Extended Metaphor In Anne Bradstreet's The Author To Her Book
American poet Anne Bradstreet manipulates a vast, dizzying array of metaphoric techniques in her most widely known poem. “The Author to Her Book” is an extended metaphor comparing the relationship of an author and her writings to the relationship between a parent and a child. Throughout the text, Bradstreet employs similes and metaphors to capture the attitude emotions felt by Bradstreet and how it conflicts with the puritan society that frowns upon her appreciation of her talents and role as a poet.
The first two lines establish the extended metaphor of parental relationship through the word choice of “offspring” and “birth. “Thou ill-formed offspring of my feeble brain” reflects the complex feelings of a relationship, as well as a subtle …show more content…
She declares that her work is filled with errors, not fit to be seen or judged (referring to line four “exposed to public view).
The extended metaphor comparing the author and her writings to parent and a child is also present in lines seven and eight. By calling her poems “my rambling brat (in print)” Bradstreet assumes a motherly attitude towards her poems. Her attitude is a reflection of a mother’s desire to improve their children, as an author feels compelled to revise their work.
As the revision or reforming process begins, the speaker can see every flaw in the work, but she cannot deny that the work is her own. An author’s work, like a child, is her own, so she is filled with affection toward it. The author or mother wants the offspring to be blemish free, and strives for that goal, but yet she would love the offspring no matter how it appears. “Yet being my own, at length affect ion would/Thy blemishes amend, if so I could,” suggests a deeper metaphorical meeting. In colonial and puritan beliefs, humility is a virtue and pride is a vice. However, Bradstreet is proud of her work or at least has affection toward it, but her puritan beliefs keep her from embracing her talents as
The first two lines establish the extended metaphor of parental relationship through the word choice of “offspring” and “birth. “Thou ill-formed offspring of my feeble brain” reflects the complex feelings of a relationship, as well as a subtle …show more content…
She declares that her work is filled with errors, not fit to be seen or judged (referring to line four “exposed to public view).
The extended metaphor comparing the author and her writings to parent and a child is also present in lines seven and eight. By calling her poems “my rambling brat (in print)” Bradstreet assumes a motherly attitude towards her poems. Her attitude is a reflection of a mother’s desire to improve their children, as an author feels compelled to revise their work.
As the revision or reforming process begins, the speaker can see every flaw in the work, but she cannot deny that the work is her own. An author’s work, like a child, is her own, so she is filled with affection toward it. The author or mother wants the offspring to be blemish free, and strives for that goal, but yet she would love the offspring no matter how it appears. “Yet being my own, at length affect ion would/Thy blemishes amend, if so I could,” suggests a deeper metaphorical meeting. In colonial and puritan beliefs, humility is a virtue and pride is a vice. However, Bradstreet is proud of her work or at least has affection toward it, but her puritan beliefs keep her from embracing her talents as