Anne Bradstreet And Puritan Writing Style

Throughout women in colonial America, Anne Bradstreet was one of the strongest and influential figures of the time. Mrs. Bradstreet lived from the years 1612 through 1672 not knowing she would inspire later generations with her works and actions. Ever since a little girl, Anne’s father, Thomas Dudley, would make Anne write poetry so they could read together. Anne later married Simon Bradstreet, a future governor, at the age of sixteen years old and boarded on the ship Arbella headed to Plymouth, Massachusetts, with the famous sermoner John Winthrop??? In the famous writings of the poet, we learn Anne has a personal and formal writing voice. Anne writes in Iambic Pentameter, Couplets, and Paradox. Anne became a well-known colonial writer not

Anne Bradstreet’s feelings about her home represent the most material conflict. When her home burned down she wrote the poem to voice these feelings of hers. She describes the awakening to the “shrieks of dreadful voice” and going out to watch “the flame consume” her “dwelling place”. But she comforts herself with good Puritan dogma. The burning of the house is God’s doing and his doings should not be questioned. In looking over the stanzas where she

Anne Bradstreet was America's first noteworthy poet in spite of the fact that she was a woman. Both the daughter and wife of Massachusetts governors, Bradstreet suffered all of the hardships of colonial life, was a mother, and still found time to write. Her poem, "The Author to Her Book," is an example of Bradstreet's excellent use of literary techniques while expressing genuine emotion and using domestic subject matter.

The dichotomy between a Puritan and a Rationalist seems to be very apparent. Despite the differences, the very existence of these two writers showcases the need for dissent to influence, and to always question the status-quo. Anne Bradstreet and Benjamin Franklin give a glimpse of the time period during the creation of their works. Many factors affect their writing: gender and the reason for writing, references to non-Biblical scriptures, and the presence of God.

During the 1630’s, there was a group known as, the Puritans. The Puritans immigrated from England to America, for the sole purpose of religious freedom and their belief that the church of England needed reform. Puritan author’s, Anne Bradstreet and Jonathan Edwards, conveyed their messages and beliefs in their writing . For these two authors, they were working around the same foundation, Puritanism, for the intended messages. Admittedly, there is a disconnection in belief between the two. Edward’s writings take Puritanism to the extreme whilst Bradstreet’s works show a more traditional view in the religion while staying true to it.

The Puritan life, although simple, demanded diligence both mentally and spiritually which put stress on even the most faithful of followers. Although the common practice entailed brushing religious struggles under the rug, few writers bravely wrote of their religious doubts and endeavors to become better Puritans. Author Anne Bradstreet shows in her work “Here Follows Some Verse upon the Burning of Our House, July 10th, 1666” that religious struggles are often met by Puritans and it takes brave souls to admit their difficult time with their religion. This poem shows a woman dealing with a religious crisis and how even though she struggles her faith still holds strong in the end. Bradstreet’s poem displays a crisis of faith in her content

Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor are two of the most distinguished and fervent Puritan poets. Yet this similarity has proven to be one of the few, if not only between these two. One cannot help but find it intriguing that poets who belong to the same religious group and style would write so differently. Many of these differences are not even subtle or hidden beneath the text itself. The differences themselves hold implications and ideas that differ between each poet.

“The God that holds you over the pit of hell… he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire...” (p.124). Jonathan Edwards made this statement in 1741, about 100 years after Anne Bradstreet, the first Puritan woman to write poetry, published the poem, “To my Dear and Loving Husband”. Edwards and Bradstreet both wrote for the Puritan community about their religion, making an impact on the world in different ways. Bradstreet and Edwards both have religious views and used their different styles and personalities to make their own mark on the colony.

women are still fighting for equality every day. In the time of Anne Bradstreet, women had few

Anne Bradstreet and Jonathan Edwards, two puritans during the Great wakening, have two perspectives on god and life itself. Although some of what they say is similar, they do have opposing views on some subjects. In Jonathan Edwards’ sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” he expresses his views about the unforgivingness of god. In Anne Bradstreet’s “Upon the Burning of our House” she writes a captivating poem about being smited by god. In both they elaborate on the power and willingness of god but have opposite views on why.

Studying several author’s’ works from a single period of time enables readers to have a better understanding of their way of life. Even though Anne Bradstreet and Jonathan Edwards,were both Puritans, they had two different types of point of view.

The Puritans believed in many things. An example of one of their beliefs is that God is all powerful and vengeful. In Bradstreets poem this belief is reflected numerous times. It stuck out specifically in this quote. “I blest his name that gave and took.” (Bradstreet line 14). This quote basically says that the women is praying to God that everything is ok because God is all powerful and made this tradgedy happen for a reason. Also that because he is just he can take and gve things as he pleases because he can. In Edwards sermon it is also reflected throughout the piece. “His wrath towards you burns like fire; He looks upon you as worthy or noting else but to be cast into the fire.” (Edwards par.1). This quote means that God is vengeful upon

Religious Faith and Doubt in American Literature Anne Bradstreet – “Here Follow Some Verses upon the Burning of our House” (1666) Anne Bradstreet’s poem, “Here Follow Some Verse upon the Burning of our House”, is a retelling of the author’s personal experience of when her house burned down. In this poem, Bradstreet conveys to her readers that bonds with earthly possessions are a distraction from faith. It is clear that from the narrator’s perspective, religious faith should be the center of one’s life, not an afterthought. The author’s opinion of religion was not unusual for Puritans at this time, who moved to America specifically to practice their faith freely.

But first here’s a little background on her to get a better understanding of her poetry. Anne Bradstreet was born in 1612. She was the daughter of Thomas Dudley in which he managed the affairs of the Earl of Lincoln.

The Puritans sought to purify the church of England from within. Anne Bradstreet, the author of the poem “Verses Upon the Burning of our House, July 10, 1666,” was a Puritan who was part of the Puritan migration to New England. Jonathan Edwards, the author of the sermon” Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” was a descendant of a Puritan minister. Both of the authors relate their work to Puritanism and have religious themes.