
Tam O'Shanter
by Robert Burns
- Reading level
- Plain English
- Price
- Free
About the book
"Tam O'Shanter" by Robert Burns is a narrative poem written in 1790. It follows Tam, a farmer who frequents the pub despite his wife's warnings, as he rides home drunk one stormy night. Passing a haunted church, he witnesses witches and warlocks dancing with the Devil himself. When Tam foolishly shouts at an attractive witch in a short shirt, the supernatural creatures chase him through the darkness. He must reach the safety of a bridge before they catch him, as witches cannot cross running water.
- Scottish poetry
Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #25733. Tam O'Shanter on Wikipedia.



