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God tests Bradstreet by setting a fire in her home to see if she will still believe in him of she can overcome the losses.

"And to God, my heart did cry/ To strengthen me in my distress/ And to not leave me succorless." 7-9

She notes that God as only takes what is his back

"If it was His own, it was not mine, / Far be it that I should repine." 16-7

Bradstreet understand that God is trying to teach her a lesson

"There's wealth enought, I need no more / adieu, adieu all's vanity" 51, 36

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Anne’s reflection on her relationship with God; while everyone sleeps, she is reflecting on how good God is to her.

“ I sought him whom my soul did love, with tears I sought him earnestly. He bowed his ear down from above.” (Bradstreet, lines 5-7)

This represents her as a perfect Puritan and elect because God has a close relationship with her and personally listens to her issues.

“What to my savior shall I give. Who freely hath done this

for me? I’ll serve him here whilst I shall live.” (Bradstreet, lines 13-15)

She is using the Puritan belief of predestination and explaining that she is elect because of her close and personal experiences with God.

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“The world no longer let me love, / My hope and treasure lies above.” (53-54)

Here, she says she no longer loves the world, and instead has her hope in what lies above, or heaven

“That fearful sound of “Fire!” and “Fire!” / Let no man know is my desire.” (5-6)

This line directly states Anne likes hearing her house is burning

Perhaps this idea, the idea of the unimportance of mortal possessions, was already known to her on some subconscious level even before she came to the realization later in the poem.

Bradstreet remembers according to her religion, none of the material things she owened where 100% hers and truly belonged to god.

“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 t’was just. It was His own, it was not mine, Far be it that I should repine.”

She reflects on her faith in god

“No pleasant tale shale e’er be told, Nor things recounted done of old. No candle e’er shall shine in thee, Nor bridegroom’s voice e’er heard shall be. In silence ever shalt thou lie; Adieu, Adieu all’s vanity.”

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Emphasizing individuality which is detached from Puritan beliefs:

"The world no longer let me love, / My hope and treasure lies above" (Bradstreet 43-44).

Bradstreet is showing that her sense of individuality and her freedom “lies” above the constraints of the Puritan society. Just as hope is placed above worldly possessions, she places her values and beliefs above the strict Puritan community.

Critiquing the Puritan emphasis on following their rules or being shunned by the community:

"Thou hast a house on high erect, / Framed by that mighty Architect" (Bradstreet 51-52).

Bradstreet sees herself as having a place of freedom and self-expression “on high,” beyond the reach of the Puritan constraints. The “house on high” could symbolize a space where she can be herself, distancing herself from the Puritan idea that everyone needs to follow their rules.

Scrutinizing the idea that spiritual standing and relationship with God is based on material possessions:

"And did thy wealth on earth abide? / Didst fix thy hope on mold’ring dust?" (Bradstreet 17-18).

By showing how the Puritan’s attachment to material possessions as a sign of all success was overrated, Bradstreet focuses and argues on how it isn’t reasonable to think this way in the strict Puritan community subtly critiques the Puritan belief that material success is a reflection of one's spiritual standing and success in all ways.

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How faith and religion can reveal truth to people?

The poem shows her journey from despair to spiritual enlightenment

Bradstreet is devestated about the loss of her physical posessions

“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 succorless. Then, coming out, beheld a space the flame consume my dwelling place.”

She reflects on her beliefs and decides material things were nothing compared to eternal life with god

“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.

How has faith and religion come to shape American literature?

“Upon the Burning of Our House July 10th, 1666,” addresses the idea that faith and religion came to shape American literature by being written as a response to a tragic event.

When Bradstreet starts the poem, she recalls waking up to the fire in her home and feeling horror as the fire consumes her home. She grieves for what she has lost and calls out to God.

“Upon the Burning of Our House” says, “I blest His name that gave and took” (14).

When Bradstreet mentions God’s name, she acknowledges how God has blessed her with wonderful gifts. However, she also blames God for her loss and makes a comment about how she should not complain about the loss of God’s items since they were never truly hers.

Bradstreet expands on the idea that God’s gifts were never her own and could be taken away.

“Upon the Burning of Our House July 10, 1666,” says, “Farewell, my pelf, farewell my store” (52).

Pelf means money that was obtained dishonestly. Therefore, Bradstreet believes that her gifts were acquired from God dishonestly because she is a sinner who pretends to be good, and God rewards her for her actions.

Bradstreet relieves her pain about losing her home by using God as a scapegoat to explain why the burning of her home even happened.

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How does the poem address the role that faith and religion play in the lives of people in general?

= Addresses the point of how faith and religion make people shape their lives around faith, through paranoia and devotion in the way that they are unsure if they are worthy of God’s love.

Bradstreet is unable to sleep because of her devotion (paranoia)

Thinks she isn’t worthy of God’s love; and questions how she will repay him

Her daily life is befuddled with thoughts about God, and her actions are based on serving Him.

Evidence:

“My waking eyes were open kept / And so to lie I found it best. / I sought him whom my Soul did Love,” (3-5)

“What to my Savior shall I give / Who freely hath done this for me? I’ll serve him here whilst I shall live” (16-17)

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In her poem “By Night When Others Soundly Slept”, Bradstreet demonstrates how religion and faith play into the lives of Puritans by controlling their thoughts and actions through fear and self-remorse.

Lines 3 and 4 explain the anxiety and self-remorse and anxiety that come with the lifestyle of Puritan

Lines 13-15 express how religion of the Puritans can control people’s actions

Evidence:

Lines 3-4:

“My waking eyes open kept/And so to lie I found it best.”

Lines 13-15:

“What to my Saviour shall I give/Who freely hath done this for me?/I’ll serve him here whilst I shall live”

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In Bradstreet's poem “By Night When Others Soundly Slept”, Bradstreet repeatedly speaks of God and his love gratefully and lovingly.

Bradstreet, like most poets, emphasizes this point significantly by using phrases with idioms and allusion.

Idiom: "He in his Bottle put my tears," (10). 'Bottling tears' is a commonly used idiom in literature and Bradstreet doesn't mean God bottles her tears literally but rather means that his love allows her to feel better and comforted by God.

Allusion: "He bow'd his ear down from Above" (7). Bradstreet is referencing one of the mentions of God's view from heaven, during Psalm 86:1, which is a line from an old man's prayer asking for God's help.

While Bradstreet not only wants God's love and comfort throughout the night, she seeks some sort of guidance or wisdom from him to soothe her bothersome thoughts.

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Imperfect life:

Criticising her books reflects her views of her own life as flawed

Quote

"I washed thy face, but more defects I saw, / And rubbing off a spot still made a flaw" (Bradstreet 13-14)

Lack of Control:

Her books being published without consent symbolizes her lack of power over her own creations

Quote:

“Till snatched from thence by friends, less wise than true, / Who thee abroad, exposed to public view" (Bradstreet 2-4)

Women’s rights:

The poem highlights the limits on women’s rights, and how women are seens as only mothers and wives, as seen in how she refers to her books as a child

Quote

"Thou ill-formed offspring of my feeble brain, / Who after birth didst by my side remain" (Bradstreet 1-2)

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How can faith and religion blind people from the truth?

The poem shows how Spirit criticizes Flesh for focusing on material things. Flesh says, "Come, come. I'll show unto thy sense / Industry hath its recompense" (Bradstreet lines 13-14), reflecting how faith can blind one from the practical truth of hard work and material needs.

Spirit argues that only heavenly riches matter, saying, "Thy sinful pleasures I do hate, / Thy riches are to me no bait" (Bradstreet lines 33-34). This shows how a devout focus on spiritual matters can cause one to dismiss the reality of physical needs or pleasures.

Spirit’s disdain for Flesh’s concerns with earthly life, calling it "foolish" (Bradstreet line 42), indicates how religion can blind someone to the value and importance of the material world.

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The poem The Author to Her Book by Anne Bradstreet ties into Puritan beliefs at the time by demonstrating the fear of ones children being elect or not through symbolism, foreshadowing, and imagery.

Symbolic example: “I cast thee be as one unfit for light, / The visage was so irksome in my sight” (lines 9-10).

Foreshadowing example: “Thou ill-formed offspring of my feeble brain” (line 1).

Imagery example: “I stretched thy joints to make thee even feet” (line 15).

Women’s rights

Books published against her will

Bradstreet Mentions how her books were published without her consent

This highlights the power women had over their creations and themself

Gender roles

Refers to her works as her child

She refers to her works as a child and talks about them as if she tried to raise them well

Brings light to the puritan belief that women has only a few roles in society

Emphasized her disagreement with the restrictive roles in a Puritan society

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How can faith and religion reveal truth to people?

The Spirit rejects the Flesh’s temptations, showing that faith reveals a higher, spiritual truth beyond earthly pleasures:
"My garments are not silk nor gold, / Nor such like trash which Earth doth hold".
(Bradstreet, lines 55-56)

Through faith, the Spirit sees the futility of pursuing wealth, declaring that spiritual treasures are eternal, unlike the temporal riches of Earth:
"Things subject to decay and rot" (Bradstreet, line 63).

Through faith, the Spirit sees the futility of pursuing wealth, declaring that spiritual treasures are eternal, unlike the temporal riches of Earth:
"Things subject to decay and rot" (Bradstreet, line 63).

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Portrays her fear of her writing through being afriad of her child

Puritans were afraid of their children because of not knowing if they will be an elect or not.

Evidence-

“Where errors were not lessened (all may judge)” (Bradstreet 6).

Errors can make them not an elect and therefore not welcome in their society

“Thy blemishes amend if so I could,” (Bradstreet 12).

She would help her child if she could

“I washed thy face, but more defects I saw,” (Bradstreet 13).

As much as she tried to help she couldn’t

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

“At thy return my blushing was not small,” (Bradstreet 7)

The puritans strictly believed that some would be elect and go to heaven and that others were destined from birth to go to hell, so Anne Bradstreet reveals in line 7 that she is embarrassed by the child possibly because it is showing signs of not being elect.

“I cast thee by as one unfit for light,/ The visage was so irksome in my sight;” (Bradstreet 9-10)

One’s children could show whether someone was elect or not, so Bradstreet believed that her child was going to get her sent to hell, causing her to not want to have to look at it.

“I washed thy face, but more defects I saw,/ And rubbing off a spot still made a flaw.” (Bradstreet 13-14)

She refers to her life in the poem through her poems

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How has faith and religion come to shape American literature?

In The Flesh and the Spirit, Anne Bradstreet explores the internal struggle between material desires (Flesh) and spiritual aspirations (Spirit), reflecting Puritan values of the 17th century.

Spirit emphasizes the insignificance of worldly pleasures compared to eternal life, stating, "The hidden manna I do eat" (The Flesh and the Spirit, line 64). This conveys the moral message of rejecting materialism for spiritual fulfillment.

Spirit emphasizes the insignificance of worldly pleasures compared to eternal life, stating, "The hidden manna I do eat" (The Flesh and the Spirit, line 64). This conveys the moral message of rejecting materialism for spiritual fulfillment.

The poem represents how Puritanism influenced the individual’s perception of self in relation to God and the community. The Spirit proclaims, "My greatest honour it shall be / When I am led to follow thee" (The Flesh and the Spirit, lines 79-80), emphasizing the role of faith in defining personal worth and purpose.

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

Religion is presented as a source of inner conflict between worldly desires and spiritual purity. Spirit represents the path of righteousness, urging to "mount up to eternal life" (Bradstreet, line 61), emphasizing a focus on eternal salvation.

Religion is portrayed as the ultimate key to salvation, where adherence to spiritual values promises "eternal bliss" (Bradstreet, line 63) as opposed to the transient pleasures of the flesh.

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1. Functions of this stanza:

Acknowledging human grief: The stanza portrays Bradstreet's sorrow at losing her home, showing the normal human response to tragedy.

Emphasizing the transient nature of earthly possessions: Through her reflection on "wealth" and "sorrow," Bradstreet introduces the Puritan belief that material possessions are temporary and insignificant in the eyes of God.

Shifting from sorrow to faith: By the end of the stanza, the speaker begins to bless God, even in the face of loss, showing her acceptance of God.

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1. "Night"

Connotation: The word "night" has both literal and metaphorical connotations. Literally, it refers to a time of darkness, silence, and solitude. Metaphorically, "night" often represents sorrow, uncertain.

Impact: The use of "night" sets the tone of isolation and vulnerability, reflecting Bradstreet’s personal moment of grief.

"Sorrow"

Connotation: "Sorrow" has a strong emotional weight, indicating grief, sadness, or emotional distress. The word carries a universal association with loss and mourning.

Impact: The choice of "sorrow" evokes sympathy and empathy from the reader, drawing them into Bradstreet’s personal pain. It also reinforces the Puritan belief in the inevitability of suffering.

"Wealth"

Connotation: In the context of Puritan beliefs, "wealth" has both a literal meaning, about to material possessions, and a spiritual meaning, suggesting the true wealth is found in heaven.

Impact: The word "wealth" prompts the reader to question the value of material possessions. Bradstreet’s contemplation of where her “wealth” truly lies (on earth or in heaven) mirrors the Puritan belief in the insignificance of earthly riches. This ual connotation creates a tension between worldly attachment and spiritual devotion.

"Gave" and "Took"

Connotation: These simple words, "gave" and "took," reflect the transient nature of life and possessions. They are direct and unembellished, which aligns with Puritan plain style but also carry deep theological significance.

Impact: These words remind the reader of the duality of life—everything can be given and taken away by God. They emphasize God’s nature of material possessions. The simplicity of these words reinforces the inevitability of loss but also the Puritan belief in accepting God’s will.

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Line 1: "By the night when others sleep"

Meaning: The speaker is awake in the middle of the night while others are sleeping, suggesting a sense of solitude and reflection.

Stance: This line aligns with supporting traditional Puritan views.

Explanation: Puritans valued introspection and self-examination, especially in moments of silence and isolation. Being awake when others sleep could symbolize a moment of spiritual reckoning or an opportunity for personal reflection.

Line 2: "And sorrow near I did espy"

Meaning: The speaker senses or observes sorrow approaching, recognizing impending grief or loss.

Stance: This line supports Puritan beliefs.

Explanation: Sorrow and suffering were often viewed as inevitable parts of life in Puritan beliefs, meant to humble individuals and turn their focus to God. Bradstreet's acknowledgment of sorrow reflects acceptance of life's hardships as part of divine providence.

Line 3: "And fast it did approach my house"

Meaning: The sorrow (or misfortune) comes quickly toward her home, implying the literal or figurative destruction of her property or peace.

Stance: This supports traditional Puritan views.

Explanation: The swiftness of misfortune underscores the unpredictability of God's will. Puritans believed that material possessions and worldly comforts were fleeting, and their loss was often interpreted as a test of faith or a reminder of the impermanence of earthly life

Line 4: "And did my wealth on earth abide?"

Meaning: The speaker reflects on where her true wealth lies—whether on earth (in material goods) or elsewhere (spiritually).

Stance: This supports Puritan values.

Explanation: Puritans strongly believed that earthly wealth and possessions were secondary to spiritual wealth. This line shows Bradstreet questioning the value of her material possessions, implying that her true wealth lies in heaven, which aligns with the

Line 5: "And when I could no longer look"

Meaning: The speaker reaches a point where she cannot bear to watch her house burn any longer.

Stance: This supports Puritan values.

Explanation: Turning away from the burning house suggests an acceptance of loss. In Puritan beliefs, individuals were expected to submit to God's will, even in moments of deep personal loss. The inability to watch further could represent a turning point.

Line 6: "I blest His name that gave and took"

Meaning: The speaker praises God for both giving her possessions and for taking them away.

Stance: This strongly supports Puritan beliefs.

Explanation: By blessing God's name in the face of loss, Bradstreet demonstrates her submission to God's will, a central ideaof Puritan beliefs, which teaches that everything, good or bad, comes from God, and humans should remain grateful for whatever God gives or takes.

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

In "Upon the Burning of Our House," faith and religion are important in shaping how individuals perceive and cope with life's challenges.

For Anne Bradstreet, her Puritan faith is a source of comfort and guidance of personal loss. When her house burns down, she initially is sad about the loss of her material possessions, saying,

"And when I could no longer look, / I blest His name that gave and took" (Bradstreet lines 13-14). This response shows the belief that everything she owns belongs to God, and her role is to accept His will without question.

This mindset reflects a broader Puritan belief that worldly suffering is temporary and that true wealth lies in the afterlife, where the faithful will be rewarded:

"Thou hast an house on high erect, / Framed by that mighty Architect" (Bradstreet lines 43-44).

Faith and religion provide a framework for understanding and enduring life's trials, reinforcing the belief that material losses are insignificant compared to the spiritual gains given by God.

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How can faith and religion blind people from the truth?

In "Upon the Burning of Our House," Bradstreet's immediate turn to her faith prevents her from fully grieving her loss or acknowledging the emotional and practical implications of her home's destruction.

She starts by stating, "It was His own, it was not mine" (Bradstreet line 17), which reflects her belief that her worldly possessions are of no real value.

This perspective can be seen as a way to avoid facing the pain and loss she experiences, because her faith teaches her to suppress these feelings in favor of accepting God's will.

By focusing on the promise of a "house on high erect" (Bradstreet line 43), she may be neglecting the reality of her current situation. Faith and religion can sometimes lead individuals to overlook or dismiss the immediate truth of their circumstances.

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The poem shows her journey from despair to spiritual enlightenment

Bradstreet is devestated about the loss of her physical posessions

“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 succorless. Then, coming out, beheld a space the flame consume my dwelling place.”

She reflects on her beliefs and decides material things were nothing compared to eternal life with god

“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.

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How has faith and religion come to shape American literature?

Faith and religion have significantly shaped American literature, often guiding the themes and moral outlooks presented in literary works.

In Anne Bradstreet's poem "The Author to Her Book," her deep-rooted Puritan faith manifests in the humility and self-deprecation she expresses toward her work, a reflection of the Puritan values of modesty and self-examination.

She describes her book as "ill-formed offspring of my feeble brain" (line 1), revealing how her faith instills in her a sense of humility and a belief in the fallibility of human efforts.

This sentiment is a common thread in early American literature, where religious faith often influenced authors to view their works and lives as subordinate to divine judgment.

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How can faith and religion blind people from the truth?

Faith and religion can sometimes blind individuals to the flaws in their own beliefs or creations, as seen in Bradstreet's conflicted relationship with her book.

Despite her genuine affection for her work, she perceives it as flawed, stating,

"If for thy father asked, say thou hadst none" (line 8), suggesting that her religious humility might prevent her from recognizing the merit of her own writing.

This self-critical attitude, driven by her faith, may obscure her ability to see the true value of her work, illustrating how religious beliefs can lead to an overly harsh or distorted self-assessment.

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How can faith and religion reveal truth to people?

On the other hand, faith and religion can also be a source of truth and self-awareness.

In "The Author to Her Book," Bradstreet's acknowledgment of her book's imperfections reflects a deeper understanding of human limitations and the need for continuous improvement, which her faith reveals to her.

She admits that her

"blemishes amend, if so I could" (line 12), showing how her faith encourages her to strive for betterment and accept the truth about her shortcomings.

This perspective allows her to grow as both a writer and a person, demonstrating how faith can lead to an honest confrontation with the truth.

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How has faith and religion come to shape American literature?

Faith and religion have profoundly shaped American literature, especially in its early stages, by providing both content and context for the works produced.

Anne Bradstreet’s poem "By Night When Others Soundly Slept" exemplifies this influence.

The poem reflects the Puritan values that dominated early American society, emphasizing a personal relationship with God.

Bradstreet writes, “I sought him whom my Soul did Love” (line 2), illustrating how personal devotion are central themes in her work.

Her poetry often reflects the Puritan emphasis on introspection

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How can faith and religion blind people from the truth?

While faith and religion often guide individuals, they can also obscure the truth when dogma overshadows reason.

In "By Night When Others Soundly Slept," Bradstreet’s intense focus on her spiritual relationship might suggest a single-mindedness that can lead to a narrow perception of reality.

“My waking Eyes were open kept / And so to lie I meant” (Bradstreet 5-6) indicates a determination to maintain a spiritual vigil, possibly at the expense of recognizing the practical aspects of her situation.

This can be interpreted as an example of how rigid religious devotion may lead to a form of blindness, where the believer sees only what aligns with their faith, potentially ignoring other truths or realities.

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How can faith and religion reveal truth to people?

Faith and religion often provide individuals with profound insights and a deeper understanding of life’s meaning.

In Bradstreet’s poem, her faith allows her to find solace and truth in her relationship with God, even in the stillness of night when others sleep.

She writes,

“I knew the Lord was nigh” (line 10), a moment that reveals her deep spiritual conviction and the truth she finds in God’s presence.

This line suggests that through her faith, Bradstreet uncovers a truth that provides comfort and assurance, revealing that faith can be a powerful means of accessing deeper truths about existence, purpose, and inner peace.