We’ll wrap up our discussion of Puritan poets with an emphasis on the theme of family in Taylor’s poem and Bradstreet’s letter to her children. I’d encourage you to explore some of the recommended readings, too, as there are several worthy texts that we won’t be able to cover in discussion.
Melissa agreed to share her blog for today, and I’ve also posted Shannon’s response to “The Flesh and the Spirit” to our “After class thoughts” archive.
Note: Even if you only blog on one text, please complete all of the assigned reading in the syllabus to prepare for discussion!
Questions: For each of these, please also spend some time thinking about intertextual connections. This will add complexity to your reflections and help prepare for the midterm, which is coming up in about two weeks.
- Close reading: Read Taylor’s poem once listening to the language. Where do you notice wordplay or memorable passages? What makes Taylor’s imagery stand out in this poem? The second and third time through, reflect on the themes or ideas, forming some hypotheses, then looking at the context of the poem and the footnotes to strengthen your conclusions.
- Family: How do Taylor and Bradstreet respond similarly and differently to their families? How would you define their family values?
- Conversion narratives: Bradstreet’s letter has been described by some as a conversion narrative. What do you think her purpose is in this letter? How does it compare to Taylor’s purpose in writing poetry? Why does she reveal so many of her doubts about faith to her children? How might this letter enrich your understanding of “The Flesh and the Spirit”?
Alternate prompt: Intertextual reading
- Pick Taylor’s poem or one from the recommended reading.
- Identify two or three important themes that connect this poem to other readings. Explain these connections as specifically as you can, using textual examples.
- Identify two other readings we’ve already discussed that deal with the themes you’ve chosen. Explain how these other readings address the theme similarly or differently.
- What conclusions do you draw from these intertextual connections? How have these comparisons and contrasts affected your understanding of the poem(s) you selected?
