Early American Literature by mackenzie compton

Introduction:

princesskenzie2002 — 2019-10-18 17:38:03 UTC

Throughout time, english literature has changed and adapted to society. The early American literature was known as one of the smartest, most literate type of writing. The writing styles have changed over time and become what we know as today's literature. Even though all the literature was written by different people with many different opinions, they all had similar themes within them. In the two texts, “Here Follow Some Verses upon the Burning of Our House, July 10^th, 1666,” and “To The University of Cambridge, In New England” there is a reoccurring theme; in order to earn the privileges and luxury of life, you must go through the hardships.

Anne Bradstreet (Her life)

princesskenzie2002 — 2019-10-20 18:31:27 UTC

Anne Bradstreet emigrated to America when she was eighteen years old. She was married to a man who became the governor of Massachusetts Bay Colony. She had been very inspirational to the people around her at the time. Bradstreet had been the first to publish an American book written by a woman.

“Here Follow Some Verses upon the Burning of Our House, July 10th, 1666,”

princesskenzie2002 — 2019-10-20 18:39:11 UTC

This poem was written by Anne Bradstreet to give people hope. In the poem, Bradstreet explains a terrible experience when her house burns down and the tragic feelings that came along with it. She then ends the poem explaining that even though she had to go through such a hard experience, one day God would hold a beautiful home for her in Heaven. She wrote this for people who have gone through something tragic to inspire them to believe that there is something better after all the pain.
Throughout the poem, Bradstreet uses literary devices to make the words have more impact. "Here stood that Trunk and there that chest; There lay that store I counted best;
My pleasant things in ashes lye, And them behold no more shall I" (Bradstreet “Here Follow Some Verses upon the Burning of Our House, July 10^th, 1666,”). This shows symbolism, Bradstreet uses an everyday object and puts such more meaning behind it. The trunk that is now gone represents all the things she had that are now all gone, the fact that she has lost everything.

Phillis Wheatley

princesskenzie2002 — 2019-10-20 18:56:19 UTC

Phillis Wheatley had been about seven years old living in Africa when she was forced on a slave trade ship. She was bought as a servant to a lady who notice how smart she was. The lady taught Wheatley how to read and write properly. By the age of thirteen, she had published a poem in the english paper. Luckily, Wheatley became free and was able to live out a happy life and get married!

“To The University of Cambridge, In New England”

princesskenzie2002 — 2019-10-20 18:56:56 UTC

Phillis Wheatley wrote this poem in order to tell people of her time being shipped as a slave to America. But she tells her story in hope to show people the terrible things that happened to her so that it doesn't happen again. She also shows that even though the journey started out dark and gloomy, good things came out of it. This poem was intended for the other slaves who had to deal with this to give them some type of hope and for the white Americans to show them that they couldn't diminish her light.
Wheatley used many different literary devices in her work. She used imagery to explain how the new country looked to her to show the dark emotion of it all. "Students, to you 'tis giv'n to scan the heights. Above, to traverse the ethereal space, And mark the systems of revolving worlds" (Wheatley “To The University of Cambridge, In New England”).

Bradstreet and Wheatley

princesskenzie2002 — 2019-10-20 19:59:02 UTC

Both of these poems are considered early American literature, written in the new world. Even though they were both written by two completely different people, both texts showed the same theme in them. In order to earn the privileges and luxury of life, you must go through the hardships. Bradstreet experienced this when her house burnt down and she lost almost everything. Wheatley experienced this when she was brought over to American on a slave trade ship. But they both found that the bad things had to happen in order to find a good outcome in life.

Early American Literature VS Today

princesskenzie2002 — 2019-10-20 20:08:19 UTC

Early American literature was the basis of all of our literature today but it has changed and developed drastically. The early writing had been full of literary devices and has a more confusing language to it. You actually have to think about what you're reading. Whereas, current literature is very straight foreword without as many literary devices. The writing style has become less literate over the time, this is why early American literature is known as one of the most literate times in history.

Works Cited

princesskenzie2002 — 2019-10-20 20:25:47 UTC

“Anne Bradstreet.” Anne Bradstreet < Authors < Literature 1991 < American History From Revolution To Reconstruction and Beyond, www.let.rug.nl/usa/outlines/literature-1991/authors/anne-bradstreet.php.

Bradstreet, Anne. “Here Follow Some Verses upon the Burning of Our House, July 10th, 1666.”

"Wheatley, Phillis." Scholastic GO!, go.scholastic.com/content/schgo/B/article/atb/999/atb999b657.html. Accessed 20 Oct. 2019.

Wheatley, Phillis. “To The University of Cambridge, In New England.”

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