Anne Finch: an Influential, but Minor Woman Poet
Anne Finch: An Influential, but Minor Woman Poet Anne Kingsmills Finch is one the most significant published women poets prior to the Romantic Period. Her poetry clearly reflects her experiences and struggles along her witty personality and her candidness; her diverse work in poetry not only documents her personal struggles, but the social and political turmoil during that era. Undoubtedly, Finch’s greatness is due to the encouragement that she received from her family, husband, friends, and colleagues. Although education for women was neither common nor encouraged in the 17th century, her family placed great importance on her and her sister’s education of a wide range of topics even after their death. In addition, her husband, Heneage Finch, supported her writing. Even her friends and colleagues, both male and female, advocated for her to write and publish; they include Sarah Churchill, Anne Killigrew, Jonathan Swift, and Alexander Pope. Her writings began when she was in the Court; her family was strong Anglicans and loyal supporters of the Stuart royalty. She became a Maid of Honor to Mary of Modena, wife of King James II, in 1682. She reflected on her relationship with Mary of Moderna in the poem “On the Death of the Queen” (Ockerbloom). During her loving and happy marriage with Heneage Finch, she wrote many love poems to her husband such as “A Letter to Dafnis: April 2d 1685” and “To Mr. F. Now Earl of W.”. These poems are only the beginning of her evident individuality; she ensures that her poems deviate from the normal conventions and mental outlook during that era (Ockerbloom). Since all Finch’s writings are reflections of her experiences, understanding the major life events that occurred can help a person better understand her works. One of the most influential events during that era was the non-violent Glorious Revolution also known as the Bloodless Revolution where the Stuart King was removed from the throne, and William of the House of Orange was
Cited: Finch, Anne. “The Introduction”. Luminarium. Anniina Jokinen. 24 Nov 2006. Web. 6 Dec 2012. “Glorious Revolution”. Kids.Net.Au. Kids.Net.Au. n.d. Web. 6 Dec 2012. Ockerbloom, Mary Mark. “Anne Finch, Countess of Winchilesea”. A Celebration of Women Writers. n.d. Web. 6 Dec 2012.