Criticism Of Anne Bradstreets Poetry - 871 Words

Literary Theory and Anne Bradstreet’s Poems Anne Bradstreet was not the typical Puritan author. She wrote sweet and loving poems that greatly contrasted from other writers of her time. She did not write the ever so popular sermons that told people that they were going to hell and there was nothing they could do about it. Bradstreet was a rarity in Puritan times, she was a very educated woman that worked on something other than being a woman in the household. She was one of a kind and the beginning of an era. Using literary criticism when reading Anne Bradstreet’s poems adds a deeper understanding of her character and difficulties in life. Biographical criticism adds a greater understanding of the struggles during Anne Bradstreet’s†¦show more content†¦Her writings caused her to be met with great criticism. Her brother in-law told people that she wrote her poems when she would have been sleeping. He told people this because it was greatly frowned upon to do things for yourself when you should be taking care of your family. When looking at her works through a gender criticism lenz, her works have many feminine elements. Anne is a mother and writes of her love for her children. She never says anything hateful and just comes across as sweet and genuine. Gender criticism gives her work that much more meaning knowing what she had to defy to do it. The history surrounding Anne’s poetry is of a time where Puritans ruled. When looking at her works with historicism, one can understand how she influenced history majorly. Anne’s writings did not reflect many Puritan ideals of that time in histor y. One of Anne’s famous poems To My Dear and Loving Husband directly defies Puritan views on marriage. Puritans believed that you should love your spouse a lot, but not more than God. They believed you should always love God the most and put him first. The way Anne writes about her husband in the poem she speaks of him as the thing she loves most. She just briefly mentions God, instead of focusing the majority of her poem on him. The love between a husband and wife was supposed to be something private according to the Puritans. With this poem, Anne was broadcasting her love for herShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Anne Bradstreet s Poetry1075 Words   |  5 PagesAnne Bradstreet, a well-educated woman, strong in her Puritan beliefs, captured her thoughts by writing poetry, which included works such as â€Å"Contemplations† which was preceded by â€Å"The Prologue†. Written in the mid 1600’s as the colonies were beginning to form, Bradstreet’s po em included themes of religion, nature, and family. Although she claims to have written them without the intent of publication, a collection of her poetry was printed in 1650. She identifies her struggles with faith, yet writesRead MoreAnne Bradstreet Essay1423 Words   |  6 Pagesera was Anne Bradstreet who wrote about her children, husband, and parents. Anne Bradstreet blended her domestic life with theological imagery in every poem she did, explaining that her grandchildren were merely lent to her but essentially belonged to God, and expressing her gratitude for her parents whom she could never repay for the gift of life. In the following article Latta, Kimberly. â€Å"Such is My Bond: Maternity and Economy in Anne Bradstreet’s Writings† Latta breaks down Bradstreet’s poems andRead MoreAnalysis Of Anne Bradstreet : The Voice Of Puritan Poetry871 Words   |  4 Pagespurpose it has on moral instruction. Anne Bradstreet found a way of encountering her person al feelings into moralistic poetry. Therefore, Anne was the voice of Puritan faith. She often conflicted her faith, personal experiences and perceptions. In, Norms and Criticism in Anne Bradstreets poetry, the author, Misty Jones, states, Bradstreets writing depicts and respects Puritan standards but also includes discussions of ideas contrary to these standards. Anne Bradstreet wanted respect for Puritan’sRead MoreAnne Bradstreet and Phyllis Wheatley: Pioneers for Womens Rights1114 Words   |  5 PagesAnne Bradstreet and Phyllis Wheatley: Pioneers for Women’s Rights Anne Bradstreet (1600’s) and Phyllis Wheatley (1700’s) wrote poetry in two different centuries. Their topics, themes and the risks these women took in their writings are groundbreaking in that they paved the way for women’s rights today. Both women are known as the first published poets of the new world. Bradstreet’s writings were first published in 1650 and her poetry included controversial subjects such as the relationship betweenRead MoreElizabeth Fuller And Anne Bradstreet1235 Words   |  5 Pagesauthors, one from colonial times, and one from nineteenth century America, have written about the obstacles and misogyny they’ve overcome in a male dominated literary career. Despite the two-hundred-year gap between the lives of Margaret Fuller and Anne Bradstreet, they both face issues regarding the static stereotype that women are literarily inferior and subservient handmaids to men. During the seventeenth century, when Puritan society had migrated to what is now Massachusetts, Puritans were proudRead MoreThe Genesis Of Feminism By Anne Bradstreet1181 Words   |  5 PagesPaper #1 English 2510 Courtney Knight October 1, 2015 The Genesis of Feminism As a woman living in a very patriarchal society, Anne Bradstreet uses reverse psychology to present her beliefs and opinions. Bradstreet’s poems show her reality, and possibly the coping mechanisms of living in a world where men were favored above women. Bradstreet’s poems are full of female strength and presence, it is almost held back by her puritan roots and roles as a woman in the 1800s. I can see the conflict withinRead MoreEssay On Anne Bradstreet2057 Words   |  9 Pagesfighting for equality every day. In the time of Anne Bradstreet, women had few rights and they were seen as inferior to men. Anne lived among the puritans whom ruled her everyday life. Although it was completely against the puritan code for women to receive an education, Anne Bradstreet’s father, Thomas Dudley, loved his daughter very much and did everything he could to make sure that she was well educated which shows in her works. Anne Bradstreet’s literature became well known only because herRead More Anne Bradstreet Essay1512 Words   |  7 PagesAnne Bradstreet Anne Bradstreet was a woman in conflict. She was a Puritan wife and a poet. There is a conflict between Puritan theology and her own personal feelings on life. Many of her poems reveal her eternal conflict regarding her emotions and the beliefs of her religion. The two often stood in direct opposition to each other. Her Puritan faith demanded that she seek salvation and the promises of Heaven. However, Bradstreet felt more strongly about her life on Earth. She was very. SheRead MoreAnne Bradstreet Feminist Criticism1783 Words   |  8 PagesFeminist Criticism within Anne Bradstreet Within the writings of Anne Bradstreet she provides a beacon of light for women in a society of conflict. Through her writings she depicts the struggles of women through a voice of feminine perspective and provides a prominent underlying foundation for voices to be heard and interpreted through her poems. Bradstreet found herself in a constant battle of questioning her Puritan religion, filled with confusion on the unequal treatment of women, and for whichRead MoreAnne Bradstreet Is One Of The Earliest American Poets,1760 Words   |  8 PagesAnne Bradstreet is one of the earliest American poets, and she’s read today as the first feminist in literature. While there are arguments as to why this could be true, I present an argument that Bradstreet cannot be read as a feminist, especially within her earlier works. In her later writing, her feminist identity becomes more real and plausible. Looking at two of her works, â€Å"The Prologue† and â€Å"The Author to Her Book ,† both written at different times in Bradstreet’s life, one can see how Bradstreet’s