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Poet: Anne Bradstreet
Poem: Verses upon the Burning of our House, July 18th
Year: Published/Written in 1666
Poem of the Day:
Aug 18 2007
Comment 3 of 3, added on May 8th, 2007 at 9:29 PM.
This poem isn’t about how she used religion to cope with the grief of losing her home to a fire. In fact, it’s statement about how she really felt horribly saddened about the great loss that had befallen her and her family, but because of the puritan culture in which she lived, she was unable to openly greave for the loss of her home.
The poem itself is a frame, with the first part beginning as a sort of mantra of religious gobble-de-gook, which she had been no doubt been spoon-fed her entire life, but never truly adhered to. It’s no secret that Bradstreet struggled with her faith her entire life. Then in the middle part we get to see how she truly feels dreadful about her loss. There is an abrupt shift at the end of this section, whereupon the grief has become too much, and she quickly forces herself back into the scripted religious teachings—to which she undoubtedly holds no revelry.
This abrupt shift in the tone of the Author is marked by the change in verse, where the poem changes from its steady iambic tetrameter to the jarring and declarative “Adieu, adieu” line. We as readers are supposed to understand that while in her heart-of-hearts she is truly grieved, the time and culture in which she lived would not permit her to express it—perhaps even to herself.
Brad from United States
Comment 2 of 3, added on March 29th, 2006 at 9:40 PM.
this poem is good i like the deep meaning in the symbolism. take it from me, i like american literature.
joma from Andorra
Comment 1 of 3, added on September 1st, 2005 at 4:38 PM.
This poen is amazing not in the sense of tragedy but in the realization that wordly wealth, in the end, does not matter. Her faith in God brought happinness in the midst of her despair. She is greatful for what she does have still and today, in the world, the same idea is not portrayed in our lives. She sets an example that is necessary for us to follow.
Gabrielle from United States
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Comments
This poem isn’t about how she used religion to cope with the grief of losing her home to a fire. In fact, it’s statement about how she really felt horribly saddened about the great loss that had befallen her and her family, but because of the puritan culture in which she lived, she was unable to openly greave for the loss of her home.
The poem itself is a frame, with the first part beginning as a sort of mantra of religious gobble-de-gook, which she had been no doubt been spoon-fed her entire life, but never truly adhered to. It’s no secret that Bradstreet struggled with her faith her entire life. Then in the middle part we get to see how she truly feels dreadful about her loss. There is an abrupt shift at the end of this section, whereupon the grief has become too much, and she quickly forces herself back into the scripted religious teachings—to which she undoubtedly holds no revelry.
This abrupt shift in the tone of the Author is marked by the change in verse, where the poem changes from its steady iambic tetrameter to the jarring and declarative “Adieu, adieu” line. We as readers are supposed to understand that while in her heart-of-hearts she is truly grieved, the time and culture in which she lived would not permit her to express it—perhaps even to herself.
Brad from United States