'To My Dear and Loving Husband' - Weebly



"To My Dear and Loving Husband"

by Anne Bradstreet

To My Dear and Loving Husband

by Anne Bradstreet

If ever two were one, then surely we.

If ever man were loved by wife, then thee;

If ever wife was happy in a man,

Compare with me ye women if you can.

I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,

Or all the riches that the East doth hold.

My love is such that rivers cannot quench,

Nor ought but love from thee give recompense.

Thy love is such I can no way repay;

The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.

Then while we live, in love let's so persevere,

That when we live no more we may live ever.

1. Write down TEN observations that you noticed about this poem.

2. Note that each of the first three lines begins with “If”—a good example of anaphora. What is the effect of this repetition?

3. To whom is this poem addressed? If just her husband, why does she address "ye women" here? Is she speaking to both? Or is this a private poem, probably not meant for publication? It was not published for many years.

4. To put out, as a fire; to satisfy a thirst; to suppress, inhibit. What does this image suggest about her

feelings for him?

5. Ought means both nothing and expression of duty. These are very different meanings. Which is she using here? Could she be using both?

6. To compensate, pay for, return in kind, repay. Consider these three metaphors, and what she is using them to say. Also note that this word does not fit the rhyme scheme. What effect does that have?

7. Why should she want to "repay" if they two are truly one?

8. To continue. At the time, "persevere" is pronounced so that it rhymed with "ever" and, perhaps more significantly here, "sever." What does this paradox mean? How should they live now, as lovers, if they are to live and love forever? How does this tie in with their Puritan beliefs in predestination?

9. How would you characterize Bradstreet's feelings about her marriage? Prove your answer with evidence from the poem. How much do you think your response reflects your own experience and views on marriage?

10. Find THREE examples of powerful diction. List the examples here and explain their effect on the tone of the poem.

Upon the Burning of Our House by Anne Bradstreet

In silent night when rest I took,

For sorrow near I did not look,

I waken'd was with thundering noise

And Piteous shrieks of dreadful voice.

5 That fearful sound of fire and fire,

Let no man know is my Desire.

I, starting up, the light did spy,

And to my God my heart did cry

To strengthen me in my Distress

10 And not to leave me succourless.

Then coming out beheld a space,

The flame consume my dwelling place.

And, when I could no longer look,

I blest his Name that gave and took,

15 That laid my goods now in the dust:

Yea so it was, and so 'twas just.

It was his own: it was not mine;

Far be it that I should repine.

He might of All justly bereft,

20 But yet sufficient for us left.

When by the Ruins oft I past,

My sorrowing eyes aside did cast,

And here and there the places spy

Where oft I sate, and long did lye.

25 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.

Under thy roof no guest shall sit,

30 Nor at thy Table eat a bit.

No pleasant tale shall 'ere be told,

Nor things recounted done of old.

No Candle 'ere shall shine in Thee,

Nor bridegroom's voice ere heard shall be.

35 In silence ever shalt thou lye;

Adieu, Adeiu; All's vanity.

Then straight I gin my heart to chide,

And didst thy wealth on earth abide?

Didst fix thy hope on moldering dust,

40 The arm of flesh didst make thy trust?

Raise up thy thoughts above the sky

That dunghill mists away may fly.

Thou hast an house on high erect

Framed by that mighty Architect,

45 With glory richly furnished,

Stands permanent though' this be fled.

It's purchased, and paid for too

By him who hath enough to doe.

A Price so vast as is unknown,

50 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.

Text notes:

Line 5: fire and fire, Fire! and Fire!

Line 11: beheld a space, watched for a time

Line 14: I blest his name that gave and took, see Job 1:21

Line 24: Sate, sat

Line 40: Arm of flesh, see 2 Chron. 32:8; Isa. 9:18-20; Jer. 17:4-7

Line 42: Dunghill mists, see Ezra 6:9-12.

Line 43: House on high erect, see 2 Cor. 5:1; Heb. 11:10

Line 48: Enough to doe, ie. enough to do it

Line 52: Pelf, property, possessions

Line 54: Treasure lyes Above, see Luke 12:34

1. How does the poem suggest the relationship – or the conflict – between the spiritual and the earthly?

2. Where in this poem do you find Bradstreet to be more than a good Puritan woman?

3. At one point, Bradstreet seems to be focused on her emotions. Then, she shifts from her heart to her mind. Where does this shift to a logical approach happen?

4. Where do you see Bradstreet changing her attitude or her position in the poem?

5. Why does she make this shift in tone?

6. Comment on the use of the question in the poem. To whom does she seem to be talking?

7. What different emotions does the speaker express? List examples of diction or imagery that create tone and the then, explain the tone.

8. How does the speaker view her possessions before the fire, and how does she later change her views? Explain what she wanted to dispel.

9. In your opinion, what does the last sentence of the poem mean?

10. Write a brief character description of the character in the poem using examples (quote the text) from the poem to support your analysis.

“To My Dear and Loving…”

Write your own version of Bradstreet’s poem to her husband. Feel free to change “dear” and “loving” to something more negative if you’d like to express some other emotion besides love.

The poem must be a minimum of 12 lines. Please, number the lines.

“Upon the Losing of …”

Write your own poem about what it feels like to lose something that is important to you. The poem must be a minimum 20 lines. Again, please, number the lines.

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