Phillis Wheatley Research Paper

Phillis Wheatley is a gem of her time; the first African-American woman to have her poetry published. Though purchased as a slave, her life was far from most African-Americans during the 17th century. She was educated and became deeply rooted in her faith: Christianity. From an outsider, her life may be viewed as an adopted child rather than a slave to the Wheatley family. However, she did not forget where she came from or those less fortunate than herself. Wheatley used the education she was afforded and her new-found spirituality to fight against slavery through the use of words (751). One of the greatest examples of this is her poem “To the University of Cambridge, in New England” addressed to perhaps the well-educated group of

The first known African American to have a poetry book published in America was the late Ms. Phillis Wheatley. Wheatley was born in 1753, in West Africa. In 1761, when Wheatley was roughly seven or eight years of age; she was purchased as a personal slave for Susannah Wheatley, the wife of John Wheatley. Phillis was taught to read and write from Susannah Wheatley’s daughter, Mary in between her household duties. At an early age, Wheatley was deeply involved in the Bible and multitude of other things to include Latin and Greek to English Literature. Wheatley’s love of poetry began when she was just twelve years old. At this age, she started writing poetry and Phillis’ first poem was published in 1770. (Carretta, 2011)

Phillis Wheatley was the the first African American writer to have her books published in the United States. Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral written by Wheatley was viewed as a model for the importance of education with religious aspects, as it was often seen throughout her poetry. Formulated mainly of neoclassical elegiac poetry, Poems on Various Subjects triggered several discussions concerning the length to which Wheatley can be deemed a minor poet or whether she wrote to express politics and moral trouble.

Born in Senegal around 1753, Phillis Wheatley became an important American poetic figure. At the age of 8, she was kidnapped and brought to Boston on a slave ship and upon her arrival to Boston, she was quickly sold to John Wheatley (Bio). Under her new family, Phillis adopted the master’s last name, taken under the wife’s wing, and showed her deep intelligence. Even though suffering from poor health, Phillis’s intelligence did not go unnoticed; she received lessons in theology, English, Latin and Greek. Being a slave did not stop Phillis from learning and experiencing her life, she participated in the master’s family events and eventually became a family member. The irony in this situation is

Phillis Wheatley, one of America’s most profound writers, has contributed greatly to American literature, not only as a writer, but as an African American woman, who has influenced many African Americans by enriching their knowledge of and exposure to their Negro heritage and Negro literature. As one of America’s most renown writers, Wheatley, said to be the mother of African American Literature, is best known for her sympathetic portrayals of African American thought. Wheatley’s literary contributions are vast in nature and distinguish her apart from most writers of her era. Her writings have helped in the molding of the African American tradition and are favored by people of all ethnic backgrounds.Phillis Wheatley was born on the West

Phillis Wheatley overcame extreme obstacles, such as racism and sexism, to become one of the most acclaimed poets in the 18th Century. Her works are characterized by religious and moral backgrounds, which are due to the extensive education of religion she received. In this sense, her poems also fit into American Poetry. However, she differs in the way that she is a black woman whose writings tackle greater subjects while incorporating her moral standpoint. By developing her writing, she began speaking out against injustices that she faced and, consequently, gave way to authors such as Gwendolyn Brooks and Countee Cullen.

Anne Bradstreet, Daughter of the one governor and first published poet in America, was classified as a classic religious poet and also was also considered a very modern poet who really focused on her everyday life and all of her daily activates. Phillis Wheatley, enslaved at the age of 6, and became the first black women poet in America wote mostly classical poetry and had many Christian views. Her poetry used pyscholical meaning and also used poetic devices. Although both poets were to very respected poets of there time both are also very different compared to their work. Phillis Wheatley’s poetry was more in depth, thoughtful, and had somewhat more stylish than the work of Anne’s Bradstreet’s.

Phillis Wheatley was an American figure unlike any other at her time. In a time where slavery was the normal, Ms. Wheatley was a revolutionary figure. She was not revolutionary because she was one of the enslaved but because she was one of the enslaved that knew how to read and write, becoming a published author. Women at the time of Phillis Wheatley were oppressed into submission to social norms. It was almost unheard of for a woman to write poetry, much less to be published. So, for Phillis Wheatley not only to be a slave, but also to be a woman that wrote poetry, she was an extremely influential figure. She was not influential in just one area, but in two areas because she led the way to women being accepted as writers and planted a seed of abolition, although not directly intentional.

On Being Brought from Africa” by Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784): Wheatley was purchased, living as a domestic slave in a wealthy Boston household. Where her masters taught her how to read and write. Wheatley exhibited amazing talent, that even her own poetry was published. Wheatley became famous but was still remained a slave.

George Washington was one of many that was impressed with her work. During this time period, the writings were focused mostly on freedom. This was at the same time of the Revolutionary war against Britain. When he was appointed commander in 1775, she sent him a ode in his honor. It spoke a lot of

When her husband died suddenly in 1822, Sarah Hale found herself and her five children in dire need of a steady income. Friends backed the anonymous publication of a collection of her poetry, The Genius of Oblivion (1823). She also began to submit stories and poems to literary magazines and quickly gained the attention and respect of editors of the leading periodicals.

Phillis Wheatley was the first African American female slave to be published and to have a book of poems published.

Phillis Wheatley, a slave beginning at a young age, considered herself as thankful for being one and for being allowed to be a Christian. She saw herself as thankful, because she could learn how to read and write by her owners. As where majority of people did not know how to do either of those things, no matter what their race was. Wheatley wrote a poem about Reverend George Whitefield, which was the poem that made her famous in 1773. In June of that year she arrived in London to get her book published. Since the events of her book being published, she saw herself as thankful because if she had not been taken from Africa to Boston in 1761, she would not have had the opportunity to show her brilliance.

Wheatley’s article is directed towards working adults. Wheatley uses examples of the working class as well as younger mothers to prove her points about change. She also focuses on the work place (meetings- where people spend their time). She focuses on these areas because the working class spend most of their time in these places where the least amount of change and listening occurs.

When Anne died in 1778, she was mourned by her brother, his second wife, her nieces and nephews, the church circle, and many friends. But she was as yet unknown to the wider Christian public, as her poems and hymns had appeared under her pen name Theodosia. Two years after her death, her identity became public knowledge when Caleb Evans republished the poems and