Anne Bradstreet was recognized as the first woman poet in America. Her first collection of poetry, The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up, received considerable attention when it was first published in London in 1650 and later in America. Her success came from the strong Puritan faith while resisting the difficulty of life which made her life and work unique. Bradstreet’s family was one of the British colonialist families that came to America in 1630. British colonies had a great impact on the history and literature of America during the sixteen and seventeen century. Bradstreet’s family resided in New England and contributed to creating civilized societies based on pure religious belief. Puritans were a reforming group of English Protestants, who tried to purify the church and return to the early simplicity of Christianity in the 16th century. They were active socially, religiously, and politically …show more content…
Her family gave her privileges to acquire better coincidence for speaking up for her right and express her feelings with confidence. When she was seven years old in 1619, her father, Thomas Dudley, worked as steward of the Earl of Lincoln and brought the family to the Earl’s estate, “which was comprised of Tattershall Castle and Sempringham Manor in County Lincolnshire. Anne found herself catapulted into a culturally and intellectually stimulating atmosphere” (Nichols 22). At the same time, they enjoyed the luxurious and civilized life of England on Earl Lincoln property. Anne was her father’s favorite daughter, which gave her the privilege of receiving domestic tutoring. Additionally, the family had access to Earl Lincoln’s library, helping her to read literature, science, and history in Greek, Latin, French, Hebrew as well as English. Wilson maintained, “Anne grew up among the nobility. Her opportunities for enlightening reading and study were great. She was surrounded by vigorous Puritan aristocracy”
Anne Bradstreet was a woman in conflict. She was a Puritan wife and a poet. There is a conflict between Puritan theology and her own personal feelings on life. Many of her poems reveal her eternal conflict regarding her emotions and the beliefs of her religion. The two often stood in direct opposition to each other. Her Puritan faith demanded that she seek salvation and the promises of Heaven. However, Bradstreet felt more strongly about her life on Earth. She was very. She was very attached to her family and community. Bradstreet loved her life and the Earth.
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.
One would assume that Anne was quite bright and inquisitive and received a lot of her father's attention. Even privileged girls of this time period were not given this kind of education. Eventually Francis Marbury was allowed to resume preaching, but the education of his children continued. This education would serve her well at her future trial; she knew scripture as well as any minister and this helped her greatly when confronted by the powerful Puritan church leaders.
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.
Anne Bradstreet was born in 1612 as a Puritan. In Puritan culture education was essential in order for one to be able to read and understand the Bible. This allowed Bradstreet to be well educated in literature and history, particularly in Greek, Latin, French, Hebrew, as well as English (Woodleif). Woodleif goes into detail discussing Bradstreet’s education, explaining, “She read widely in history, science, and literature, especially the works of Guillame du Bartas, studying her craft and gradually developing a confident poetic voice.” Her intellectual education resulted in a huge impact on her life.
The Puritans were a religious group that came to North America in search of religious freedom, and, in the process, greatly impacted the North American church, government, education, social mores, and economy. Many of the things that they implemented in the first colonies are still seen today in the social and governmental structures of the United States. Their beliefs and traditions are still practiced today and many social mores are still being adhered to, even now.
Throughout history there are many influential people who shape the American literature. Then again, a part of those people were not born in America or a strong male figure. One of the people who influenced literature and the entire colonies was a woman who came over from Europe. Anne Hutchinson was a woman who sailed over as a puritan and stirred the flow of the colonies. Although her powerful character wasn’t appreciated, Hutchinson changed America forever.
A Puritan defined is “a member of a group of English Protestants of the late 16th and 17th centuries who regarded the Reformation of the Church of England under Elizabeth as incomplete and sought to simplify and regulate forms of worship.” Puritan society in America depended on the belief that all members were working for the glory of God. The Puritans did not allow deviations from the strict code of behavior which would not allow any member to have individuality. They restricted any type of entertainment, except that which was endorsed by the church. They worked and worshipped.
The 17th century Puritans were known to represent a religious group migrating from England to America in order to practice religious freedom. These groups were determined to “purify” churches of England from Catholic practices. Puritans are known for their religious, social, and political influences on early America. Edmund S. Morgan’s novel The Puritan Family highlights a part of history that many would tend to look over upon- that is, the complex structural life of Puritan Families in the 17th century.
rights and they were seen as inferior to men. Anne lived among the puritans whom ruled her
Feminism today remains prominent because even while women’s rights are very strong, women are still fighting for equality every day. In the time of Anne Bradstreet, women had few rights and they were seen as inferior to men. Anne lived among the puritans whom ruled her everyday life. Although it was against the puritan code for women to receive an education, Bradstreet’s father, Thomas Dudley, loved his daughter dearly and made sure that she was well educated which shows in her works. Anne Bradstreet’s literature became well known only because her family published her works under a male name. This was done because writing poetry was a serious offense to the puritans since poetry was
The Puritans were a group of "congregationalists" that didn't support the Anglican church because the church was too "catholic".They also believed reformation was needed and an egalitarian environment was necessary.
Anne Bradstreet’s poetry resembles a quiet pond. Her quiet puritan thinking acts as the calm surface that bears a resemblance to her natural values and religious beliefs. Underneath the pond there is an abundance of activity comparable to her becoming the first notable poet in American Literature. Anne Bradstreet did not obtain the first notable poet’s title very easily; she endured sickness, lack of food, and primitive living conditions during her time in the New World. Despite these misfortunes she used her emotions and strong educational background to write extraordinarily well for a woman in that time.
Anne Bradstreet, as a poet, wrote as both a Puritan woman in her time and as a woman ahead of her time. Zach Hutchins analyzed this tension in “The Wisdom of Anne Bradstreet: Eschewing Eve and Emulating Elizabeth”, and makes a primary argument that three of Bradstreet’s poems provide evidence that Bradstreet rejects the Puritan views of a woman while keeping her own personal faith. Hutchins fither his argument by declaring that readers should not view Bradstreet as a symbol of rebellion or submission, instead as a symbol of wisdom.
Puritanism was a religious movement that began in the late sixteenth century. The puritans were a group of reformed protestants who sought to “purify” the Church of England during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. However, puritanism was not just a historical movement, it was a lifestyle that the puritans brought to New England. Puritanism can be defined by predestination, calling, covenant, Protestant ethic, and conversion.