Anne Bradstreet
Annotate the poem below.
 Identify the following elements and make notations: rhyme scheme, figurative language, images, symbols, sound
devices (alliteration, consonance, assonance, rhythm, onomatopoeia, etc.).
 Circle any part of the poem that stands out, is confusing, or is important.
 Write questions in the margin; highlight unusual words; mark phrases that indicate the poem’s meaning.
 Determine the poem’s theme and draw arrows to the lines that support the theme.
“Upon the Burning of Our House July 10th, 1666” by Anne Bradstreet
In silent night when rest I took,
Under thy roof no guest shall sit,
For sorrow near I did not look,
Nor at thy Table eat a bit.
I waken'd was with thundering noise
No pleasant tale shall 'ere be told,
And Piteous shrieks of dreadful voice.
Nor things recounted done of old.
That fearful sound of fire and fire,
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No candle 'ere shall shine in Thee,
Let no man know is my Desire.
Nor bridegroom's voice ere heard shall bee.
I, starting up, the light did spy,
In silence ever shalt thou lye;
And to my God my heart did cry
Adieu, Adeiu; All's vanity.
To strengthen me in my Distress
Then straight I gin my heart to chide,
And not to leave me succorless.
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Then coming out beheld a space,
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And didst thy wealth on earth abide?
Didst fix thy hope on mold’ring dust,
The flame consume my dwelling place.
And, when I could no longer look,
The arm of flesh didst make thy trust?
I blest his Name that gave and took,
Raise up thy thoughts above the sky
That laid my goods now in the dust:
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That dunghill mists away may fly.
Yea so it was, and so 'twas just.
Thou hast an house on high erect
It was his own: it was not mine;
Fram'd by that mighty Architect,
Far be it that I should repine.
With glory richly furnished,
He might of All justly bereft,
Stands permanent tho' this be fled.
But yet sufficient for us left.
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It's purchased, and paid for too
When by the Ruins oft I past,
By him who hath enough to do.
My sorrowing eyes aside did cast,
A price so vast as is unknown,
And here and there the places spy
Yet, by his Gift, is made thine own.
Where oft I sate, and long did lye.
There’s wealth enough, I need no more;
Here stood that trunk, and there that chest; 25
Farewell my pelf, farewell my store.
There lay that store I counted best:
The world no longer let me Love,
My pleasant things in ashes lye,
My hope and treasure lies above.
And them behold no more shall I.
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Name:
Class:
DIRECTIONS: Answer the following questions in the space below:
1. What are some of the specific losses Bradstreet dwells on in the first half of the poem?
Date:
2. What is Bradstreet comparing to a house in lines 43-54? What ideas are suggested by this comparison?
3. What is Bradstreet’s initial reaction when she learns that her house is on fire? Does this reaction change? How?
4. 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?
5. 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 did Bradstreet use such a bitter word in line 52 to describe her own
cherished treasures?
Final Activity: Poetry Analysis
6. Choose one of the poems and write a paragraph of analysis. An analysis consists of facts and commentaries. It is not
a summary, a listing of facts, or random, unsupported guesswork. Use the following outline for your analysis:
I. Topic sentence stating the title of the poem, the author, and the poem’s theme.
A. Evidence #1: Identify an important line, poetic device, rhyme scheme, etc.
1. Analysis/Interpretation #1: Explain how the evidence supports the designated theme.
2. Analysis/Interpretation #2: Explain why the evidence supports the designated theme.
B. Evidence #2: Identify an important line, poetic devices, rhyme scheme.
1. Analysis/Interpretation #1: Explain how the evidence supports the designated theme.
2. Analysis/Interpretation #2: Explain why the evidence supports the designated theme.
C. Concluding Sentence