preview

Analysis Of Anne BradstreetUpon The Burning Of Our House

Decent Essays

In the early 1700’s and 1800’s, American literature progressively developed. The American writers stressed different themes depending on the era they were writing in. During the Colonial era, Anne Bradstreet wrote a poem describing her puritan view on her house burning down. Esther Edwards writes “The Awful Sweetness of Walking with G-d”, a diary entry describing her daily life being part of a very religious family. During the revolutionary era, Benjamin Franklin published an article that offers advice on improving character. Additionally, Thomas Paine writes a pamphlet urging the colonists to take part in the fight against Britain. Throughout the colonial period, writers focused on responsibility to involve G-d in their daily life, while writers from the revolutionary era focused on the responsibility of self-improvement and morals.
Anne Bradstreet includes a theme of responsibility to G-d in her poem, “Upon the Burning of our House”. Bradstreet feels that G-d is in control, and she therefore feels deeply indebted to G-d, providing her with the ability and clarity needed to cope with any troubles. Anne stares terrified as her house burns down to the ground, and at first, she is stunned and says: “That fearful sound of fire and fire, let no man know is my desire”. In her opinion, fire was a fearful thing that no person should ever have to endure. One would think that her next thought would be rage directed at G-d, but she is far from angry. Instead, she blessed G-d: “I blest

Get Access