Compare And Contrast Bradstreet And Taylor

Poems from the time of the Puritans usually were based on their religion. Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor both portrayed a Puritanical message in their poems. Edward did so more so than Anne. They both conveyed different types of love. Anne wrote about her husband and how much she loved him. While Edward wrote about his love for God and how he wanted God to use him for His glory.

"The Author to Her Book" shows Bradstreet's feelings about the unauthorized printing of her work. She expresses her modesty about her ability to write by comparing her work to "homespun cloth" meaning that is was coarse and unrefined. Bradstreet also uses humor to express her feelings about the publication of her work without corrections, but there is still some genuine discomfort. "At thy return my blushing was not small" shows that she was a bit embarrassed about the world reading her rough drafts, but she amends her view towards the book as the poem continues. "Yet being mine own, at length affection would Thy blemishes amend…" illustrates that she truly loves her poetry, and after it is "cleaned" she takes pride in it. She show her delight in her work with the admonition "If for thy Father asked, say thou had'st none." Bradstreet wanted everyone to recognize her for the talented woman writer that she was, but requested this acknowledgment in a humble way.

Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor are two poets who are puritans. They are able to use writing and language to portray their ideas on G-d and religion. Upon the Burning of Our House, July 10th, 1666 by Bradstreet and Huswifery by Taylor are similar in the sense that G-d is always a part of their poems, whether it’s direct or through the use of complex writing. Through the use of language and metaphors, Bradstreet conveys that a connection with G-d could be strengthened through destruction while Taylor reveals that a connection can be reinforced through creation.

The poem “To my Dear and Loving Husband” by Anne Bradstreet, is not just an exceedingly felt expression of a wife’s marital love and commitment to her husband, as it is about a puritan women who is supposed to be reserved but she makes it her obligation to enlighten her husband of her devotion. A thorough analysis of the poem’s paradox, hyperbole, imagery and repetition reveals how she conveys her message.

Bradstreet´s, “Before the Birth of One of Her Children” is a letter written to her husband expressing true concern of her probability to pass away during labor. Birth rate during the seventeenth century in England ranged from five to eight children per women. The limitations in health care during that period increased the probability of maternal death to one per eight births. Uncertain whether she would withstand her upcoming labor, Bradstreet is motivated to show her concerns and at the same time deliver a farewell message to her husband. As a result, the author achieves to surprise the lector by her ability to convey a direct message in this melancholic memorandum. Bradstreet expresses her acceptance of death as she points out three personal principles: believe that all things in life will end, ask that virtues remain while forgiving flaws, and embrace the idea that loved ones will eventually overcome a painful loss and proceed with their lives.

Bradstreet first refers to her collection of writing as an “…ill-form’d offspring of my feeble brain…” letting her reader know that she views her writing as a poorly made child that her brain has given birth to. When she states that, “Who after birth did’st by my side remain, / Till snatch from thence by friends…” she alludes to her unwillingness to share her work with the world and that it was only by someone else’s hand that it was. There are more examples of her humility when she speaks of it as a “rambling brat” and wanting to fix its flaws (Bradstreet, Upon the Burning of Our House, July 10th, 1666 142). In “The Prologue” Bradstreet continues to show her humble nature when she describes epic events and persons of historical significance being too “superior” for her “mean pen” (The Prologue 135). She goes on to say she hopes her “obscure lines” will not diminish the works of these great events and men (Bradstreet, The Prologue 136). These descriptions are used as a way for her to acknowledge her modest life. Throughout these writings, Anne Bradstreet’s humble nature is indicative of her puritan

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.

Bradstreet acknowledging men are the dominant members of society and that all she wants is for some acknowledgement of her skill as a poet. I believe her poems spoke volumes about her culture and where she came from. Her poems reflect on her questioning scriptures and dealing with the confines of the wilderness.

Bradstreet describes her deep love of her husband and how this relationship is very strong, and the overall tone is very romantic “If ever two were one, then surely we” (1). Bradstreet further makes her point that they can be one; she mentions the unity between the wife and the husband and how they are connecting to each other, how the love makes two persons into one “If ever man were loved by wife, then thee” (2).

In several Puritan poems, the authors refer to themselves, their children, or their grandchildren as flowers or trees. In Anne Bradstreet’s poem “In

Her poem “In Reference to Her Children” embodies a more emotional tone than “The Prologue”. Bradstreet personifies birds to metaphorically represent all eight of her children and elaborates on her role as a mother when her children start their own lives as adult. In fact, the poem is an exceptional depiction of motherhood for her children all embarked on separate paths, and Bradstreet expresses her undying love and worry regarding her children, which are feelings most mothers endure when their children depart. In regards to her children facing the dangers of the world, she writes, “Whilst pecking corn and void of care, they fall un’wares in fowler’s snare, or whilst on trees they sit and sing, some untoward boy at them do fling, or whilst allured with bell and glass, the net be spread, and caught, alas, or lest by lime-twigs they be foiled, or by some greedy hawks be spoiled”

Another poem titled “The Author to Her Book” gives the reader the image of a baby being born. Bradstreet critics her works again and again seemingly portraying her works are not good enough. She refers to the “child” having blemishes and crippling handicaps that represents the deep faults and shortcomings in her work. Washing the child, rubbing off a blemish, and stretching its joints but failing to improve his imperfections all contribute to an image of Bradstreet rewriting her book. Dreadfully trying to increase the quality and standards in her work, the more imperfections she found. Towards the end of the poem Bradstreet talks about how she would give her ugly “child” new clothes and it just appears that her real life actions contradict her poem. She is actually very poor in life and could not afford new clothes thus sending her children away from the house.

In Anne Bradstreet’s “In Memory of My Dear Grandchild Elizabeth Bradstreet”, she writes about the loss of her newborn granddaughter. Letting her emotions flow into her work, a reader can feel the anger and heartbreak of Anne mourning her

Bradstreet wanted her poetry to remain private. She accepted her poetry unconditionally, like a mother accepts her child, because if she tried to correct the poem's flaws more flaws appeared. A distinct expression of Bradstreet true love to her

Quite atypically for a renowned American poet, Anne Bradstreet was an English-born writer who moved to America in 1630 after enduring an arduous journey (“Anne Bradstreet”). Bradstreet was a devoutly religious Puritan, following the precedent of her father and husband, the most prominent men in her life. Her dedicated Puritan beliefs greatly molded her writings. Many of her poems contain references to sin, redemption, and immortality among other recurrent Puritan topics (“Anne Bradstreet”). Anne Bradstreet’s published poetry collections were the first published works of poetry by an English-American (Eberwein 161-163). Anne Bradstreet was a groundbreaking writer as the first English-American poet of her time; her life experiences, Puritan