Barleycorn must be broken down in order to provide sustenance to humans.

The final stanza describes the end result of all this processing: whisky.

They've taen a weapon, long and sharp,
And cut him by the knee;
Then tied him fast upon a cart,
Like a rogue for forgerie.

They laid him down upon his back,
And cudgell'd him full sore;
They hung him up before the storm,
And turn'd him o'er and o'er.

They filled up a darksome pit
With water to the brim,
They heaved in John Barleycorn,
There let him sink or swim.

They laid him out upon the floor,
To work him farther woe,
And still, as signs of life appear'd,
They tossed him to and fro.

They wasted, o'er a scorching flame,
The marrow of his bones;
But a miller used him worst of all,
For he crushed him 'tween two stones.

And they hae taen his very heart's blood,
And drank it round and round;
And still the more and more they drank,
Their joy did more abound.

The violence in this stanza is striking. The cutting, beating, hanging, and drowning of John Barleycorn are all metaphors for the process of whisky production. But it is the final stanza that is the most significant. The drinking of John Barleycorn's blood by the humans who have tortured him symbolizes the consumption of the whisky that has been made from the barley. It is a reminder that in order to sustain life, sacrifices must be made.

Symbolism and Themes

John Barleycorn is replete with symbolism and themes. Here are just a few:

The Cycles of Life

The death and rebirth of John Barleycorn mirrors the cycles of life in nature. Spring follows winter, life follows death, and so on. The fact that Barleycorn is personified as a king reinforces the idea that he is a symbol of the cyclical nature of life.

Sacrifice

The process of whisky production requires the sacrifice of the barley, just as the consumption of whisky requires the sacrifice of one's liver (to some degree, at least). John Barleycorn is a symbol of the sacrifices that must be made in order to sustain life.

Violence

The violence done to John Barleycorn is a metaphor for the violence done to nature in order to sustain human life. The ploughing, heating, grinding, and fermenting of the barley all involve violence in some way. This violence is necessary in order to create whisky, but it is also a reminder that humans are not separate from nature; we are a part of it, and we must respect it.

Joy

The final stanza of the poem celebrates the consumption of John Barleycorn's blood (i.e. whisky) and the joy that it brings. This joy is tempered by the knowledge that it comes at a cost, but it is still a joyous moment. This reminds us that life is full of joys and sorrows, and that both must be embraced.

Conclusion

John Barleycorn is a rich and complex poem that is more than just a story about whisky production. It is a symbol of the cyclical nature of life, the sacrifices that must be made, the violence that is necessary but must be tempered with respect, and the joys and sorrows of life. Robert Burns was a master poet who understood the complexities of life, and John Barleycorn is a testament to his genius.

Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation

John Barleycorn: A Poem of Life and Death

Robert Burns, the Scottish poet, is known for his ability to capture the essence of life in his works. One of his most famous poems, John Barleycorn, is a perfect example of this. The poem tells the story of a barley plant, personified as a man, who is subjected to various forms of torture and abuse before being transformed into whiskey. The poem is a metaphor for the cycle of life and death, and the struggles that we all face in our journey through it.

The poem begins with the introduction of John Barleycorn, who is described as a "hero bold" and a "man of worth". This sets the tone for the poem, as it immediately establishes John as a character to be admired and respected. However, this admiration is short-lived, as we soon learn that John is about to face a series of challenges that will test his strength and resilience.

The first challenge that John faces is the plow. He is "sawn in half" and "scarce had he power to stand". This is a clear metaphor for the struggles that we all face in life. Just as John is cut down by the plow, we too are often faced with obstacles that threaten to break us. However, just as John manages to stand back up, we too must find the strength to persevere.

The next challenge that John faces is the harrow. He is "dragged through the furrow" and "his very heart did bleed". This is a clear metaphor for the pain and suffering that we all experience in life. Just as John is dragged through the furrow, we too are often dragged through difficult times that leave us feeling broken and bleeding. However, just as John manages to survive this ordeal, we too must find the strength to overcome our pain and suffering.

The third challenge that John faces is the scythe. He is "cut down at the knee" and "left to lie". This is a clear metaphor for death, and the inevitability of our own mortality. Just as John is cut down by the scythe, we too will one day face our own mortality. However, just as John is not defeated by death, but rather transformed by it, we too must find a way to embrace the cycle of life and death.

The final challenge that John faces is the mill. He is "ground between two stones" and "his bones they lie in the clay". This is a clear metaphor for the transformation that we all undergo in death. Just as John is ground between two stones and transformed into whiskey, we too are transformed by death into something new. However, just as John's transformation is not without pain and sacrifice, neither is our own.

The poem ends with a celebration of John's transformation into whiskey. He is described as "the king of good fellows" and "the soul of barley". This is a clear metaphor for the celebration of life that we should all embrace. Just as John is celebrated for his transformation, we too should celebrate the cycle of life and death, and the transformation that it brings.

In conclusion, John Barleycorn is a powerful metaphor for the cycle of life and death, and the struggles that we all face in our journey through it. The poem is a celebration of life, and a reminder that even in the face of adversity, we can find the strength to persevere. Robert Burns has captured the essence of life in this poem, and it is a testament to his skill as a poet.

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