The document provides an overview of 17th century Puritan poet Anne Bradstreet. It discusses her style as a metaphysical poet concerned with abstract concepts like existence and truth. It also notes that as a woman poet during this time period, Bradstreet faced criticism and doubts about her abilities from others, as women's roles were primarily focused on home, nature and family according to societal expectations. The document uses several stanzas from Bradstreet's own "Prologue" to illustrate her acknowledgement of these challenges as a female poet in her time.

1. The Puritan
Poetry of
Anne Bradstreet
Prologue
Mary Noggle
Rowan-Cabarrus Community College
Salisury, North Carolina
April 2012
Americanpoems.com

2. 17th-Century Poetry
Metaphysical
Meta = beyond
Physical = body
met-a-physical: concerned with
abstract thought or subjects, as
existence, causality, or truth

3. Meditative Poets
Anne Bradstreet Edward Taylor
Poetry Foundation RPO Library U Toronto

4. Purpose
Courtney Dirks SaliorJohn

5. Role of Women
How to
Live the
Christian
Life
Library of Congress

6. -Simple Images
-Christian Beliefs
-Home, Nature, Family
Library of Congress
Wikipedia Commons

7. Prologue: Stanza Three
My foolish,
broken,
blemished
Muse so
sings,…
Pasalodos.typad.com

8. Prologue: Stanza Five
I am obnoxious to each carping tongue
Who says my hand a needle better fits.
A Poet's Pen all scorn I should thus wrong,
For such despite they cast on female wits.
If what I do prove well, it won't advance,
They'll say it's stol'n, or else it was by chance.
Beginnings-1750 wikispaces

9. Prologue: Stanza Seven
Let Greeks be Greeks,
and Women what they are.
Men have precedency
and still excel;
It is but vain unjustly
to wage war.
Men can do best,
and Women know it well.
Preeminence in all and
each is yours;
Yet grant some small
acknowledgement of ours.
Library of Congress

10. Wikipedia Commons