Anna Bradstreet: The Spiritualist

Biography:

Anna Bradstreet was born Anne Dudley in 1612 Northamptonshire, England. She immigrated to America and settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts. She is the first Puritan figure in American literature. She did not receive recognition for her poetry until the 20^th century and some of her works were not published until mid 19^th century. Although Bradstreet wrote many poems it wasn’t until she made her poems personal, that gave her recognition for the poems that she had written. Her original poetry before it was published was conventional it wasn’t until her brother took her work and showed it to others that her works were attributed for recognition. Her work is primarily of the historical interest of the Puritan community. She wrote her poems while being a hostess and performing other jobs. She wrote poetry based on the conventions of the society at that time at first but later as she accepted her spirituality, she became more genuine in her poetry language. Word language such as “… what glory’s like to thee? Soul of this world, this Universe Eye, no wonder, some made thee a Deity:” This concludes that she was aware of the afterlife, she committed herself to a live of salvation so that she could live on this Earth freely.

Bibliography:

The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America: Published 1650

· “The Four Humors of Man” EAW

· “The Four Ages of Man” EAW

“The Four Seasons” EAW

· “To My Dear Loving Husband”: EAW

Bradstreet was America’s first English poet; she overcame the difficulties of the frontier life. Her poems were published in London without her knowing by her brother-in-law in 1650. Anne Bradstreet ignored all colonial politics or any logical thing that may have been occurring around her. Bradstreet won critical acceptance to the world when she was able to psychologically connect with others through spirituality. This made her an acclaimed artist that many admired during the 1800’s due to her ability to incorporate spirituality. Her work was highly valued in her time, although other artists were not. Her book was the only book of poetry found in Edward Taylor’s library at his death. Edward Taylor was one of the finest literary artists of Colonial America, he was one of the foremost poets in colonial British.

Her works were not appreciated in the nineteenth century but in the was highly recognized in the twentieth century. A time where the Puritan society beliefs were strongly related to the patriarchal and marginalized beliefs. In her “Four Seasons' ' poem she addresses the zodiac elements fire, water, air, and water to show her knowledge of science. She created poetry around her innermost circle of relationships and herself. Women who wrote or had any knowledge were suspicious and accused of witchcraft. Yet, Bradstreet was able to incorporate her religious beliefs into her writing and connect them to her personal relationships.

Anne Bradstreet was the first poet of great content to emerge from the colonies. Anne Bradstreet was the first woman to be recognized as an accomplished New World Poet. Bradstreet wrote many poems that were in the first edition of The Tenth Muse during the years 1635 to 1645 (Poetry foundation, 2012). Because writing was not considered to be something that women could do Bradstreet was criticized for her works. Some say that these negative views were likely because of the ideologies of the Puritans which made women inferior to men. In which some people at this time disagreed with. While some neglected women, many people loved the poetry that came from Bradstreet. Especially those who we’re had the ideology of believing in the Puritan belief system.

Work Cited:

“Anne Bradstreet.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/anne-bradstreet.

Bradstreet, Anne, et al. Early New England Meditative Poetry: Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor. Paulist Press, 1988.

Gunn, Giles. Early American Writing. Penguin Books, 1994.

Anna Bradstreet: The Spiritualist

Biography:

Anna Bradstreet was born Anne Dudley in 1612 Northamptonshire, England. She immigrated to America and settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts. She is the first Puritan figure in American literature. She did not receive recognition for her poetry until the 20^th century and some of her works were not published until mid 19^th century. Although Bradstreet wrote many poems it wasn’t until she made her poems personal, that gave her recognition for the poems that she had written. Her original poetry before it was published was conventional it wasn’t until her brother took her work and showed it to others that her works were attributed for recognition. Her work is primarily of the historical interest of the Puritan community. She wrote her poems while being a hostess and performing other jobs. She wrote poetry based on the conventions of the society at that time at first but later as she accepted her spirituality, she became more genuine in her poetry language. Word language such as “… what glory’s like to thee? Soul of this world, this Universe Eye, no wonder, some made thee a Deity:” This concludes that she was aware of the afterlife, she committed herself to a live of salvation so that she could live on this Earth freely.

Bibliography:

The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America: Published 1650

· “The Four Humors of Man” EAW

· “The Four Ages of Man” EAW

“The Four Seasons” EAW

· “To My Dear Loving Husband”: EAW

Bradstreet was America’s first English poet; she overcame the difficulties of the frontier life. Her poems were published in London without her knowing by her brother-in-law in 1650. Anne Bradstreet ignored all colonial politics or any logical thing that may have been occurring around her. Bradstreet won critical acceptance to the world when she was able to psychologically connect with others through spirituality. This made her an acclaimed artist that many admired during the 1800’s due to her ability to incorporate spirituality. Her work was highly valued in her time, although other artists were not. Her book was the only book of poetry found in Edward Taylor’s library at his death. Edward Taylor was one of the finest literary artists of Colonial America, he was one of the foremost poets in colonial British.

Her works were not appreciated in the nineteenth century but in the was highly recognized in the twentieth century. A time where the Puritan society beliefs were strongly related to the patriarchal and marginalized beliefs. In her “Four Seasons' ' poem she addresses the zodiac elements fire, water, air, and water to show her knowledge of science. She created poetry around her innermost circle of relationships and herself. Women who wrote or had any knowledge were suspicious and accused of witchcraft. Yet, Bradstreet was able to incorporate her religious beliefs into her writing and connect them to her personal relationships.

Anne Bradstreet was the first poet of great content to emerge from the colonies. Anne Bradstreet was the first woman to be recognized as an accomplished New World Poet. Bradstreet wrote many poems that were in the first edition of The Tenth Muse during the years 1635 to 1645 (Poetry foundation, 2012). Because writing was not considered to be something that women could do Bradstreet was criticized for her works. Some say that these negative views were likely because of the ideologies of the Puritans which made women inferior to men. In which some people at this time disagreed with. While some neglected women, many people loved the poetry that came from Bradstreet. Especially those who we’re had the ideology of believing in the Puritan belief system.

Work Cited:

“Anne Bradstreet.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/anne-bradstreet.

Bradstreet, Anne, et al. Early New England Meditative Poetry: Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor. Paulist Press, 1988.

Gunn, Giles. Early American Writing. Penguin Books, 1994.