2) “The Author to Her Book” by Anne Bradstreet

- The metaphor OFFSPRING refers to Anne Bradstreet’s books as children. Why does she use such an image?

The speaker is disappointed in this work that she has created and feels that her own failed intellect is the
reason that she was unsuccessful. The next lines progress through the life of this volume and how at first it
remained by her side. It was close to her, almost a part of her, like a child, until it was snatched away. This
metaphor of the book being a child, and she being it’s mother, will continue till the end of the piece.
The book was taken from her by “friends” that were not wise enough to know what they were doing. It is
not that they wanted to do her wrong, they just didn’t know enough to see that the book was not ready. These
friends published her novel, spread it so that it was “expos’d to publick view.” Now all the world has access
to her unfinished, at least in her mind, work. When the book was published, it did not improve. It was just as
bad as she thought it was before.
- What is the meaning of line 7?
She blushed greatly upon receiving the “finished” book for the first time and took it as a mother would call
in her “rambling brat.” She did not welcome this “child” home, but longs cast it to the side.
- In the prolonged metaphor, lines 13 – 24, what particular defects of a book might be seen?
The next set of lines describes the ways in which the speaker physically tries to improve the book. While it
is impossible that she is actually doing these things, they are more likely a metaphor for the ways in which she
tries to improve the text.
She tries to “wash [it’s] face,” with no improvement. She only sees the defects more clearly. If she tried to
rub a spot off, she made a bigger flaw. When she tries to fix the book’s form and give it “even feet” it still
hobbles when it runs.
The speaker is also hoping to re-cover the book in “better dress” but in her house all she can find is “home-
spun Cloth” which is no improvement.
- Clarify the meaning of line 9.
She still sees it as being “unfit for light.” But it is too late now, everyone has seen and read it.
While she might despise, or feel disappointed in, the book she wrote, it is still her own. It still belongs to
her as a disobedient child belongs to it’s mother. It is due to this bond that she is going to try to improve it.
She isn’t ready to completely abandon it.

3) “To My Dear and Loving Husband” by Anne Bradstreet:

- Notice how the first three lines begin with “if”. How does this add to the meaning of the lines? What
does the “if” do to the meter and iambic rhythm of the piece?
Anaphora is employed in first three lines, in that “If ever” is a repetition of words at the beginning of
consecutive lines. It is intended to create a powerful sense of a consistent pattern. Apart from this, alliteration
is used to create rhythm and rhyme such as, were/we, wife/was and live/love.
The diction of this poem is simple without complex connotations. However, the poet has used some
archaic words, such as “thy,” which means your, and “doth,” which is an older version of “does” (although, of
course, these words were not archaic during Anne’s life).
- For whom is this poem intended? Pay your attention to the phrase “ye women”.
This poem is intended to other women(or only these lines, but the whole poem Is intended to her husband).
Bradstreet is convinced that no other woman has been as happy in love and marriage.
 The phrase “if you can” shows Bradstreet’s confidence in her marriage. She challenges other women to
compare their love to hers.
- What does she mean by the line: “Or all the riches that the East doth hold.”?
She cherishes her husband’s love more than the rarest of treasures.
These lines echo some lines in the Bible (“The decrees of the Lord are firm, and all of them are righteous.
They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold…”). But here Bradstreet describes her husband and
not God.
- Examine the paradox Bradstreet proposes in “we may live ever”. How does this connect to the Puritan
idea of predestination? Does she use any other paradoxes in other poems? What effect is achieved by this
device?
Here, unlike the first three lines of the poem, “ever” means “forever.” Hence, this couplet puts a new spin
on the theme of the poem (Bradstreet’s endless love for her husband): immortality through love. Their love is
so powerful that it will make them immortal.
As long as people can read the poem, the young man will live on. He is given something approaching
eternal life through the poem, unlike all other beauty in the world, which is temporary.
- In some of her pieces, Bradstreet employs great irony. Why does she use this device and whom is she
often mocking?
Although some have suggested that the gender of the poem’s recipient is a woman (and others that it is
unspecified) the weight of critical opinion is that a recipient is a man.

II. Critical Reading on American Literature of “A New Free Nation”:

1) “Sinners in the Hand of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards
- What did Edwards want to achieve with his sermon? Who did he write it for?
This is a typical Puritan "awakening sermon" that warns of a judgment hanging over unbelievers. It also
speaks of the mercy of God, who saves His enemies from immediate overthrow into hell.
- What might this sermon’s role have been in the pre-Newtonian age? How different might it be
nowadays?