Anne Bradstreet

(1612-1672)

Anne Bradstreet

Born Anne Dudley in Northampton, England in 1612.

Father managed Earl of Lincoln’s estateProvided daughter with excellent educational

opportunities during her early years.At age 16, married Simon Bradstreet.

Year after their marriage, he was appointed to assist with preparations for Massachusetts Bay Company.

In 1630, the Bradstreets (and her father) boarded John Winthrop’s flagship Arabella to begin the Puritans’ journey to the colonies.

Anne Bradstreet

Poetry reflects Bradstreets’ happy life, despite its hardships.

8 children (all successful and had large families of their own)

First in the British colonies to have a book of poetry published.Tenth Must Lately Sprung Up in America

Originally published without her knowledgeDid make revisions & additions for 2nd edition

• published in 1678, 6 years after her death

Anne Bradstreet

Types of PoetryReligious Meditations

Individual prayers from his own distressPublished after her death (not meant for public view)

Domestic Poems“Upon the Burning of Our House”

Love Poems“To My Dear and Loving Husband”

Elegiac PoemsEpitaphs about her loved ones“In Memory of My Dear Grandchild”

Contemplations

Anne Bradstreet

Types of PoetryContemplations

33 stanzas • Each was its own entity• All were interrelated

Expressed the poet’s recognition of God in nature (a rare subject at that time)

Anne Bradstreet

Her long poems are reflections & imitations of her favorite poets:Bartas (Divine Weeks & Works – 1605)SallusteSir Walter Raleigh (History of the World)

Anne Bradstreet

Poetry reflects trials about her new circumstances in New World

Sometimes questions truth & spiritual matters accepted by her religious sect (Puritans).Her poetry does not reflect the avenging God of

the PuritansIdeal of divine and tender love predominates

Anne Bradstreet

“I have often been perplexed that I have not found that constant joy in my pilgrimage and refreshing which I supposed most of the Servants of God have…Yet have I many times sinkings and droopings, and not enjoyed that felicity that sometimes I have done. But when I have been in darkness and seen no light, yet have I desired to stay my self upon the Lord…”

Anne Bradstreet

Characteristics of her worksSelf-effacing “apology”Preference for balanceAttachment to nature and the bodyHumor & irony Historic and mythic heroinesDomestic as authoritativeDirect, simple language & imagery

Websites

http://www.annebradstreet.com/anne_bradstreet_poems.htm

Hypertext site:http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/webtexts/

Bradstreet/index.html

From Meditations, Divine and Moral

1There is no object that we see, no action

that we do, no good that we enjoy, no evil that we feel or fear, but we may make some spiritual advantage of all; and he that makes such improvement is wise as well as pious.

From Meditations, Divine and Moral

6The finest bread hath the least bran, the

purest honey the least wax, and the sincerest Christian the least self-love.

From Meditations, Divine and Moral

10Diverse children have their different

natures: some are like flesh which nothing but salt will keep from putrefaction, some again like tender fruits that are best preserved with sugar. Those parents are wise that can fit their nurture according to their nature.

From Meditations, Divine and Moral

13The reason why Christians are so loath to

exchange this world for a better is because they have more sense than faith: they see what they enjoy; they do but hope for that which is to come.

From Meditations, Divine and Moral

19Corn, till it have past through the mill and

been ground to powder, is not fit for bread. God so deals with his servants: he grinds them with grief and pain till they turn to dust, and then are they fit manchet for his mansion.

From Meditations, Divine and Moral

21Iron, till it be thoroughly heat, is uncapable

to be wrought; so God sees good to cast some men into the furnace of affliction and then beats them on His anvil into what frame he pleases.