Poem Analysis - The Trogger

A Humorous Encounter Gone Awry

Robert Burns' "The Trogger" is a bawdy and humorous poem recounting a forced sexual encounter. The poem's tone is initially suggestive, quickly turning to shock and outrage, before settling into a rueful acceptance tinged with lingering resentment. The language is colloquial and direct, adding to the poem's visceral impact. While the experience is undeniably unpleasant for the speaker, the overall effect is more comedic than tragic, driven by the speaker's colorful cursing and the subsequent attempt to drown their sorrows.

Burns and His Social Context: Celebrating Lowland Scots Life

Robert Burns, Scotland's national poet, often wrote about the lives and experiences of ordinary people, particularly those in the Lowlands. His poetry frequently explores themes of love, nature, and social injustice, often using the Scots dialect. "The Trogger" fits into this tradition by depicting a frank and perhaps exaggerated incident of rural life, showcasing the vernacular language and offering a glimpse into the less refined aspects of social interaction. The poem, while potentially shocking to modern sensibilities, reflects a cultural acceptance of ribald humor and a willingness to address sexual themes directly, albeit within the confines of poetry and song.

From Assault to Acceptance: Theme of Power and Resignation

One key theme is the abuse of power. The "trogger," likely a peddler or traveling salesman, uses his physical strength to overpower the speaker. This is evident in the lines "He laid me down upon my back," and "Till he was in me to the hilts." The speaker's protests are ignored, highlighting their lack of control over the situation. A secondary theme is resignation. While initially "bann'd and sair misca'd him," the speaker's resistance ultimately proves futile. They eventually participate in drinking with the trogger ("Where the brandy-stoup we gart it clink"), suggesting a begrudging acceptance of what has occurred. Finally, the theme of lasting impact, while subtle, is also present. The last stanza reveals the speaker’s lingering disgust (“But I’ve claw’d a sairy cunt synsine”), indicating the encounter has left a lasting mark despite the attempts at reconciliation.

Vivid Imagery and Their Meanings

The poem relies on vivid imagery to convey the intensity of the experience. The phrase "in me to the hilts" is particularly striking, creating a forceful image of penetration and violation. The image of the "trogger" bracing his foot against a "stane" ("He stell'd his foot against a stane") further emphasizes his determination and the speaker's helplessness. The “brandy-stoup” and “strang-beer ream the quech in” offer a contrasting image of attempted joviality, a way to gloss over the preceding events with drink. The final image of the "sairy cunt" is a blunt and visceral reminder of the physical aftermath of the encounter, underscoring the speaker's enduring discomfort.

The Lingering Resentment: Significance of "O the deevil tak sic troggin!"

The repeated refrain, "O the deevil tak sic troggin!" serves as a crucial element in understanding the poem's message. It's a curse, expressing the speaker's anger and frustration. However, its repetition throughout the poem, even after the drinking scene, suggests that the speaker's feelings are not entirely resolved. While there is an attempt to move on, the phrase acts as a constant reminder of the unwanted encounter. The poem ultimately highlights the complex interplay of anger, resignation, and a lingering sense of violation, all wrapped within a framework of coarse humor. Is the curse a genuine expression of hatred, or a way to cope with a traumatic experience through dark humor? This ambiguity adds to the poem's enduring intrigue.