“To My Dear and Loving Husband”
Puritan Poet
If ever two were one, then surely we.
If ever man were lov'd by wife, then thee;
Who is the speaker? Why?
If ever wife was happy in a man,
Compare with me ye women if you can.
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,
Who is the intended audience? What is the
purpose of the poem? Why?
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that Rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee, give recompence.
What is the tone of the poem? What words/ phrases reveal it?
Thy love is such I can no way repay,
The heavens reward thee manifold I pray.
Then while we live, in love let's so persever,
That when we live no more, we may live ever.
How does this poem use parallel structure? What
effect does it have on those lines?
What is a heroic couplet? Mark them with brackets.
What is IAMBIC PENTAMETER? You may
use your book to define this. Label a line
to show the iambic pentameter.
How does this poem challenge Puritan standards? Explain.
What views of wealth and spirituality are conveyed?
Huswifery
Edward Taylor
Puritan Poet
Make me, O Lord, Thy spinning wheel complete.
Thy holy word my distaff1 make for me.
Make mine affections2 They swift flyers3 neat
Who is the speaker? What can we
tell about him/her?
And make my soul Thy holy spoole to be.
My conversation make to be Thy reel
And reel the yarn thereupon spun of Thy wheel.
Who is the intended audience?
Make me Thy loom then, knit therein this twine:
Where is there a direct address (circle it)
And make Thy holy spirit, Lord, wind quills4:
What is the purpose of the poem?
Then weave the web Thyself. The yarn is fine.
Thine ordinances5 make my fulling 6mills.
A - wheel
B - distaff
C - flyer
D - spool
E - bobbin
Then dye the same in heavenly colors choice.
All pinked 7with varnished flowers for paradise
What is the tone of the poem? Why?
Then clothe therewith mine understanding, will,
Affections, judgment, conscience, memory
My words, and actions, that their shine may fill
My ways with glory and Thee glorify.
Look specifically to stanzas one and three. What is
the speaker asking to be altered or claimed?
Then mine apparel shall display before Ye
That I am clothed in holy robes for glory.
————————————————————————————————1.
distaff: staff on which wool is wound for spinning
2.
Affections: emotions
3.
Flyers: part of spinning wheel that twists fibers into yarn
4.
Quills: a weaver’s bobbins
5.
Ordinances: sacraments or religious rites
6.
Fulling mills: machines that shrink and thicken cloth to the texture of felt
7.
Pinked: decorated
What is a CONCEIT? Explain how this
poem is an example of one.
Compare/contrast this poem to Anne Bradstreet’s
poem. Go beyond the surface.
“Verses Upon the Burning of Our House
July 10th 1666”
by Anne Bradstreet
In silent night when rest I took,
For sorrow near I did not look,
I waken'd was with thundering noise
And Piteous shrieks of dreadfull voice.
That fearfull 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 succourless*
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 lye,
And them behold no more shall I.
Under thy roof no guest shall sit,
Nor at thy Table eat a bit.
CIRCLE ALL OF THE THINGS SHE MENTIONS
THAT SHE NOW NO LONGER HAS.
Underline the lines that exhibit that Anne
holds to the Puritan ideal that God is in
control of all things.
*Succourless: helpless
*Repine: to feel or express discontent; mourn
*Chide: scold or rebuke (correct)
*Pelf: wealth, wordly goods
No pleasant tale shall 'ere be told,
Nor things recounted done of old.
No Candle 'ere shall shine in Thee,
Nor bridegroom's voice ere heard shall bee.
In silence ever shalt thou lie;
Adieu, Adieu; All's vanity.
Then straight I gin my heart to chide*,
And didst thy wealth on earth abide?
Didst fix thy hope on mouldring 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
Fram'd by that mighty Architect,
With glory richly furnished,
Stands permanent tho' this bee fled.
It's purchased, and paid for too
By him who hath enough to do.
Who is
she
talking to
here?
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.
Anne Bradstreet wrote this as a self-examination of her own
heart and attitude upon the loss of her house to fire. What is
the extended metaphor found at the end of the poem and
how is it meant to comfort her?