anne bradstreet

Anne Bradstreet was not only the first English-speaking, North American poet, but she was also the first American, woman poet to have her works published. In 1650, without her knowledge, Bradstreet’s brother-in-law had many of her poems published in a collection called The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up In America. Although these poems did not reflect what would be her best work, they did emulate what would be the greatest influence on all of her writing. Anne Bradstreet’s Puritan life was the strongest, and the most obvious influence on her work. Whether it was her reason for writing, how she wrote, or what she wrote about, Bradstreet’s poems would reflect the influence of Puritan life and doctrine.

Although there is very little information about Anne Bradstreet’s earlier life, we do know that she was born in 1612, probably in Northampton, England. Anne grew up in the Earl of Lincoln’s home, which was a very distinguished household with an extensive library. Her father Thomas Dudley, who handled many of the Earl’s affairs, encouraged his daughter’s education. Also serving as a steward to the Earl of Lincoln was Anne’s future husband, Simon Bradstreet. Both men were well educated, prominent people who would carry their knowledge and influence to the New World (Piercy 18).

In 1628 Anne and Simon were married. Two years later Thomas Dudley and the Bradstreets began their three month journey to New England on the Arbella (Piercy 18). The purpose of their journey was to arrive in a new world where they could practice and teach their puritan doctrine. The new colony was perfect for their simplified religion due to the lack of traditions that were already established in England.

Here begins the influence of the Puritan life on Anne’s work. Christian Doctrine became the only topic that was acceptable for people to write about. It was used to educate and persuade the colonies to worship and honor God. Many Puritans kept journals and diaries as a history of God’s work among the colonies. The available readings contained moral lessons all established by Puritan leaders, or the church. In the article “Puritan Poetry: Public or Private” the author explains the aim of public poems is to present, confirm, and glorify the cause. It also suggests that the concerns of public poetry are d...

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...iritual guidance.

Ultimately being a Puritan was the greatest influence on Anne Bradstreet’s writing. It was the responsibilities of a Puritan woman that drove her to write, the Puritan culture she lived in that conformed how she wrote, and the Puritan doctrines she truly believed in that molded her thoughts into what she wrote about.

Works Cited

Blackstock, Carrie. “Anne Bradstreet and Performativity Self-Cultivation, Self-

Deployment.” Early American Literature 32 (1997): 223-247.

Doriani, Beth. “Then Have I…Said With David: Anne Bradstreet’s Andover

Manuscript Poems and the Influence of the Psalms Tradition”. Early

American Literature 24 (1989): 52-69.

Piercy, Josephine K. Anne Bradstreet. New York: Twayne Publishing, 1965.

Salska, Agnieszka. “Puritan Poetry: Public and Private” Early American

Literature 19 (1984): 114-119.

White, Elizabeth W. Anne Bradstreet. New York: Oxford University Press, 1971.

White, Peter. Puritan Poets and Poetics. PA: The Pennsylvania State University,

1985.