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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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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