b) 1796 c) 1814 d) 1846. Robert Burns was born in Ayrshire on the west coast of
... a) J.D Salinger b) John Steinbeck c) F. Scott Fitzgerald d) Jack Kerouac.
The Ultimate Burns Quiz | Round 1| Burns Then
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10 questions, one point for each correct answer. Multiple-choice answers and clues are optional. Correct answer in bold with additional information provided for each question where relevant. We celebrate the birth of Robert Burns on the 25th January each year. However, in which year was he born?
a) 1759
b) 1796
c) 1814
d) 1846
Robert Burns was born in Ayrshire on the west coast of Scotland. However, what is the name of the village in which he was born? a) Ayr
b) Alloway
c) Galloway
d) Mauchline
Burns was born and lived in Alloway for the first seven years of his life. It’s now a suburb of the town of Ayr. (Allow half a point for Ayr)
Robert Burns was born to William Burnes[s] and Agnes Broun but how many siblings did Burns have? a) none
b) 2
c) 4
d) 6
Robert Burns was the eldest of 7 children – he had three younger brothers and three younger sisters.
What was Robert Burns’ father’s occupation? a) Teacher
b) Publican
c) Farmer
d) Judge
He was a tenant farmer but taught his children reading, writing, arithmetic, geography and history to ensure they had a good education.
What age was Burns when he wrote his first verse (Handsome Nell)? a) 15
b) 17
c) 19
d) 21
‘Handsome Nell’ or ‘O Once I lov’d a bonnie lass’ was written in 1774 when Robert was just 15 years old.
It’s thought that Burns was planning to leave Ayrshire and head abroad in 1786. Where did he plan to go?
a) West Indies
b) France
c) Jamaica
d) Ireland
After the huge success of the first publication of his poetry, Burns never left on his planned emigration.
Who did Robert Burns marry? (Bonus point for the year they married) a) Nellie Kilpatrick
b) Jean Armour
c) Mary Campbell
d) Agnes McLehose
Burns began an affair with Jean Armour in 1785 and married her in 1788. She bore him nine children, only three of whom survived infancy.
Which of these jobs did Robert Burns not do? a) Flax-dresser
b) Exciseman
c) Farmer
d) school teacher
Burns wrote a poem that included the line ‘Wee, sleekit, cow’rin, tim’rous beastie’. What kind of animal was the beastie? a) mouse
b) louse
c) grouse
d) hamster
The title of the poem that this line comes from is To a Mouse written in 1785.
Robert Burns died at a relatively young age. How old was he when he died?
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a) 27
b) 33
c) 37
d) 43
Robert Burns died on 21 July 1796 at the age of 37 and a half.
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End of round 1. Get teams to swap answer sheets. Read out correct answers and ask teams to total up the score. Collate scores into the master score sheet provided.
The Ultimate Burns Quiz | Round 2| Burns Now Around the world there are only two non-religious historic figures with more statues dedicated to them than Robert Burns. Can you name either?
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Optional clue: One is a royal, the other is an explorer Answer: Queen Victoria and Christopher Columbus Which country was the first to honour Burns with a commemorative stamp? a) Soviet Union
b) China
c) Great Britain
d) USA
It marked the 160th anniversary of Burns’ death in 1956. (Accept USSR or Russia too)
The title of the literary classic ‘Of Mice and Men’ was taken from Burns’ poem ‘To a Mouse’. Who wrote ‘Of Mice and Men’? b) John Steinbeck c) F. Scott Fitzgerald d) Jack Kerouac
a) J.D Salinger
John Steinbeck took the title of his 1937 novel from the famous Burns’ line ‘The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft agley’
Which city in America has a life-size replica of the cottage Burns’ was born in?
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Optional clue: It’s in the state of Georgia a) Atlanta
b) Chicago
c) Portland
d) Washington DC
The city of Atlanta, Georgia has a replica of the cottage that Burns was born in. It was built by the Burns Club of Atlanta in 1911.
Which well known designer claims direct descent from Robert Burns? a) Stella McCartney b) Tom Ford c) Tommy Hilfiger
d) Christopher Kane
US fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger claims direct descent from Robert Burns.
Which of Robert Burns’ songs was sung at the opening of the new Scottish Parliament in 1999? a) A Man’s a Man for a’ That
b) Auld Lang Syne
c) Ae Fond Kiss
d) Caledonia
Also known as ‘Is there for Honest Poverty’, ‘A Man’s A Man for a’ That’ was chosen as the anthem to open the new Scottish Parliament.
‘Auld Lang Syne’ is recognised by the Guinness Book of World Records as being one of the top three most popular songs in the English language. Can you name either of the other two? Optional clue: One of them might be sung to you once a year A: ‘Happy Birthday’ and ‘For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow’ The town of Mosgiel (near Dunedin) is named after Robert Burns’ farm in Ayrshire. In which country is this town located? a) Australia
b) New Zealand
c) South Africa
d) Zimbabwe
Which world famous musician was reputed to have been working on setting some of the Bard’s poems to music before their death? a) Frank Sinatra
b) John Lennon
c) Michael Jackson d) Whitney Houston
A miniature book of Burns’ poetry was taken where by Nick Patrick in 2010?
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a) Top of Mount Everest
b) The North Pole
c) The South Pole
d) Into space
A miniature book of Robert Burns’ poetry was carried into orbit by astronaut Nick Patrick on a two week space mission in 2010, completing a 5.7 million mile trip and 217 orbits of the Earth.
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Answers to Round 3 (Picture round) 1a, 2d, 3a, 4b, 5c, 6b, 7c
The Ultimate Burns Quiz | Round 3| Name that Burns
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Each of these set of four images represent the main themes in some of Robert Burns’ most famous poems. One point for each correct answer.
1
2
3
a) To a Mouse b) Winter (a Dirge)
a) Afton Water b) The Farewell
a) Tam o’ Shanter b) The Brig of Ayr
c) To a Louse
c) A Dream
c) Halloween
d) A Dream
a) The Holy Fair
b) Holy Willie’s Prayer
d) To a Haggis
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d) To a Mountain Daisy
5
6
a) The Twa Dogs b) Scots Wha Hae
a) Nature’s Law
c) Address to the Diel
c) My Luv is like a d) To a Mountain Red Red Rose Daisy
d) A Man’s a Man for A’ That
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a) Scotch Drink
b) A Winter Night
c) Address to the Toothache
d) Address to Beelzebub
b) Ae Fond Kiss
c) The Ordination d) Auld Lang Syne
Team Name
Round 1
Round 2
1
1
2
2
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
6
7
7
8
8
9
9
10
10
Total
Round 3 (Picture round) 1
5
2
6
3
7
4
Total
Total
Master score sheet
Team name
Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Total
