Anne Bradstreet Aug 30/Sept 3 The first American poet Copy these notes for your notebook.

1. Lessons from the poem Thank God in the midst of trials; everything you have belongs to God Earthly pleasures are fleeting True wealth does not come on Earth All of these are typical of Puritan beliefs.

2. Figurative Language Metaphor – compares 2 unlike things without using like or as. The house itself is a metaphor. Extended metaphor – draws the comparison out and compares the two things at length in many ways. The house metaphor was in the whole poem. Personification – where an object, animal, or idea is given human characteristics. “In silence ever thou shall lie…” Personifies the house. Vocabulary Words – Repine—complain – Bereft—deprived or robbed of the possession of

Inversions— “In silent night when rest I took” (natural order would be “I took rest in silent night.”) “I wakened was…” (natural order would be “I was wakened…”) Theme: Change, loss Rhyme scheme—This poem uses couplets. Two lines that rhyme. – Slant rhyme is a near rhyme; maybe same vowel sound, maybe same ending Ex. line 3-4 “noise” and “voice” Line 9-10 “distress” and “succorless”

Line 37: “Then straight I ‘gin my heart to chide” – ‘gin—again chide—fuss at Biblical allusions—Job “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away.” Psalm—”Don’t trust in earthly things; hope is in heaven”

The lesson of the poem is that everything in the world belongs to God. We should not put our trust in earthly things but in God. (Biblical allusion to Matthew 6: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (You do not have to write the Bible verse)