Comparing Anne Bradstreet, Thomas Paine, And Phillis Wheatley

Over the centuries, writing has changed, and it is still changing today. There are also many different types of writing that are taught and studied. Three major types are considered the classics. Those three categories are poetry, drama, and prose. Throughout history, writers have stood out from other in their time. The three that will be the focus of the analyzation and comparison are Anne Bradstreet, Thomas Paine, and Phillis Wheatley. All of them have different backgrounds, different styles but have one thing in common. They are all are writers who are considers major contributors to the classics. The first one will be Anne Bradstreet who was the first woman that was recognized as an accomplished New World poet.

One of her earlier works is a poem Upon a Fit of Sickness “outlines the traditional concerns of the Puritans- the brevity of life, the certainty of death and hope for salvation.” (Martin 2013). It was written in the first person "artfully composed in a ballad meter; this poem presents a formulaic account of the transience of earthly experience which underscores the divine imperative to carry out God’s will” (Martin 2013). “My race is run, my thread is spun, lo here is fated death.” (Bradstreet "Upon a Fit of Sickness"). This line to me is talking about how her life has come to an end and no longer needs to be in the race called life. Also that her “thread” has already been made into something and now her time has come to die. During the time Upon a Fit of Sickness was written two major events were going on. The first was the Protestant Reformation and the second was the Mayflower landing in the New world, and more people were wanting and traveling to the New world for a better life. “For Adam’s sake, this word God spake when he so high provoked” (Bradstreet "Upon a Fit of Sickness"). That line can be interpreted as even Adam one of God’s first human creations could even provoke God then so could she and everyone else. Anne Bradstreet was also very religious, and many of her works had references to God or her religion in a

By the age of twelve, Thomas Paine had flunked out of school. Then in the year 1768, Thomas Paine became a tax officer, and in the same year, he met Benjamin Franklin by coincidence and Benjamin Franklin Helped Thomas Pain move to Philadelphia. After moving to America Thomas Paine’s career started off. In 1776 he published his first work Common Sense and after that was released. “He traveled with the Conti nental Army and wasn’t a success as a soldier, but he produced The American Crisis (1776-83) which helped inspire the Army.” (Independence Hall Association 1995). Though Thomas Paine's career started in America and was successful he did not stay, "but instead of continuing to help the Revolutionary cause, he returned to Europe and pursued other ventures, including work on a smokeless candle and iron bridge” (Independence Hall Association