Correspondingly, since both Puritan writers describe their individual Gods in a certain light, it results in an unmistakable discrepancy among the audiences each type of writing is intended to be delivered to. To Edward Taylor, writing is purely for the glory of God and for the expression of feelings towards Him. Generally, Edward Taylor’s works are considered too bright and too jaunty for the Puritan conservatives at the time and do not serve for moral instruction as most literature should. In Taylor’s work “Upon Wedlock, and Death of Children” he describes,
Here Primrose, Cowslips, Roses, Lilies blow
With Violets and Pinkes that voide perfumes.
Whose beauteous leaves ore laid with Hony Dew.
And Chanting birds Cherp out sweet Musick true. (qtd in “Edward
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It is an attestment to the true expression of the heart that Taylor is pouring out to God. Taylor’s writing is not to be shared with his community of believers like Jonathan Edwards’ writing; it is meant to be a personal message or story where Taylor can express himself in any way that he wants. Not only does Edward Taylor write many poems for God, but he also engages in the writing of personal meditations which were devout religious contemplations in the form of writing. In Taylor’s “Sixth Meditation,” he speaks directly to God and asks Him if he is His golden servant. Elaborating on this question for sixteen more stanzas, Taylor continuously asks God, if by any chance he stands out to God at all. Later on, Taylor realizes that he may in fact not stand out to God at all, and so he asks God to make him shine golden and bright, so that he may stand out from the rest of the Puritans (qtd in “Edward Taylor”, Poetry and Biography). Obviously, Taylor acknowledges his brilliant ability to write, but instead of using it as a source of word or scripture like most Puritan writers, his works are for the expression of personal
It reflects on the Puritans’’ ideals and beliefs. Such as, they believed in salvation and that the fate of individual soul was predetermined by God. Also, that salvation was a private choice among God and the 'Elect'. Elects or Saints were the ones who were saved and the ones who weren't were 'wicked’.
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.
“Confession of sin shuts the mouth of Hell and Opens the gates of paradise.” These Wise words from Thomas watson embody the aims and beliefs of the puritans. The puritans expressed their beliefs and thoughts of the bible through their writing; be it poems, sermons, or stories. In the short story A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson by Mary Rowlandson, The sermon From Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God by Jonathan Edwards, and the poem by Anne Bradstreet [Deliverance] From Another Sore Fit, there is a common theme of religion and the hardships these writers go through to produce such powerful works of literature. The puritan’s possessed a very unique style of writing which introduce many literary elements into all different types of
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.
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.
I have read material from many different authors and although I enjoyed most of them, I have to say that my two favorites were Edward Taylor and Anne Bradstreet. Both of these authors are Puritans, and it is easy to tell when reading their pieces. Puritans typically write in simple language, and always refer to God. Edward Taylor created a powerful analogy in his piece, Upon a Spider Catching a Fly. The analogy that he describes is an analogy between people and Satan. The spider represents the devil, who is manipulative and wants to trap people in his web of sin. The wasp represents someone who is strong in their faith and does not let themselves get trapped in
Edmund S. Morgan’s writing depicts the Puritans in a respectful perspective. The Puritans’ beliefs are controversial purely due to the fact that they are strongly contrasting to shared beliefs today. Within the first concept Morgan introduces, the embodiment of Puritan ideology is expressed. Puritans claimed, “religion
The second Amendment to the Constitution, which concern is the rights to bear arms, has always been a hot-button issue, especially during election season. In the United States, the ability to choose whether or not to own a gun means favoring or opposing the right and the legislation restricting rights that come with it. For years, gun rights and gun control groups alike have been lobbying Congress for decades to sway legislation to their respective favors. The question then become, should the United States have more control over guns? The issue of guns in America should remain in the hands of the citizens because it helps people feel more safe and they help prevent people from becoming victims of crime.
In the 1600’s, Puritans living in both England and New England held their views on God rather tightly and lived their lives as good Christians. Puritans were selfless individuals who had escaped and came to America in search of religious freedom and peace. In literature during that time period, it is made very clear that everything the Puritans had accomplished or acquired was a result of God, and that they were forever in his debt. One of the great poets from this time era was Anne Bradstreet who wrote about her children, husband, and parents. Anne Bradstreet blended her domestic life with theological imagery in every poem she did, explaining that her grandchildren were merely lent to her but
Two authors, their Puritan beliefs are shone through poems and sermons although contains vast similarities but are also set apart by major distinctions, their works not only affected their generation but transcends hundreds of years to influence the generation of today. In their most famed works, authors like Anne Bradstreet wrote The Burning of Our House, and To My Dear and Loving Husband or Jonathan Edwards a revivalist preacher who compiled the famous sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God conveyed their ideals of the Puritan religion upon the people of their generation by always placing God as the focal point, even though the personality in their works may contrast they both got their puritan beliefs across. In each one of their writings there is no argument
The poem begins with the poet noticing the beauty around her, the fall colors as the sun sets “Their leaves and fruits seemed painted, but was true, / Of green, of red, of yellow, mixed hue;” (5-6). The poet immediately relates the effects of nature’s beauty to her own spiritual beliefs. She wonders that if nature here on Earth is so magnificent, then Heaven must be more wonderful than ever imagined. She then views a stately oak tree and
During the Age of Faith, the subject matter and writing styles were unusual. Puritans wrote about their
Edward Taylor’s Upon Wedlock, and Death of Children and Upon a Wasp Chilled with Cold are similar in their approach with the illustration of how beautiful and magnificent God’s creations are to humankind. However, each poem presents tragic misfortune, such as the death of his own children in Upon Wedlock, and Death of Children and the cold, enigmatic nature of human soul in Upon a Wasp Chilled with Cold. Taylor’s poems create an element of how cruel reality can be, as well as manifest an errant correlation between earthly life and spiritual salvation, which is how you react to the problems you face on earth determines the salvation that God has in store for you.
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.
She also thanks God during situations that could seem like nothing to be thankful about like, “yet the Lord by his almighty power, preserved a number of us from death” (Rowlandson 10). Through both the narratives of the lives of Equiano and Rowlandson, the Puritan literature is influence by religious ideologies and philosophies.