CLICK HERE FOR THOUSANDS OF FREE BLOGGER TEMPLATES »

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Entry C: Anne Bradstreet

Bradstreet's
http://www.vcu.edu/engweb/webtexts/Bradstreet/bradhyp.htm
Woodlief, Ann. "to My Dear and Loving Husband" Study Text." 22 Mar. 2008.



http://spec.lib.vt.edu/mss/huffhylton/Apr24,1862(2).jpg

"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.

Reflection
In this poem, “To My Dear and Loving Husband” by Anne Bradstreet, a woman is expressing her love of her husband. She is explaining that nothing can compare to her intense love of him. It is impressive for someone to feel so much passion for another. Her language is simple, yet her comparisons are full of meaning. When reading this poem I felt soft-hearted thinking about how much love the woman put into the relationship. This poem reminds me of the story Romeo and Juliet because Juliet felt there was nothing greater than her love for Romeo, as does the wife in the poem for her husband. This poem could also relate to relationships in Hollywood because the couple’s love for each other runs out quickly as does “whole mines of gold.” It would be interesting if the woman’s husband could write a poem in response to hers.

Dear Diary,
Today I read the poem “To My Dear and Loving Husband” written by Anne Bradstreet. The speaker of the poem was a woman, a wife more specifically, who was professing her love of her husband. Her uses of imagery are vivid throughout the poem as she compares her love to “mines of gold.” Her simple scheme of rhyming every two lines gives the poem a somewhat quick pace that makes the reader able to feel her passion. There irony is that the wife feels that when she and her husband die, they will still live together forever because of their love for each other. This is definitely one of my favorite works by Anne Bradstreet because it shows that true love still exists.

Poetry Chart
Title/Author:
“To My Dear and Loving Husband”/Anne Bradstreet

Speaker:
A woman professing her love of her husband
A woman who loves her husband, then brags about it, yet she later is cautioning and later feels that they (she and her husband) may have to work for the love or it might go away.

Imagery:
Mines of gold, rivers(that cannot quench), heavens, love struck woman

Sound:
Rivers crashing, heart beating

Rhythm/ Repetition/ Rhyme/ Alliteration/ Assonance/ Consonance:
If ever, thee, we live, thy love/
We and thee, man and can, gold and hold, repay and pray/
While we live in love let’s, if ever/
I prize thy/
Iambic pentameter

Bradstreet is known for:
Paradox, Inversion, Rhyming couplets (aa bb cc dd)

Hyperbole: Love is prized more than “mines of gold”

Paradox:
When we live no more, we may live ever- This states that because of their intense love, they will live forever with each other. The statement “nor ought but love from thee, give recompense” is a metaphor because you really can’t buy love.

Tone:
This tone is expressive and emotional in that a wife is expressing her intense emotion (love) of her husband. The tone is heartfelt. Grateful, passion, exaltation

Irony:
The irony is that the wife feels that when they die, they will still live together forever because of their love for each other. The statement “I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold” is ironic because gold can fade and tarnish. Also the phrase “My love is such that rivers cannot quench” is ironic because rivers can dry up and it is impossible to drink an entire river.

Conceit (Metaphor):
The statement “nor ought but love from thee, give recompense” is a metaphor because you really can’t buy love. The word does not fit the rhyme scheme.




This cartoon shows that what is important to the author, isn't always important to the readers. Everybody views things a different way and one shouldn't get offended over critiquing and critisism.


Woodlief, Ann. "Hypertext for "the Prologue" and "the Author to Her Book"" Virginia
Commonwealth University. 22 Mar. 2008.

"The Author to her Book" by Anne Bradstreet
Thou ill-form'd offspring of my feeble brain, Who after birth did'st by my side remain, Till snatcht from thence by friends, less wise than true Who thee abroad, expos'd to publick view; Made thee in rags, halting to th' press to trudge, Where errors were not lessened (all may judge) At thy return my blushing was not small, My rambling brat (in print) should mother call, I cast thee by as one unfit for light, Thy visage was so irksome in my sight; Yet being mine own, at length affection would Thy blemishes amend, if so I could: I wash'd thy face, but more defects I saw, And rubbing off a spot, still made a flaw. I stretcht thy joints to make thee even feet, Yet still thou run'st more hobbling than is meet; In better dress to trim thee was my mind, But nought save home-spun cloth, i' th' house I find. In this array, 'mongst vulgars mayst thou roam In critics hands, beware thou dost not come; And take thy way where yet thou art not known, If for thy father askt, say, thou hadst none: And for thy mother, she alas is poor, Which caus'd her thus to send thee out of door. 1678


Reflection
The poem “The Author to her Book” was written by Anne Bradstreet. I chose this passage because it is about a woman expressing her views about her own poetry. I found this concept interesting because normally people write poetry and then others reflect on it. The main point of this poem is a woman talking about her relationship with her poetry. She says she sees defects and blemishes, yet she compares her poetry to a child. Normally one wouldn’t call a child defected. When reading this poem, I was surprised that Bradstreet would be so honest about her work. She is so honest that this poem has a critical tone, which is refreshing because usually people feel that there work is above others, yet she points out the flaws. There is vivid imagery as Bradstreet describes her poem. My reaction to this poem is that people should be more open to critique their work than to get offended when there is a “blemish.” This poem is similar to everyday life because everybody is faced with work and situations that can either be taken lightly, or can be thought through, improvised, and overall bettered. An example would be politicians. They are under constant scrutiny and when their flaws are discovered they have to accept the consequences and learn from their mistakes.

Dear Diary,
After reading “The Author to her Book” by Anne Bradstreet I learned that even talented people aren’t perfect, or at least feel they are. Anne Bradstreet is a very talented poet, yet she feels that her poem has flaws and defects. I personally disagree and love her work! Her tone towards her poem is critical, which isn’t something you normally hear from a famous poet. When people put so much effort into their work, they aren’t quick criticize it, which I completely understand. On the other hand, Anne Bradstreet accepts critiquing, even self-criticism, in an attempt to better her work. Her rhyming is so effortless, it’s a wonder she can think anything negative of her poetry! It is also interesting that she compares her work to be a child. This comparison shows how much she loves writing and how much effort she puts into her craft.
Poetry Chart
Title/Author:
“The Author to her Book”/ Anne Bradstreet

Speaker:
A woman is speaking about how she feels about her poetry

Imagery:
She compares her poetry to a child, so an image of a child comes to mind. Rags, blemishes, defects, flaws, spots, dress, home-spun cloth, critic’s hands

Sound:
A judge’s criticism, critics’ voices

Rhythm/ Repetition/ Rhyme/ Alliteration/ Assonance/ Consonance:
Brain and remain, true and view, trudge and judge, small and call, light and sight, would and could, saw and flaw, feet and meet, mind and find, poor and door

Paradox:
“And for thy mother, she alas is poor." This line suggests that she may have hoped to make some money by publishing, which would contradict the idea that the poetry was published without her will. That isn't true; her family was prosperous. However, it was generally acceptable for women to publish if they needed money, as long as they weren't also asking for the fame and glory traditionally granted to men.

Tone:
The tone of this poem is critical.

Irony:
This poem is full of irony because the woman speaking continually criticizes her own work, yet she worries about other’s criticism.

Conceit (Metaphor):
She considers her poetry to be her child, a metaphor which runs throughout the poem which perhaps only a fond mother would have used.

"The Vanity of All Worldly Things." 23 Mar. 2008
http://www.annebradstreet.com/the_vanity_of_all_worldly_things.htm.

"The Vanity of All Worldly Things" by Anne Bradstreet

As he said vanity, so vain say I,
Oh! Vanity, O vain all under sky;
Where is the man can say, "Lo, I have found
On brittle earth a consolation sound"?
What isn't in honor to be set on high?
No, they like beasts and sons of men shall die,
And whilst they live, how oft doth turn their fate;
He's now a captive that was king of late.
What isn't in wealth great treasures to obtain?
No, that's but labor, anxious care, and pain.
He heaps up riches, and he heaps up sorrow,
It's his today, but who's his heir tomorrow?
What then? Content in pleasures canst thou find?
More vain than all, that's but to grasp the wind.
The sensual senses for a time they pleasure,
Meanwhile the conscience rage, who shall appease?
What isn't in beauty? No that's but a snare,
They're foul enough today, that once were fair.
What is't in flow'ring youth, or manly age?
The first is prone to vice, the last to rage.
Where is it then, in wisdom, learning, arts?
Sure if on earth, it must be in those parts;
Yet these the wisest man of men did find
But vanity, vexation of the mind.
And he that know the most doth still bemoan
He knows not all that here is to be known.

Reflection
This poem “The Vanity of All Worldly Things” by Anne Bradstreet has opened my eyes to the truth of vanity. At first I chose this poem because the title intrigued me, but after reading the poem I have discovered the deeper meaning. The main point of this poem is that vanity affects everyone and everything to a point where it takes over our lives. This piece represents America because vanity is everywhere in today’s society. Honor and beauty, as mentioned in the poem, are tools used in commercials and other forms of media. My response, or reaction, to this poem is that it is distressing that vanity was a problem even back then. This just goes to show that vanity and materialistic things have always been around. It is encouraging that there are people who realize the problem of vanity and other worldly things. This poem is very similar to my life because everybody is concerned about having the latest trends and newest things. The media greatly publicizes materialistic values, so most people find vanity acceptable. The important things in life like wisdom, learning, and arts are greatly overshadowed by worldly things.

Dear Diary,
I just read the most inspirational poem! It is called “The Vanity of All Worldly Things” and it was written by Anne Bradstreet. This poem conveys a tone of criticism at the overly materialistic society in which we live. I know a lot of people that should read this poem. Where will the self-absorbed needs end? Trends are constantly changing and everybody is always vying for the newest things. The imagery of this poem consists of such, involving “great treasures” and “heaps of riches.” I love that this poem is so real and can relate to anybody. This poem pulls out all the stops and goes where some may consider being in controversial waters.
Poetry Chart
Title/Author:
“The Vanity of All Worldly Things”/ Anne Bradstreet

Speaker:
The speaker of this poem is a woman reflecting on worldly things, such as vanity.

Imagery:
Beasts, great treasures, heaps of riches

Sound:
Wind, man’s voice, “consolidation sound”

Rhythm/ Repetition/ Rhyme/ Alliteration/ Assonance/ Consonance:
Almost every two lines rhyme in the entire poem/ vain, it, he/ “Oh! Vanity, O vain”/ “He heaps…he heaps”

Paradox:
“Nor strength, nor wisdom, nor fresh youth shall fade,
Nor death shall see, but are immortal made.” Although the author says “nor death shall see,” she has made the poem sound vanity leads to mental death. As if to say vanity consumes you to an extent that you have lost your true identity.

Tone:
The tone of this poem seems to be inquisitive, almost to a point of being critical.

Irony:
“He heaps up riches, and he heaps up sorrow,
It's his today, but who's his heir tomorrow?
What then? Content in pleasures canst thou find?
More vain than all, that's but to grasp the wind.” This is saying that the man can’t be content and he can never be satisfied.

Conceit (Metaphor):
“What is't in flow'ring youth, or manly age?
The first is prone to vice, the last to rage.” This is saying younger people are prone to be juvenile. Also, older people are prone to be angry and bitter. I don’t completely agree because I think this statement is exaggerated.


EXTENSION: political cartoon re: plight of women in USA.


The plight of women is an ever climbing affair in today’s society, yet there is nowhere for women to turn with their troubles. In the cartoon a woman is carrying a baby and telling a woman with a shirt that says “Feminist” all of her troubles, such as the needs for “equal pay,” “equal treatment in the workplace,” and “affordable child care.” This is depicting all of the struggles women have to go through in day-to-day life. The “Feminist” is staring blankly at the troubled lady and eventually responds by saying “if you excuse me I see a fancy golf club that needs to admit women.” This goes to show that self-proclaimed feminists only care about getting benefits for themselves, not actually helping the progression of women’s rights. Overall, feminists are self-seeking and don’t care about other women which raises the question “if women don’t care about each other’s rights, then who will?”

0 comments: