PURITAN PLAIN STYLE
Like all Puritan literature, the writers' purpose is to show how God works in their lives. Pure Puritan poetry is
written in "plain style." Rejecting ornamental flourishes and superfluous decoration as evidence of sinful vanity,
plain style writing avoids irony, humor, hyperbole, and any literary device that might keep the reader from
understanding the writer's purpose. Puritan authors worked to glorify God in their productions rather than show off
their own artistry or claim any renown for themselves. As the Puritan minister John Cotton put it, "God's altar needs
not our polishings." Some of the poets (particularly Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor) wrote metaphysical poetry,
which uses extended and often exaggerated metaphors to make a memorable point. As devout Puritans, these points
always related to their love and obedience of God.
Plain Style vs. Ornate Style
Ornate Style
Plain Style
Shabby but beloved, my
shoes house my feet as they
carry me from place to place.
My pen spills its blood as it
brings words to life.
My shoes are old and brown,
worn out but comfortable for
walking.
The pen with which I write
often leaks ink.
Huswifery
By Edward Taylor
Make me, O Lord, thy Spinning Wheel complete.
Thy Holy Word my Distaff make for me.
Make mine Affections thy Swift Flyers neat
And make my Soul thy holy Spoole to be.
My Conversation make to be thy Reel
5
And reel the yarn thereon spun of thy Wheel.
Make me thy Loom then, knit therein this Twine:
And make thy Holy Spirit, Lord, wind quills:
Then weave the Web thyself. The yarn is fine.
Thine Ordinances make my Fulling Mills.
10
Then dye the same in Heavenly Colors Choice,
All pinked with Varnished Flowers of Paradise.
Then cloath therewith mine Understanding, Will,
Affections, Judgment, Conscience, Memory
My Words, and Actions, that their shine may fill 15
My wayes with glory and thee glorify.
Then mine apparell shall display before yee
That I am Cloathd in Holy robes for glory
1. The term “conceit”, as it applies to poetry, means
“an elaborate, usually intellectually ingenious poetic
comparison or image”. What is the conceit in this poem
and why do you think the author chose it?
2. Taylor develops this conceit into an extended
metaphor by referring to parts of a spinning wheel.
Which words help develop this metaphor? How do the
parts enhance the impact of the poem as a whole?
3. What is the poem "Huswifery" about?
To My Dear and Loving Husband
By Anne Bradstreet
If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee;
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me ye women if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole Mines of gold, 5
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that Rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee, give recompence.
Thy love is such I can no way repay,
The heavens reward thee manifold I pray.
10
Then while we live, in love let's so persever,
That when we live no more, we may live ever.
1. Why does the speaker compare her love for her
husband to “mines of gold”?
2. What does the word “persevere” in line 11 imply?
3. What is the purpose of the seeming contradiction in
line 12?
4. What is implied by the use of the word “may” in line
12? What does this word suggest about the poet’s
religious beliefs?