The Puritans have shaped America's moral. ethical, political and religious beliefs. During the 1600's, this group of settlers from England starting arriving on American shores. They believed in thrift, simplicity, hard work, and self sufficiency. Because the Puritans believed that wealth was a sigh of God's favor, they strove to attain it. Yet, they considered it sinful to place too much pride in personal possessions... A BASIC CONFLICT!!
Consider the conflict that Anne Bradstreet speaks of:
Here Follow Some Verses Upon the Burning of Our House, July 10. 1666
Anne Bradstreet
In silent night when rest I took
For sorrow near I did not look
I wakened was with thund’ring noise
And piteous shrieks of dreadful voice.
That fearful sound of “Fire!” and “Fire!”
Let no man know is my desire.
I, starting up, the light did spy,
And to my God my heart did cry
To strengthen me in my distress
And not to leave me succorless.°
Then, coming out, beheld a space
The flame consume my dwelling place.
And when I could no longer look,
I blest His name that gave and took,°
That laid my goods now in the dust.
Yea, so it was, and so ’twas just.
It was His own, it was not mine,
Far be it that I should repine;
He might of all justly bereft
But yet sufficient for us left.
When by the ruins oft I past
My sorrowing eyes aside did cast,
And here and there the places spy
Where oft I sat and long did lie:
Here stood that trunk, and there that chest,
There lay that store I counted best.
My pleasant things in ashes lie,
And them behold no more shall I.
Under thy roof no guest shall sit,
Nor at thy table eat a bit.
No pleasant tale shall e’er be told,
Nor things recounted done of old.
No candle e’er shall shine in thee,
Nor bridegroom’s voice e’er heard shall be.
In silence ever shall thou lie,
Adieu, Adieu,° all’s vanity.
Then straight I ’gin my heart to chide,
And did thy wealth on earth abide?
Didst fix thy hope on mold’ring dust?
The arm of flesh didst make thy trust?
Raise up thy thoughts above the sky
That dunghill mists away may fly.
Thou hast an house on high erect,
Framed by that mighty Architect,
With glory richly furnished,
Stands permanent though this be fled.
It’s purchased and paid for too
By Him who hath enough to do.
A price so vast as is unknown
Yet by His gift is made thine own;
There’s wealth enough, I need no more,
Farewell, my pelf,° farewell my store.
The world no longer let me love,
My hope and treasure lies above.
Questions to consider:
1. Sometimes bad things happen to good people. Do you think any good can come from difficulties in life? Explain.
2. What are some of the specific losses that Bradstreet dwells on in the first half of the poem?
3. Bradstreet speaks of another “house” in an extended metaphor at the end of the poem. What is this house, who is its architect, and how is it better than the house she has lost? (
4. Pelf—a word designating riches or worldly goods—is usually used only when the riches or goods are considered to be slightly tainted, ill-gotten, or stolen. Why do you suppose Bradstreet uses such a bitter word in line 52 to describe her own cherished treasures?
5. Some readers have felt that, by so lovingly enumerating her losses, Bradstreet is “crying out to heaven” in a way that unconsciously reveals more attachment to her earthly possessions than she would admit to. On the other hand, what Bradstreet does not reveal in this poem is significant: Hundreds of books, as well as her papers and all her unpublished poems, were also lost in the fire. Using specific examples from the text, explain whether or not, by the end of the poem, you are convinced that the speaker means what she says.
6. Is this poem written in plain style? What is inversion? Give an example from the poem
Homework:
Use tonight to catch up on any work you owe me - gmail, signed parental forms, questionnaire, supplies.
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