Puritanism, begun in England in the 17th century, it was a radical protestant movement to reform the church of England. The 17th century upto 1660 was dominated by Puritanism and it may be called PURITAN AGE or THE AGE OF MILTON, who was the noblest representative of the PURITAN spirit. The puritan movement in literature may be considered as the second and greater Renaissance marked by the rebirth of the moral nature of man.
PROMINENT WRIGHT OF THE AGE
ANNE BRADSTREET
Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672) was the most prominent of early English poets of North America and first writer in England's North America colonies to be published. She is first puritan figure in America literature and Notable for her large corpus of poetry, as well as personal writings published posthumously.
Bradstreet was a raed scholar especially affected by the works of du Bartas. She was married at sixteen, and her parents and young family migrated at the time of the founding of Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630. Bradstreet wrote poetry in addition to her other duties. Her early works read in the style of Du Bartas, but her later writings develop into her unique style of poetry which centers on her role as a mother, her struggles with the sufferings of life, and her puritan faith. Her first collection, THE TENTH MUSE LATELY SPRUNG UP IN AMERICA, was widely read in America and England.
BACKGROUND
In a portrait that was painted by her later poems, Bradstreet is described as 'an educated English woman, a kind, loving wife, devoted mother, empress consort of Massachusetts, a questing puritan and a sensitive poet.'
LIFE
ANNE was born in England,1612, the daughter of THOMAS DUDLEY. Due to her family's position, she grew up in cultured circumstances and was a well educated woman for her time , being tutored in history, several languages, and literature. At the age of sixteen she married SIMON BRADSTREET.
In 1632, Anne had her first child, Samuel, in newe Towne, as it was then called. Despite poor health, she had eight children and achieved a comfortable social standing. They never lived in what is now known as "Andover" to the south. In October 1997, the Harvard community dedicated a gate in memory of her as America's first published poet. The Bradstreet gate is located next to canaday hall, the newest dormitory in Harvard yard.
In 1650, Rev. John Woodbridge had THE TENTH MUSE LATELY SPRUNG UP IN AMERICA composed by "a gentleman from those parts" published in London, making Anne the first female poet ever published. In the fall of 2018, the Anne Bradstreet early childhood center was opened near Massachusetts Avenue in North Andover. Housing both preschool and kindergarten, the Anne Bradstreet ECC replaced the aged building named for her that had been on main Street.
WRITINGS
Anne Bradstreet education gave her advantage that allowed her to write with authority about politics, history, medicine, and theology. At first, she reject the anger and grief that this worldly tragedy has caused her; she looks toward God and the assurance of heaven as consolation, saying:
And when I could no longer look,
I blest his grace that gave and took,
That laid my goods now in the dust.
Yea, so it was, and so 'twas just.
It was his own; it was not mine.
Far be it that I should refine.
However, in opposition to her puritan ways, she also shows her human side, expressing the pain this event had caused her, that is until the poem comes to its end;
Farewell my pelf; Farewell my store.
The world no longer let me love
My hope, and treasure lies above.
As a younger poet, Bradstreet wrote five quaternions, epic poem of four parts each that explore the diverse yet complementary nature's of their subjects. Bradstreet work was deeply influenced by the poet GUILLAUME DE SALLUSTE DU BARTAS, who was favored by 17th century readers.
Anne's first work was published in London as THE TENTH MUSE LATELY SPRUNG UP IN AMERICA By a Gentleman of those parts.
In 1678 her self-revised SEVERAL POEMS COMPILED WITH GREAT VARIETY OF WIT AND LEARNING was posthumously published in America, and included one of her most famous poems, "TO MY DEAR AND LOVING HUSBAND."
ROLE OF WOMEN
Married played a large role in the lives of puritan woman. In Bradstreet poem," TO MY DEAR AND LOVING HUSBAND," she reveals that she is one with her husband. The puritans believed marriage to be a gift from God. The fact that Bradstreet believes that God will grant her husband a new wife if she dies shows how much puritan women believed in marriage.
The primary roles of women in puritan society were to be wives and mothers and provide the family with their everyday needs. Women were expected to make clothing for the family, cook meals, keep the household clean, and teach the children how to live a puritan lifestyle. Various works of Bradstreet are dedicated to her children. In works such as "BEFORE THE BIRTH OF ONE OF HER CHILDREN." In puritan society, children were also gifts from God, and she loved and cared for all of her children just as the loved and cared for her husband. She always believes they too are bound with her to make "one."
RECEPTION
Because writing was not considered to be an acceptable role for women at the time, Bradstreet was met with criticism. One of the most prominent figures of her time, JOHN WINTHROP, criticized Ann Hopkins, with of prominent Connecticut Colony governor Edward Hopkins. He mentioned in his journal that Hopkins should have kept to being a housewife and left writing and reading for men, "whose minds are stronger." Despite heavy criticism of women during her time, Bradstreet continued to write which led to the belief that she was interested in rebelling against societal norms of the time.
A prominent minister of the time,THOMAS PARKER, was also against the idea of women writing. No doubt he was opposed to the writing of Bradstreet as well.
LITERARY STYLE AND THEMES
Bradstreet let her homesick imagination Marshall her store of learning, for the glory of God and for the expression of an inquiring mind and sensible, philosophical spirit.
INTENDED AUDIENCE
Anne Bradstreet work tend to be directed to members of her family and are generally intimate. For instance, in Bradstreet "TO MY DEAR AND LOVING HUSBAND," The poem intended audience is her husband, Simon Bradstreet. Bradstreet uses various metaphor to describe her husband.
By reading Bradstreet works and recognizing her intended audience, one can get an idea of how life was for puritan woman. Bradstreet was not responsible for her writing becoming public. Bradstreet brother -in-law, John Woodbridge, sent her work off to be published. Her being a published author would have not been considered as a typical role of the PURITAN woman.
THEMES
The role of women is a common subject found in Bradstreet poems. Living in a puritan society, Bradstreet did not approve of the stereotypical idea that women were inferior to man during the 1600s. Women were expected to spend all their time cooking, cleaning, taking care of their children, and attending to their husband's Every need.
Bradstreet is also known for using her poetry as a means to question her own puritan beliefs; her doubt concerning God's mercy and her struggles to continue to place her faith in him are exemplified in such poems as "verses upon the Burning of our House."
In "THE PROLOGUE," Bradstreet demonstrates how society trivialize the accomplishment of women. The popular belief that women should be doing other things like sewing, rather than writing poetry.
TONE
Bradstreet often used a sarcastic tone in her poetry. In the first stanza of "The prologue " she claims " for my mean pen are too superior things " referring to society's belief that she is unfit to write about wars and the founding of cities because she is women.
QUATERNIONS
Bradstreet wrote four quaternions, "season","elements ", "humours ," and "ages," which made possible her "development as a poet in terms of technical craftsmanship as she learned to fashion the form artistically."
Bradstreet first two quaternions were her most successful. The central tension in her work is that between delight in the world and belief of its vanity.
MAJOR WORK
BEFORE THE BIRTH OF ONE OF HER CHILDREN
Anne Bradstreet "BEFORE THE BIRTH OF ONE OF HER CHILDREN " is actually about death - specifically, death in child birth, an all too common fate when this poem appeared in 1678. The first published writer from England's North America colonies, Bradstreet was also the mother of eight children.
This is a moving poem about a woman's opinion on death. Inspired by her pregnancy, the speaker pens this epistolary to her husband.
THEMES
Throughout this poem, the poet engages primarily with the theme of death. Despite the title, which references birth , she's more interested in talking about the negative consequences of childbirth. Her new child might die as might she. The poem turns into a goodbye to her husband that explains her awareness of the risks of birth. She has accepted that she will die one day, as everyone is, and wants her husband to remember her for as long as he can. This leads to the next theme: legacy. She wants to be remembered fondly and have her children taken care of.
YouTube video about this poem.
THE AUTHOR TO HER BOOK BY ANNE BRADSTREET
'The author to her book ' by Anne Bradstreet is a beautiful poem about the conversation between an author and her recently written book. At first hand, the poetic persona talks with the manuscript. Thereafter it goes to be published. In the next section, when the book comes as a published copy, the author, actually the poet talks with it. She comments on its quality and treats it like her baby. The poem presents the relationship between an author and her book.
'THE AUTHOR TO HER BOOK' describes the disappointment that a writer feels over the finished product she has created and her fruitless attempts to improve it.
'THE AUTHOR TO HER BOOK ' encompasses different themes that were popular at that time. The
Most important theme of the poem is motherhood. Here the poet is the mother and the book in the poem acts as her baby. Another important themes of the poem is criticism. The poet presents the theme of criticism in different ways.
YouTube video about this poem
Many other popular work by Anne Bradstreet. Like " TO MY DEAR AND LOVING HUSBAND " etc.
Wind up
Anne Bradstreet was the first woman to be recognized as a accomplished New world poet.
"I PRIZE THE IOVE MORE THAN WHOLE MINES OF GOLD OR ALL THE RICHES THAT EAST DOTH HOLD."
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