Puritan Philosophy
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Puritans
"The Puritan Tradition"
(LB p. 28 – 29)
Anne Bradstreet Poem
Puritan Paragraph
Directions: Read “The Puritan Tradition” from your literature book and answer the following questions.
Puritans’ Viewpoints
1. What is their view of God?
2. What are their values?
3. Do they have an optimistic
or pessimistic view of life?
4. What are their views of
worldly success?
5. Who is their authority?
6. Do they view man as
inherently good or evil?
7. How do they define the
American Dream?
8. Which values of this
group are still prevalent
today?
Directions: Identify all that apply to the Puritan philosophy.
_____ 1. Education is important primarily to increase one’s self-knowledge.
_____ 2. Individuals’ rights are superior to the needs of society.
_____ 3. Belief in God has been characteristic of the American Experience.
_____ 4. Mankind is basically evil.
_____ 5. Education is important primarily to get a job.
_____ 6. Truth is found in faith.
_____ 7. Human beings are basically good and getting better.
_____ 9. Individual liberties must always be controlled by government authority.
_____ 10. Truth can be found in science.
_____ 11. The American Dream means making lots of money.
_____ 12. Hard work equals success.
_____ 13. Everyone can achieve the American Dream.
_____ 14. The American Dream includes getting married and having children.
Directions: Read the Anne Bradstreet poem on the next page and answer the following
questions on the iceberg below.
1. What does the text state? Provide a brief summary.
Ex. “In her poem, “Upon the Burning of Our House July 10, 1666,” Anne Bradstreet...”
2. What does the text mean? What is the point of the text?
Ex. “The author wrote … to demonstrate/show/clarify/illustrate/relate…”
3. Why does the text still matter?
Ex. “The text relates to … today because …”
“Upon the Burning of Our House - July 10th, 1666”
by Anne Bradstreet
(1612-1672)
In silent night when rest I took,
For sorrow near I did not look,
I wakened was with thund’ring noise
And piteous shrieks of dreadful voice.
That fearful sound of “Fire” and “Fire,”
Let no man know is my desire.
I, starting up, the light did spy,
And to my God my heart did cry
To strengthen me in my distress
And not to leave me succorless.
Then coming out beheld a space,
The flame consume my dwelling place.
And, when I could no longer look,
I blest his Name 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 repine.
He might of all justly bereft,
But yet sufficient for us left.
When by the ruins oft I past,
My sorrowing eyes aside did cast,
And here and there the places spy
Where oft I sate, and long did lie.
Here stood that trunk, and there that chest;
There lay that store I counted best:
My pleasant things in ashes lie,
And them behold no more shall I.
Under thy roof no guest shall sit,
Nor at thy table eat a bit.
No pleasant tale shall 'ere be told,
Nor things recounted done of old.
No candle e’re shall shine in thee,
Nor bridegroom's voice e’re heard shall be.
In silence ever shalt thou lie;
Adieu, Adeiu; All's vanity.
Then straight I ‘gin my heart to chide,
And did thy wealth on earth abide?
Didst fix thy hope on mold’ring dust,
The arm of flesh didst make thy trust?
Raise up thy thoughts above the sky
That dunghill mists away may fly.
Thou hast an house on high erect
Framed by that mighty Architect,
With glory richly furnishéd,
Stands permanent though this be fled.
It's purchaséd, and paid for too
By Him who hath enough to do.
A prize so vast as is unknown,
Yet, by His gift is made thine own.
There's wealth enough, I need no more;
Farewell, my pelf, farewell my Store.
The world no longer let me love,
My hope and treasure lies above.
Directions: Complete the following mandatory prewriting before you write your final draft.
C- (claim that answers the question)
E- (quoted text evidence from the passage to support your claim)
R- (reasoning and explanation of how the quote proves the claim for the
passage)
How are the values of the Puritans evident in “Upon the Burning of our House?” Support your
answer with evidence from the excerpt. Answer the prompt in the box below. Do not write
outside the box; do not draw additional lines or skip lines inside the box.