Anne Bradstreet
America’s first (woman) poet
Anne Bradstreet
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Born Anne Dudley in 1612
Father was a steward for
the Earl of Lincoln, and a
Puritan leader.
She did not attend school,
but she did have private
tutors and access to her
father’s library.
For a woman in that time
period, she was very well
educated.
Anne Bradstreet
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At 16, she married Simon
Bradstreet.
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1630, she sailed to America
with her family as part of
the “great migration” of
Puritans.
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Her father served as
Governor of Massachusetts
Bay Colony off an on from
1634 to 1650.
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Her husband also served as
Governor from 1679-1686.
Anne Bradstreet
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Her trip aboard the
Arbella was a rough one,
bad weather and disease
caused a number of
passengers to die.
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She was unprepared for
this kind of hardship and
tragedy.
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Living conditions in
Massachusetts were
equally harsh and
challenging.
Anne Bradstreet
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Her brother, Rev. John Woodbridge,
carried a collection of some of her
poems with him back to England
without her knowledge – he had
copied them when she wasn’t
looking.
He published this collection in 1650
without her approval in an attempt
to show that a Godly and educated
woman could elevate the position
held by a wife and mother, without
necessarily placing her in
competition with men.
She added poems, and edited a
second edition, making her also one
of the world’s first feminist authors.
Anne Bradstreet
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She suffered a number of
personal hardships and illnesses
in her life:
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Smallpox – twice.
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Paralysis of the joints –
arthritis?
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Her sister was rejected by her
husband and excommunicated
from the church.
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Her house burned down,
costing her family all of its
worldly possessions.
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Dorothy, her daughter, died.
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Tuberculosis – eventually
killed her in 1672.
Anne Bradstreet
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Although she survived many
difficulties, they caused her to turn
inward, and toward religion, to
cope.
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She wrote poetry mostly when her
husband was absent on business.
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She typically wrote using religious,
historical, and domestic themes.
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Her poems reflect a mixture of
intellect, strength, and a woman
comfortable with her lower
position in Puritan society.
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Some of her final poems expressed
her belief in the worth and ability
of women, a topic that was very
controversial in her culture.
Anne Bradstreet
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In 1678 her self-revised
book Several Poems
Compiled with Great
Variety of Wit and
Learning was
posthumously published
in America, including one
of her most famous
poems, "To My Dear and
Loving Husband."
“Upon the Burning of Our
House”
1. At first, how does
the speaker feel
about the loss of her
house in the fire?
2. What different
emotions does the
speaker express? Point
out a specific line to
support your answer.
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Helpless
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Sadness
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Distressed
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Fear
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Surprise
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– “And to my God my
heart did cry.”
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she cries out to
God for strength
“Upon the Burning of Our
House”
3. How did the
speaker view her
possessions before
the fire?
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They were
important to her;
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“her sorrowing
eyes” look over
the ashes and
morn for all the
“pleasant things”
4. How did the speaker
later change her view
of her possessions?
Explain what she
wanted to dispel.
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She realizes that her
possessions really
belong to God.
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She wants to dispel
the idea that wealth
“belongs” to
anyone.
“Upon the Burning of Our
House”
5. What does the
speaker begin to feel
after she reminds
herself that all worldly
things are temporary?
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Hope
6. What does the
last sentence in the
poem mean?
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Her real hope and
treasure awaits
her in heaven
after she dies.
“Upon the Burning of Our
House”
7. What long-term
effect does the loss of
the speaker’s house
have on her?
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The loss makes her
even more spiritual
“Upon the Burning of Our
House”
8. A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two
things by saying that one thing is another. For example,
in the sentence “the desert became a sweltering oven,”
the desert is said to be an oven – a fitting comparison
because they are both hot. Occasionally, a writer will use
an extended metaphor, developing a metaphor beyond a
single line. Bradstreet does this in lines 43-50. What is
the speaker describing in this extended metaphor?
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She is describing a heavenly home, built by
God for her, purchased and paid for (alluding
to Jesus’ death on the cross).
“To My Dear and Loving
Husband”
9. What does the
speaker prize “more
that whole mines of
gold”?
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Her husband’s love
10. Why does she
compare the way she
feels to mines of gold?
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To show the great
value of this love.
“To My Dear and Loving
Husband”
11. What does the
speaker say her love
for husband is equal
to?
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Her husband’s love
for her
12. What does the
speaker say would
compensate her for
loving her husband?
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She doesn’t need
compensation
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his love for her is
compensation.
“To My Dear and Loving
Husband”
13. How does she hope
he will be rewarded for
his love?
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Greatly in heaven
14. What is the paradox
in the last line?
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It sounds as if they will
die, yet live forever.
“To My Dear and Loving
Husband”
15. What does this paradox
mean?
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It refers to her belief that
when she and her
husband die, they will
live together forever in
heaven.
Overall
16. Which poem(s)
attempts to justify the
ways God to Humanity?
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“Upon the Burning of
Our House”
17. Which poem(s)
expresses a belief in the
rewards of an afterlife?
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Both