Puritan Poetry - Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor Rohlfs

Make sure to take all notes and answer all questions into spiral notebook.

Anne Bradstreet - biography in Prentice Hall Literature (Big Red) - page 56 literary term: lyric poetry - page 56 “To My Dear and Loving Husband” - page 57 Questions 1-4 page 57

Edward Taylor - biography in Prentice Hall Literature (Big Red) - page 58 literary term: figurative language - page 59 “Meditation Six” - on back of paper Questions 1-5 - on back of paper

Edward Taylor, a relative latecomer to the Puritan literary scene, is often considered the best American poet before the nineteenth century. In his radical experiments with language, somewhat like those of the metaphysical poets John Donne and George Herbert, he created the first distinctive poetic style in America, a poetry marked by personal idiosyncrasies and elaborate conceits. Taylor is original in language and imagery; he achieves unity of design by developing one figure of speech throughout a poem.

Although Taylor had requested his poetry not be published, one of his descendants presented a 400-page manuscript of his poems to Yale University. It was rediscovered and published in the 1930s. A portion of his book, entitled Preparatory Meditations Before My Approach to the Lord’s Supper contains more than 200 poems written to prepare him to administer communion to his congregation in Westfield, Massachusetts.

It is interested that Taylor’s library included one book of poetry, The Tenth Muse, Lately Sprung Up in America by Anne Bradstreet, who was not only the first American poet, but also the mother of eight children.

Without Bradstreet’s knowledge, her brother-in-law made arrangements to have her book published in London in 1650. to counter the wrath of the Puritan community (writing poetry for pleasure!), who would have thought her ungodly for squandering time reading and writing instead of being her husband’s helpmate and subordinate, her brother-in-law’s introduction emphasized that she was respected for remembering “her place” and for her effective household management. He further explained that her poetry was written after she had fulfilled her wifely obligations according to God’s will.

The observation of the “Tenth Muse” on the reception of her poetry by the general public indicates women’s intellectual position in Puritan Massachusetts: “If what I do prove well, it won’t advance. They’ll say it’s stolen, or else it was by chance.”

Be advised that Puritan poetry tends to be highly religious in nature, as would be expected of a society that was built around religious devotion and observance. Be also advised that the teaching of such poems does not constitute the teaching of religion, as defined as a system of beliefs or practices to which everyone is universally obligated. Such teaching is merely a presentation of literature in its historical context. Remember, the Constitutional separation of church and state did not exist in Colonial/Puritan times.

Mediation Six

Am I thy Gold? Or Purse, Lord, for they Wealth; Whether in mine or mint refinde for thee? Ime counted so, but count me o’re thyselfe, Lest gold washt face, and brass in Heart I bee. I Feare my Touchstone touches when I try Mee and my counted Gold too overly.

Am I new minted by thy Stamp indeed? Mine Eyes are dim; I cannot clearly see. Be thou my Spectacles that I may read Thine Image, and Inscription stampt on mee. If thy bright Image do upon me stand I am a Golden Angell in thy hand.

Lord, make my Soule thy Plate: thine Image bright Within the Circle of the same enfoile. And on its brims in golden Letters write Thy Superscription in an Holy style. Then I shall be thy Money, thou my Hoard: Let me thy Angell bee, bee thou my Lord.

1. The angell was an English gold coin, issued from 1470 to 1634, showing the archangel Michael slaying the dragon. Where does Taylor pun upon this word? What other words in the poem refer to money?

2. The first stanza might be paraphrased: “Is my life really of value to you, Lord? As a minister, I am counted valuable by my community; but reexamine what I am worth, lest I prove to be only gold-plated, with a heart of brass. I am afraid of the touches of the touchstone, that test me and my value to determine whether I am counterfeit.” The second stanza continues Taylor’s doubts and searchings. Paraphrase the first two lines of the second stanza.

3. The third stanza expresses the poet’s hope. What is that hope?

4. Which images in the poem do you find most striking?

5. What basic image is used in this poem?