Bradstreet's brother-in-law secretly carried her writings to England, where they were published as The Tenth Muse Recently Sprung Up in America (1650). The Tenth Muse's first American edition was released in updated and extended form as Several Poems Compiled with a Great Variety of Wit and Learning (1678).
Anne Bradstreet was a colonial American poet. Her poems appeared early in the history of Massachusetts Bay Colony under the pseudonym S. F. K. She wrote about politics, religion, and other controversial subjects for which she often had to leave her home. Her work has been praised by some modern-day poets, such as Robert Frost and John Milton.
Bradstreet's family was wealthy and influential. Her father died when she was young, and after her mother's death she managed the household and worked as an apprentice in a Boston shop to help support it. In 1649, at the age of 26, she married into another well-to-do family. Her husband's job took them to New York City, where he worked as a customs officer. When their son was born, they returned to Massachusetts, where Bradstreet continued to write poems.
In 1672, William and Mary II ascended the English throne. That same year, the colony of Massachusetts Bay passed a law requiring all ministers to take oaths of allegiance to the king.
Perhaps the explanation can be found in the propaganda effort conducted by Bradstreet and her family following the publication of her book, The Tenth Muse, in England in 1650. She was so afraid of fame, according to Bradstreet, that she refused to have her poetry published.
Bradstreet's father, who was an influential figure in Massachusetts politics, wanted his daughter's book to have a broad audience. For this reason, he had five editions printed within one year of its release. He also sent copies of the book to prominent people such as Governor John Winthrop and other officials to encourage them to support women's education. Bradstreet's father believed that knowing how to read and write would make women more valuable members of society.
In addition to publishing her work, Bradstreet's father also helped her find a husband. He arranged for her to marry William Harris, who came from a wealthy family in Gloucester. Harris was 26 years old and had no children when he married Bradstreet. They met only once, at a wedding ceremony, before she left for America.
Bradstreet's husband-to-be died less than a year after their marriage. She never felt comfortable being alone and often asked her parents or siblings to go with her on trips into town. She also wrote many letters while in Europe where she spent most of her time between marriages.
For one reason, The Tenth Muse included the first lyrics by an American that might be compared to the poetry of England. But the Tenth Muse is significant for reasons other than its origin. It was the first book of long-lasting English-language poetry written by a woman. Anne Bradstreet wrote the book. It was published in 1650. She was born in 1612 and lived until 1672. She was married but her husband died while she was still a young girl.
The Tenth Muse includes poems about love, life, nature, and religion. They show how deeply ingrained these subjects were into the daily lives of Americans back then. There are also references to events in Bradstreet's own life. Her experiences as a wife and mother are reflected in some of her poems.
It's interesting to note that many of Bradstreet's poems deal with issues such as sin, death, judgment, and redemption which are still relevant today.
Furthermore, The Tenth Muse is significant because it's one of the first books printed in America. It was published by William Bradford who was the governor of Plymouth Colony from 1620-1645. The book made him very famous since it showed that people in America could prosper and live happy lives even though they were still a colony under British rule. This idea became known as "Plymouth Rock".
Bradstreet's poems were so popular that several more editions were printed after her death.
The Bradstreet Gate is located close to Canaday Hall, Harvard Yard's newest dormitory. The Rev. John Woodbridge published The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America, written by "A Gentlewoman from Those Parts," in London in 1650, making Anne the first female poet to be published in both England and the New World. In addition, she is considered the first American woman to publish a complete collection of her poems.
Anne was born in 1612 in what is now known as Annapolis, Maryland. She married at age 20 to Thomas Bradstreet, a wealthy merchant who traveled with his family as traders between Boston and London. In 1639, the couple returned home to help rebuild their town after it was destroyed by a plague outbreak. They sent three of their four children to live with other relatives while they worked on rebuilding their home. In 1643, Thomas died during the plague again; this time at the age of 36. After his death, Anne moved back to Boston where she lived on a small pension from her father-in-law until her death in 1672 at the age of 60.
She is best known for her poetry which includes descriptions of nature that include flowers, trees, and buildings as well as prayers, meditations, and essays about women's rights.
In 2016, a memorial was built in Harvard Yard in Anne Bradstreet's memory.
Anne Bradstreet employed poetic methods in her poems because it was the most effective way for her to express her message and produce beauty. Colonial poets such as Anne Bradstreet followed English patterns from the previous century, focusing on poetic elements in their works. These elements included similes, metaphors, enjambment (the continuous flow of words without breaks), alliteration (repeating consonant sounds), and oxymorons (a combination of words that normally have opposite meanings). By employing these techniques, Anne Bradstreet was able to appeal to her audience's emotions and to tell a story.
Bradstreet also used her poems as an opportunity to promote religious tolerance. In many of her poems, she expresses her disapproval of intolerance and violence toward individuals because of their religion. For example, in one poem she writes: "No more the Christian slave / Thy soul nor tongue shall make, / But like a Turkish slave / Thou shalt be bought and sold." In other words, Christians and Jews should not abuse their power over Muslims because they can buy them like slaves. This shows that Anne Bradstreet was willing to sacrifice her own beliefs to protect others from suffering discrimination based on religion.
Finally, Anne Bradstreet uses her poems to praise God and give thanks for his gifts. She does this by comparing nature or everyday things around her life to biblical stories or important people in history.
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