Anne Bradstreet's Poem: To My Dear And Loving Husband
Analysis of the Anne Bradstreet poem To My Dear and Loving Husband
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.
Note that each of the first three lines begins with "If"--a good example of anaphora. What is the effect of this repetition? Does it undermine …show more content…
What words are emphasized by the change? Look for the same metric "disruption" in following lines.
Whom is this poem addressed to? If just her husband, why does she address "ye women"y here? Is she speaking to both? Or is this a private poem, probably not meant for publication? It was not published for many years.
Even by 1650 (not long before she wrote the poem), British adventurers had not given up their hope that there was a shortcut to the riches of the Indies in America. This dream, expressed frequently in Virginia, was rarely mentioned by the Puritans who had more spiritual purposes in mind. However it is interesting that she should make this particular comparison, for she certainly knew of these golden hopes--and their disappointment. Note how she uses the imagery of physical wealth and ownership to represent their emotional love, and its contrast with the spiritual element at the end of their poem.
To put out, as a fire; to satisfy a thirst; to suppress, inhibit. What does this image suggest about her feelings for him?
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
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.
Note that each of the first three lines begins with "If"--a good example of anaphora. What is the effect of this repetition? Does it undermine …show more content…
What words are emphasized by the change? Look for the same metric "disruption" in following lines.
Whom is this poem addressed to? If just her husband, why does she address "ye women"y here? Is she speaking to both? Or is this a private poem, probably not meant for publication? It was not published for many years.
Even by 1650 (not long before she wrote the poem), British adventurers had not given up their hope that there was a shortcut to the riches of the Indies in America. This dream, expressed frequently in Virginia, was rarely mentioned by the Puritans who had more spiritual purposes in mind. However it is interesting that she should make this particular comparison, for she certainly knew of these golden hopes--and their disappointment. Note how she uses the imagery of physical wealth and ownership to represent their emotional love, and its contrast with the spiritual element at the end of their poem.
To put out, as a fire; to satisfy a thirst; to suppress, inhibit. What does this image suggest about her feelings for him?
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