PUR - Puritan Poetry Lesson

The first Puritan poet we will study is Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672).

Bradstreet composed her first poem in 1632, at the age of 19. In 1645, her brother-in-law collected her early poems and sailed to England, where he had them published. They were well received and became popular. Bradstreet later wrote a poem about her surprise at her writing having been published without her knowledge, but more recently, letters between her and her brother-in-law have been discovered. Some scholars suggest that she pretended not to know about the publication because as a female Puritan writer, she had to be careful not to seem too ambitious.

Bradstreet is the first published female poet of America, and the first poet published in both England and the New World.

Reading Assignment

You are now ready to read two poems by Bradstreet: "To My Dear and Loving Husband" and "Upon the Burning of Our House." As discussed in the unit overview video, Bradstreet uses several literary devices, though her writing is still in plain style. Pay attention to the directness of her emotions in expressing her love and joy in marriage. Ask yourself how this vision of marriage compares to the starkness of life we sometimes associate with Puritans. Also, look for Puritan beliefs about God, his providence, and his mercy. Ask yourself how Bradstreet handles the complete destruction of her home and belongings. What is most important to her? Does she question her God or use her faith to help her endure?

"To My Dear and Loving Husband" Text Link Links to an external site.

"Upon the Burning of our House" Text Link Links to an external site.

Edward Taylor

The second Puritan poet we will study is Edward Taylor (1642-1729).

Taylor's writing was for him a form of meditation and worship. He did not intend for his writings to be published, and he asked his descendants not to publish his works. However, his writings were so well preserved that they were able to be published 200 years later by others.

Reading Assignment

Click here to read Taylor's poem, "Huswifery." As you read the poem, pay close attention to the use of conceit and apostrophe, two of the literary terms in your module vocabulary. How are these literary terms effectively used in the poem? What do you think the spinning wheel really represents? In addition to the spinning wheel, try to identify the metaphors for the following objects: loom, clothing, and apparel.

"Huswifery" Text Link Links to an external site.

Review

Now that you have read and understood the poetry of Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor, practice your comprehension in the activity below:

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