Bradstreet Vs Edwards
Many puritan writers during this time period were extremely religious and often spoke of god in their writings. Anne Bradstreet’s poems “To My Dear And Loving Husband” and “Upon the Burning of our House” as well as Jonathan Edwards sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” are great examples of puritan writing. Both of these writers express similarities in their religious values and use plenty of figurative language to express their ideas to their audience.
Both Bradstreet and Edwards showed their religious values in their writings often. Bradstreet states, “I blest His name that gave and took,” (P. 118, line 14). This quote is a direct reference to 1:21 in the Bible stating “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be
the name of the Lord.” This shows that in her eyes, this is how the lord wanted it to be, and she understands that. While Bradstreet did show her religious values in her poem, Edward’s was much more serious when he spoke of God. His extremely serious tone throughout his sermon expressed his feelings towards others that were not “graced” or were sinners. In Edward’s sermon, he exclaims, “Yea, God is a great deal more angry with the great numbers that are now on earth,” (P. 124, lines 7 and 8.) This quote reveals his imagining of an angry god and how he felt towards his audience. This quote shows the major difference between Bradstreet’s vision and Edward’s vision as Bradstreet never showed any images of a resentful god.
Both Bradstreet and Edwards also use much figurative language throughout their writings to create vivid imagery for the reader. In Bradstreet’s poem, she says, “My love is such that rivers cannot quench,” (P. 116, line 7). This quote shows how she used words that the reader can relate to and used them to create images in your mind to give context to the story. Edwards also used much figurative language, although unlike Bradstreet, he used it for an entire different reason. His figurative language generated fear in his audience. The fear created by his figurative language, is a major key in the success of his sermon. An example of how Edward’s words could create fear is when he states, “So that, thus it is that natural men are held in the hand of God, over the pit of hell; they have deserved the fiery pit and are already sentenced to it,” (P. 126, lines 27 and 28). This, to the puritans would have terrified them because of how they spent each and every day trying to go to heaven.
These two writers, have showed many puritan beliefs. Both of them show the importance of god in the everyday lives of puritans, and allow present day historians to see that.
Both Bradstreet and Edwards showed their religious values in their writings often. Bradstreet states, “I blest His name that gave and took,” (P. 118, line 14). This quote is a direct reference to 1:21 in the Bible stating “The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be
the name of the Lord.” This shows that in her eyes, this is how the lord wanted it to be, and she understands that. While Bradstreet did show her religious values in her poem, Edward’s was much more serious when he spoke of God. His extremely serious tone throughout his sermon expressed his feelings towards others that were not “graced” or were sinners. In Edward’s sermon, he exclaims, “Yea, God is a great deal more angry with the great numbers that are now on earth,” (P. 124, lines 7 and 8.) This quote reveals his imagining of an angry god and how he felt towards his audience. This quote shows the major difference between Bradstreet’s vision and Edward’s vision as Bradstreet never showed any images of a resentful god.
Both Bradstreet and Edwards also use much figurative language throughout their writings to create vivid imagery for the reader. In Bradstreet’s poem, she says, “My love is such that rivers cannot quench,” (P. 116, line 7). This quote shows how she used words that the reader can relate to and used them to create images in your mind to give context to the story. Edwards also used much figurative language, although unlike Bradstreet, he used it for an entire different reason. His figurative language generated fear in his audience. The fear created by his figurative language, is a major key in the success of his sermon. An example of how Edward’s words could create fear is when he states, “So that, thus it is that natural men are held in the hand of God, over the pit of hell; they have deserved the fiery pit and are already sentenced to it,” (P. 126, lines 27 and 28). This, to the puritans would have terrified them because of how they spent each and every day trying to go to heaven.
These two writers, have showed many puritan beliefs. Both of them show the importance of god in the everyday lives of puritans, and allow present day historians to see that.