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Anne bradstreet the prologue critical analysis
Critical essays on anne bradstreet
Anne bradstreet the prologue critical analysis
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The Puritans are a group of individuals who were looking for religious freedom in Britain. Studying the Author's work from a single time period helps readers understanding their way of life and beliefs . Although Anne Bradstreet and Jonathan Edwards were both puritans , their writing and persuasive tactics differ in many ways . On July 8, 1741, Anne Bradstreet wrote a poem titled “Upon the burning of our house” In it , she describes her eternal life as a glorious place and she was not focused upon materialistic things , but on the afterlife in heaven , “thou hast a house on high erect. Framed by the mighty architect. Its purchased and paid for too.” (Bradstreet 43-47). Even though she endured hard times in , such as the death of her husband , and her possessions being burned to ashes in the house fire, she …show more content…
never lost her faith in God . “ I blest his name that gave and took (12-14). She then started wondering to herself and questioning god by wondering why her? Did they wealth on earth abid? / Didst fix thy thoughts above the sky ? / The arm of flesh didst make thy trust? Additionally , she feels that all is lost but it's against her religion to think that way , her thoughts on life , being a puritan , is that everything happens for a reason and that god will help them fight their sins on earth . In similarity Anne Bradstreet , Jonathan Edwards, a puritan man who also believed god had formed an unique agreement with them and that they must live life according to the scripture, but their approach is slightly different.
Jonathan was upset with his people because they weren't taking up their roles as Puritans, he spoke to them as if he was fed up with their neglect of god. “ their will be no end to this misery’’ (111) Edward was honest and straight to the point as possible when he spoke to his crowd about their wrongdoings and the gratefulness of god . He goes on to believe that if his religious group doesn’t accommodate to the Puritans requirement that God would give them eternal life, in which that is in hell . “” there is nothing between you and Hell but air; it is only the power and mere pleasure of God that holds you up. (108) Additionally , he believes that for those that refuse to follow the laws of puritanism will suffer and fall short in life without god's grace,but those who do will be shown mercy and will be given everlasting life in heaven. “He will have no compassion upon you , he will not forebear the execution of his
wrath”(110). In conclusion, readers are able to understand the puritans life styles by studying works during this time period both authors used persuasive tactics of fear in order to persuade their audiences to turn their lives around back to god
Edwards, who also had Puritan beliefs, was a philosopher and theologian and his way of thinking was more in-depth and complex. He used repetition to drive his sermons home and convinced his congregations of the evils and wickedness of hell through the use of intense analogies. His “fire and brimstone” way of preaching frightened people and made them feel a deep need for salvation. Edwards believed that all humans were natural sinners and God was eagerly awaiting to judge them. He wrote "their foot shall slide in due time" meaning that mankind was full of inevitable sinners.
The Puritans were "Christians," in that they believed in Jesus Christ yet some may argue that they did not lead "Christian" lives. These fanatics seemed to obssess over a major tenet of their religion, that being "Pre Destination." That is, God Himself chose those destined for eternal salvation in the beginning of time, long before our conception and birth. This pre-ordained number is considerably miniscule, which, at times, the Puritans seemed to ignore.
Women have faced oppression in the literary community throughout history. Whether they are seen as hysterical or unreliable, women writers seem to be faulted no matter the topics of their literature. However, Anne Bradstreet and Margaret Fuller faced their critics head-on. Whether it was Bradstreet questioning her religion or Fuller discussing gender fluidity, these two women did not water down their opinions to please others. Through their writings, Bradstreet and Fuller made great strides for not just women writers, but all women.
The Puritan period was a time of new beginnings, faith and spirituality. The three things that defined the Puritans was their belief in the bible as a sole source of God’s will, belief in original sin, and their belief in predestination. Because religion was such an important part of the Puritan lifestyle, lots of the Puritan people wrote poems or stories either about God or made allusions to God in their work. However, not everyone saw God in the same way. Both Anne Bradstreet, the author of “Upon the Burning of our House” and Jonathan Edwards, the author of “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, focus on one all powerful, omnipotent being in their work. However, while Bradstreet illustrates God’s mercy and forgiveness, Edwards depicts a God filled with wrath and vengeance.
The puritans were very religious. They wanted to show everyone what happens if you are good and believe in god and the heavens. If you do bad things you would be punished or be killed. If you do good things you can be hand chosen to go to heaven.
He chastised his congregation repeatedly in high hopes that they will turn away from their sinful ways. His Puritan beliefs were the impetus force behind his message. The Puritans emphasized the “covenant of works”, which was in the control of humans, and the “covenant of grace”, which was in God 's power to give. (Covenant of grace). Edwards believed that mankind could save itself from damnation depending on the way that they lived. Basically, it is man’s control to save himself of certain damnation. He believed God 's grace could possibly be limited. He proposed a belief that God is judgmental and angry. Edwards ' belief in God was that He was ready to throw people into hell because of all of their unrepentant sins. Edwards used his sermon to give proof to the people that they were only worthy of hell and God 's grace kept the people from being tossed into the Lake of fire. “There are in the souls of wicked men those hellish principles reigning, that would presently ignite and burst into flames of hell fire, if it were not for God 's restraints. “There is laid in the very nature of carnal men, a foundation for the torments of hell”(Edwards 432). Edwards believed man was so dishonorable that hell was waiting for him. He preached that God was showing grace and mercy to people or otherwise mankind would be destroyed by hell 's
Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor are two of the most recognizable poets from early American History; they were also both American Puritans, who changed the world with their poetry. We can see many similarities in their poetry when it comes to the importance of religion and also on having children and losing children. There are however differences in the audience of their poetry and their personal views on marriage. Bradstreet and Taylor both came over to America in the 17th century and settled in New England. Though Taylor came years later we can see the similarities through their poetry.
Times during the 16th and 17th century were not only vastly different, but changed a way of life for generations to come. People such as John Smith and Ann Bradstreet’s accounts of life gave influential insight into the trials and oppressions of the world during their time. The writings of Ann Bradstreet and John Smith coincides with the popular beliefs during their time, and in some instances their writings were far more advanced.
The Puritans were Englishmen who chose to separate from the Church of England. Puritans believed that the Anglican Church or Church of England resembled the Roman Catholic Church too closely and was in dire need of reform. Furthermore, they were not free to follow their own religious beliefs without punishment. In the sixteenth century the Puritans settled in the New England area with the idea of regaining their principles of the Christi...
Anne Bradstreet’s poem Upon the Burning of Our House was during 1666 and in this time a women’s main role was having and raising children. Bradstreet had eight children and some of her poems were about her love for them. The health and success of her children made her mindful of God’s love. Bradstreet was also a Puritan and a lot of her poems are about God and her faith, this is shown throughout Upon the Burning of Our House. When Bradstreet suffers with a tragedy she tries to look at the bigger picture and find the good in whatever the tragedy may be. In this poem she does this by knowing that all her stuff does not belong to her. Her things
She values Gods views and the way of life over materialist things and believes that is above all, with hopes of getting into heaven. Her religious views can be seen throughout her poems that I have read and ultimately tell a lesson that we can all learn from. In the poem, “Before the Birth of One of Her children” she describes death as inevitable and a act of God. Death because of birth was a common issue during that time period and she reassures that it is Gods plan and will protect of her children. She also makes references to God and heaven in her poem, “ To My Dear and Loving Husband”, as she writes to her husband that they must love so strong here on earth so that their love will last in heaven and for eternity. She says how God commands her to love her husband as she claims her love for her husband its stronger than anyone else 's. Through her poems she describes various tragedy that have happened in her life such as the death of her two grandchildren. Although their lives were “taken away from them” she believes that it was in Gods hands and that it must have been faith. So through terrible times she seems to look past them and move on because it is all apart of Gods
The Puritan woman's life was one entrenched in self-examination; bringing about the assembly of a spiritual armor in order to duel feminine sexuality to the death. In the elegy "In Memory of My Dear Grandchild Elizabeth Bradstreet, Who Deceased August, 1665, Being a Year and Half Old," Bradstreet does not to fight with the expected vengeance against the manifestation of her "evil," her child, as one would expect within the given spiritual context. Instead, Bradstreet refers to her daughter with terms of affection, calling her "dear" and "sweet babe." This rejection of the Puritan patriarchy while remaining within a loose form of elegiac style is a cunning method of subversion.
In this essay, I will analyze Anne Bradstreet’s poem, Verses upon the Burning of our House, July 10th, 1666. Written after the destruction of her house, Bradstreet’s word choice, symbolism and allusion help to convey a message of gratitude and strong faith in God.
Anne, throughout the poem talks about God and heaven describing them as the most incomprehensibly beautiful and powerful things. She starts by saying that He, being God, is amazing and that his works and power must make him almighty. “How excellent is he that dwells on high? Whose power and beauty by his works we know. Sure he is goodness, wisdom, glory, light,” (2). She says that God must be almighty because of his many great works. For God is the most powerful thing to Puritans “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away” (Job 1:21) so to a Puritan all that matters is God and the most beautiful things in your life come from Him. She then explains that if the sun is something so perfect, radiant, bright, golden, warm and it was made by God, then he must be amazingly powerful. “Art thou so full of glory that no Eye Hath strength thy shining Rays once to behold? And is thy splendid Throne erect so high? As, to approach it, can no earthly mould. How full of glory then must thy Creator be? Who gave this bright light luster unto thee: Admir’d, ador’d for ever be that Majesty.” (7). She speaks so fondly of the sun that when she speaks of God, it is that much more incredible if they cannot look at the sun and God created it how powerful must be God. Lastly, Anne expresses that there is nothing on earth but that what we seek is in heaven. “Here’s neither honor, wealth, nor safety; Only above is found all with security” (32). She says that only in heaven can you find honor, wealth, and safety as well as love and peace. She believes that nothing matters but heaven which directly proves her puritan values. Anne Bradstreet’s puritan values display themselves through her writing and her depiction of god and
Anne Bradstreet’s tells us how she was woken by the sound of fire crackle, and how here home and belongings were destroyed. But as she watches her house burn, and realizing she can’t stop it. She reminds herself that as a puritan she is devoted to god, and that all things are his. The things we obtain on earth must not be put before God. She also reminds herself that her real place of rest will someday be in heaven. So in other words we must remind our self’s that all things belong to God, And when he decides to take them he will because he can and no one or nothing can stop him. By putting God first all other things will fall into place.