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She was praying to God when she woke up to see everything burning. She subtly goes against the Puritan Beliefs by showing her attachment. "He might of all justly bereft,?But yet sufficient..." Slightly sarcastic, "It was His own, it was not mine,/Far be it that I should repine"(17-18) Goes on to complain about this.

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God is everything. Life is God's plan, and God controls everything. God owns everything.

"And to my God my heart did cry/to strengthen me in my distress" (8-9)

"It was His own, it was not mine,/far be it that I should repine" (17-18)

"It's purchased and paid for too/By him who hath enough to do"(47-48)

"Yet by His gift is made thine own" (50)

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>>>Religion and Faith are very important-God is the c.enter of everything. He controls everything

Literary Techniques

Anaphora-Nor at thy table eats a bit/No pleasant tal shall eer be told/ Nor things recounted done of old/No candle eer shall shine in thee(30-34)

Enjambemt-"A price so vast as is unknown/Yet by his gift is made thine own" (49-50)

Repetition-Yea, so it was, and so 'twas just./ It was His own, it was not mine" (16-17)

Imagery, line 12-describes burning

Allusion-"Framed by that mighty Architect"(44) God building stuff

"Adiew, Adiew, all's vanity" (36)-alludes to the book of Ecclesiastes.

BELIFS>>

It shows her love and appreciation for God as seen in her emotions. References him many times, and says Giving her possessions to God as a form of burning. Always God's to begin with. Hints at Predestination when she says that she was going to go to heaven.

She's supposed to be happy even though her house burned down. Nothing should be above God, rather than material attachment. She was devastated but reassures herself.

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How have faith and religion come to shape American literature?

>>>She references God many times and believes that he was the one who has given her the opportunity to stay alive even though her house burned down. God is in control of everything. God should be valued more than anything else.

What role do faith and religion play in the lives of people in general?

>>>:Far be it that I should repine"(8) she hopes for redemption and relies on God.

"My hope and treasure lies above"(54) All she does is hope and have faith in God for everything to be fine.

How can faith and religion blind people from the truth?

She is blinded because she thinks her house burning down is good. She says that everything is God's and he has the right to take it back, but she fails to see the bad side.

How can faith and religion reveal truth to people?

She is optimistic and grateful because of her beliefs. SHe is grateful for the fact that God kept her alive even though her house burned down.

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Raising children symbolizes creating poems. -"My rambling brat (in print) should mother call" (8)

Bradstreet wishes to mend the poem's imperfections-"Thy blemishes amend, if so I could(12)

Bradstreet completed her role and her poems were published for thy mother, she alas is poor,/Which caused her thus to send thee out of door"(23-24)

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How has faith and religion come to shape American Literature?

Her faith and beliefs caused her to become a hard worker and a perfectionist. These belief caused her to work really hard to make her poems and work as perfect as she could.

What role do faith and religion play in the lives of people in general?

They had strict rules that they had to follow. -"Tou ill-formed...(1) and "I cast thee by as..."(9) "I washed thy face, but more defects I saw...(13-14) Felt like she had to be accepted and didn't want to be judged. Also showed that women can do more than the stereotypical Puritan woman's daily life prohibited her from doing.

How can faith and religion blind people from the truth?

>>>Women weren't imagined to succeed in other roles, and Bradstreet tries to show that that idea is wrong. Puritan beliefs caused people to think that women couldn't do so. :Brad street 18"But nought..." and "Bradstreet 22-23"

How can faith and religion reveal the truth to people?

The Puritan goal of striving for perfection and the significance placed upon hard work revealed some insights to her. She should try to improve her books, and she worked hard to perfect it even though she wasn't able to make it perfect.

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Religion and Beliefs- loyalty to family, bluntness towards, actions, faith, self-reflection, the importance of hard work, striving for perfection

Literary Devices-Symbolism, Rhyme, Imagery

Implied Metaphor: "Though ill-formed..."(Bradstreet 1)

She is using a metaphor that compares her book to her children.

Personification- I am saying that the book had blemishes and had to be washed.

Beliefs/Time Period- Explored gender roles, women were supposed to be mothers and housewives. also criticized her own literature. Openly scrutinizes.

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She puts herself in a position where she is the one judging-"I cast thee by as unfit for light"(9)

She believes that women can also write just aswell and could succeed in different roles-"If for thy father asked, say thou hadst none:/ ..."(22-23)

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Shows how personal and private her relationship with God is, but Puritans placed an emphasis on group and public worship. She is also very intimate with God as opposed to normal Puritan worship.

“I sought him whom my Soul did Love,/ With tears I sought him earnestly.

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The poem demonstrates Bradstreet's love of God, total faith in him, and gratitude for God. These values are all reflected in Puritanism since they prioritize God above everything else.

“I’ll serve him here whilst I shall live / And Loue him to Eternity”(15-16).

“I sought to whom my Soul may Love, / With tears I sought him earnestly”(5-6).

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How have faith and religion come to shape American literature?

What role does faith and religion play in people's everyday lives in general?

Anne Bradstreet was able to conquer her fears because her faith in God and his choices outweighed her uncertainty and difficulties in her life. This confidence given to her by God would make her able to withstand adversity in her day-to-day life. She also has immense gratitude for God’s actions and everything he has given her. Bradstreet wishes to repay him for what he has done for her, but nothing she can do would ever truly repay him. Since she can not recompense God, she vows to serve him throughout her life and love him for it forever. The overall connection with Puritan lifestyle throughout the poem is seen with Bradstreet’s wish to fulfill her debt to God, which influences her daily life by making her act in a way that God would approve.

How does faith and religion reveal the truth to people?

Her Puritan beliefs and faith allow her to not only have faith in God but also in herself because she knows that God will be there for her. It also puts an emphasis on self-reflection.

How does faith and religion blind people from the truth?

They give all credit to their religion rather than thinking about the effects of other things in their life that could be helping them or could help them.

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Beliefs>

Love for God, Faith, and Gratitude

Should value god more than anyone

Predestination

God was capable of helping anyone

Faith allows for confidence

Literary Devices>

Symbolism-Symbolizes night as a time to self-respect and connect with God rather than sleep.

“By night when others soundly slept/ And hath at once both ease and Rest,/ My waking eyes were open kept”(1-3).

Rhyme-ABAB rhyme scheme except for second stanza.

“I sought him whom my Soul did Love,/ With tears I sought him earnestly./ He bow’d his ear down from Above./ In vain I did not seek or cry”(5-8).

Personification-Personifies her soul, doubts, and fears.

“My hungry Soul fill’d with Good;”(9)

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1. Purpose- The purpose of this stanza is to express her love and faith in God, especially in her most vulnerable and private moments.

Role- It is the only stanza that doesn't follow the rhyme scheme, and it conveys how Bradstreet aims to personally and directly connect with God. Also, the stanza sets up her interaction with God in the next stanza.

2. Connotation- Bradstreet uses the phrase, "In vain" when she says that she didn't seek or cry. She could have meant that she did not try to seek God or cry because she thought highly of herself. However, "In vain" could also be interpreted as an indication that she failed. So, it could be interpreted as her failure to cry or seek God. Also, earlier she mentioned that she sought God earnestly. This could be interpreted as a sign of desperation and/or conviction.

Impact-She could be supporting or slightly opposing Puritan beliefs. One interpretation is that she fails to not seek God because of how much she thinks she needs/ wants God. She could also be opposing because she could be thinking that she doesn't need God and that she is above Puritanism. Another possible meaning could be that she failed at something, but she still doesn't want to seek God or cry. Earnestly could mean that she is desperate for forgiveness or help, or she loves God so much that she seeks him every night.

3. Line-by-Line - The first line shows her love of God and how she seeks him, but it could also mean that only her soul loves God because the rational part of her might not believe in it. The second line shows her desperation and desire for God. Her desperation might be caused by the sins that she had committed. The third line shows how God listens to Bradstreet, but it also shows how he brings himself down to the level of Bradstreet instead of Bradstreet sending her prayers to God. The fourth line shows how she might have failed at something but she refuses to seek God or cry about it. It could also show how Bradstreet thinks of herself above Puritanism or shows her intense desire for God.

Supporting/Opposing- The first line could be opposing Puritanism because she implies that she doesn't believe in God by saying that only her soul believes it. It might be helpful spiritually, but she might not believe in God and oppose Puritanism. The second line could be seen as supporting Puritanism because she desperately needs God, and Puritans believe that God is above all else. The third line could oppose Puritanism because it could imply that God is the one that comes to you instead of the more usual idea that you pray to God. The fourth line also could oppose Puritanism because even though she failed at something in her life, she refuses to seek God for help.

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How has faith and religion come to shape American literature?

>>>Bradstreet used faith and religion in the poem to show two sides of an argument that people might be thinking about quietly in their heads. The conflict challenges their faith in their views and religion while discussing the possibility that their religion is wrong and they should have just bought into their urges instead. Faith and religion allow literature to discuss personal questions and challenge religion while revealing its truths and lies.

What role do faith and religion play in the lives of people in general?

>>> Bradstreet portrayed a dilemma that people must have faced, and people who shared the perspective of Spirit, which represents faith, would have tried to avoid sin and resist temptations. However, people who didn't have that faith and believed in Flesh's ideology would have tried to chase their desires and pleasures.

How can faith and religion blind people from the truth?

>>> Strictly adhering to the idea that all pleasure must be avoided and trying to let go of worldly desires would prevent people from truly enjoying their lives. They wouldn't be able to make progress towards a goal of theirs that might seem superficial to others just because of this view.

How can faith and religion reveal the truth to people?

>>>On the other hand, abstaining from pleasure would have helped people escape the cons of pleasure like addiction and other side effects. People who resist their temptations would be able to build discipline and work hard towards personal and religious goals that are truly meaningful rather than chasing delight.