How Did Religion Influence Anne Bradstreet's Poetry

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.

 Anne Bradstreet was one of the most noticeable Puritan poet. She was an educated woman and this gave her advantage to write about history, politics, religion, medicine and spirituality. She was considered to be a devoted wife, a loving mother and a very sensitive poet. She wrote poetry because she thoroughly enjoyed it and family, husband, and, children were the main subjects of her poetry. Bradstreet had her eight children between the years 1633 and 1652 (Imbarrato). Although she had loads of family responsibility, she still wrote poetry which conveyed her commitment and dedication to her work.

     Anne Bradstreet’s poems also had these intentions. Although she did not intend for her poetry to be published, she shared her work with family and friends for these same reasons. She wanted to present to them the truths in her own life, that they may take these truths as their own. Anne writes to her children that her intention for writing is not “to show my skill, but to declare the truth, not set forth myself, but the glory of God.” (Doriani 54). In Anne’s personal journal she often tells her children how she has turned to God in times of suffering and conflict. She hopes that they will imitate her actions and feel the rewards. Many of her later works are personal stories, written so her children might “gain some spiritual advantage” (Piercy 35).

Anne Bradstreet was not the typical Puritan author. She wrote sweet and loving poems that greatly contrasted from other writers of her time. She did not write the ever so popular sermons that told people that they were going to hell and there was nothing they could do about it. Bradstreet was a rarity in Puritan times, she was a very educated woman that worked on something other than being a woman in the household. She was one of a kind and the beginning of an era. Using literary criticism when reading Anne Bradstreet’s poems adds a deeper understanding of her character and difficulties in life.

Puritan literature captures not only their beliefs as a religion, but their beliefs as individuals. All Puritan literature is utilitarian, meaning it is useful, purposeful, and reflecting a non-ornate style of writing. One of the most prominent of early English poets was Anne Bradstreet. Her poems reflect the utilitarian style, but do so in a way that is entirely unique to herself and her emotions. Anne Bradstreet opens the bridge between her faith and her personal experiences in her poetry. In her poems “Upon the Burning of Our House” and “In Reference to Her Children” she reflects utilitarianism by recounting the conflicts between her love of her worldly things and her devotion to God’s eternity.

In conclusion, it is left to the opinion whether Anne Bradstreet reflects the Puritan lifestyle or not because this poem focuses on a longing for her

For instance, Bradstreet begins the poem by lamenting her troubles to God. Similar to Mary Rowlandson, Bradstreet

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.

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

A lot of her poetry is sad and somber. Being that she is a Puritan she has a lot of biblical references in her poems. In “The Flesh and the Spirit” Anne takes these two objects and personifies them. She created an environment Where the Flesh and the Spirit where two sisters arguing, Spirit says, “Sisters are we, yea, twins we be, yet deadly feud ‘twixt thee and me; for one father are we not, thou by old Adam wast begot,” (223) she tells the sister that their feud has not been resolved. Flesh took interest with earthly things while Spirit indulged in meditating and trying to get to heaven.

He describes how death chose people blindly. This paper will analyze two poems by Anne Bradstreet and Benjamin Franklin focusing on theme, contribution and historical context. The first paragraph will discuss Anne Bradstreet life and how 17th century reflected in her poem. Grown up in a noble class family, which offered to her better education than her peers. She became first female writer in America.

Although her pieces were all published at the same time (it is therefore difficult to date each piece), there are some significant changes to her attitude towards her writings and position in life as a female author. Bradstreet’s work, The Prologue touches on her feelings as a Puritan woman and emotions on being a female author. She feels that her work is too simple compared to a man and expresses her wish to be more

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