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122 Unit 2 ■ Analyzing Comparisons and Representations Anne Bradstreet ■ Verses upon the Burning of our House 123 UNIT 2
Verses upon the Burning of our House
PRACTICE TEXT 1 SPEAKER The speaker (who is also a
In silent night when rest I took, CHARACTER character) had no reason to believe tragedy
1 For sorrow near I did not look, would strike.
For sorrow near I did not look,
I waken’d was with thund’ring noise
And piteous shrieks of dreadful voice. 2 CHARACTER PERSPECTIVE From the very first
Verses upon the Burning 2 5 That fearful sound of “fire” and “fire,” lines, the speaker reveals that she wouldn’t wish
That fearful sound of “fire” and “fire,”
this experience on anyone.
Let no man know is my Desire.
of our House Let no man know is my Desire. 3 CHARACTER VALUES In an act of extreme
I starting up, the light did spy,
And to my God my heart did cry
Anne Bradstreet 3 And to my God my heart did cry faith, the speaker cries out in prayer to God,
To straighten me in my Distress
To straighten me in my Distress
which shows her nature as a devout Christian
And not to leave me succourless.
Then coming out, behold a space
THE TEXT IN CONTEXT 10 And not to leave me succourless. with strongly held religious values.
Distributed by Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Strictly for use with its products. Not for redistribution.
f
Anne Bradstreet (1612–1672) was born to an affluent Puritan amily The flame consume my dwelling place. 4 CHARACTER The speaker refers to the
in Northampton, England. An unusually well-educated woman And when I could no longer look, biblical story of Job, who was tested by God
at the time, she (along with her husband and parents) emigrated Courtesy of the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Massachusetts 4 I blest his grace that gave and took, and lost many possessions and family members
I blest his grace that gave and took,
to Massachusetts as part of John Winthrop’s Puritan fleet in 15 That laid my goods now in the dust. but ultimately remained faithful. The Book of Job
1630. These settlers sought to practice a purer form of English Yea, so it was, and so ’twas just. 1:21b describes Job’s words, “The Lord gave,
Protestantism free from the official Church of England, which It was his own; it was not mine. and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the
they considered corrupt. Like many of the Puritans, Bradstreet Far be it that I should repine, name of the Lord.”
found the hardships of the New World difficult. She began writing He might of all justly bereft
poems in the early 1630s that reflected both her religion and 20 But yet sufficient for us left. 5 PERSPECTIVE The speaker shifts from
her personal experiences — especially the fragility of human life, 5 When by the Ruins oft I past being dutifully stoic. Beginning here through
When by the Ruins oft I past
i
the mpermanence of material things, and her hope for religious line 35, the speaker describes feelings of grief,
My sorrowing eyes aside did cast
salvation. Later, her poetry became more personal, as she meditated on herself and her My sorrowing eyes aside did cast disappointment, and sorrow for the memories of
And here and there the places spy
domestic life as the mother of eight children. In the 1666 poem “Verses upon the Burning of And here and there the places spy all that she lost in the fire.
Where oft I sate and long did lie.
our House,” Bradstreet reflects on a personal experience that had an important meaning. Where oft I sate and long did lie.
25 Here stood that Trunk, and there that chest, 6 CHARACTER PERSPECTIVE The speaker feels
There lay that store I counted best, guilty about mourning her lost home; instead of
® SKILLS
AP CHARACTER My pleasant things in ashes lie lingering on her grief, she denounces it as vanity
Describing a Character’s Perspective
PRACTICE
And them behold no more shall I. and refocuses back to her religious values and
Under the roof no guest shall sit, beliefs.
As you read “Verses upon the Burning of our House,” consider how details in the 30 Nor at thy Table eat a bit.
poem help reveal the speaker’s perspective. Record your notes in the graphic No pleasant talk shall ’ere be told
organizer. Copyright (c) 2023 Bedford, Freeman & Worth Publishers. Uncorrected proofs were used with this sample chapter.
Nor things recounted done of old.
Analyzing a Character’s Perspective No Candle ’ere shall shine in Thee,
Details from What the Details Reveal Nor bridegroom’s voice ere heard shall bee.
Considerations the Text about Perspective 35 In silence ever shalt thou lie.
Adieu, Adieu, All’s Vanity.
Character’s background 6 Adieu, Adieu, All’s Vanity.
Then straight I ’gin my heart to chide:
Character’s actions and choices Then straight I ’gin my heart to chide:
And did thy wealth on earth abide,
Character’s internal thoughts
Didst fix thy hope on mouldring dust,
Dialogue
40 The arm of flesh didst make thy trust?
Interactions with others Raise up thy thoughts above the sky
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CREATIVE WRITING
Perspective Based on Personal Beliefs
In “Verses upon the Burning of our House, July You may want to tell them about Kubler-Ross’s
10th, 1666,” Bradstreet’s belief system dictates five stages of grief—denial, anger, bargaining,
her perspective on the destruction of her house depression, and acceptance. Students could
and possessions. We first read about the event, write a poem focusing on something they “lost”
and then the speaker shifts to her religious belief and how their own belief system dictated their
about the event. (“Yea, so it was, and so twas response to the loss. It is important that students
just.”) Ask students to examine their own belief understand that poems do not have to be written
systems, which they rely on in times of hardship. in meter and rhyme to be effective.
Anne Bradstreet Verses upon the Burning of our House 123
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