” To My Dear and Loving Husband”
- Use a chart to explore aspects of the poem that are typical of the Puritan Plain Style.
STYLE ELEMENT / EXAMPLE
Short Words
Direct Statements
Familiar objects/Experiences
- Which aspects of the poem do not reflect the plainness of the Puritan ethic? Explain.
- (a) Which lines of the poem have customary syntax?
- (b) Which lines present examples of inversion? Explain your answers.
- Paraphrase the last stanza as though you were explaining it to a friend.
The correct Answer and Explanation is:
- Chart: Aspects of the Poem in Puritan Plain Style
| STYLE ELEMENT | EXAMPLE |
|---|---|
| Short Words | “If ever two were one, then surely we.” |
| Direct Statements | “My love is such that rivers cannot quench.” |
| Familiar Objects/Experiences | “I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold.” |
The Puritan Plain Style often used short, simple words, direct expressions of thought, and references to everyday experiences. Anne Bradstreet’s “To My Dear and Loving Husband” reflects these characteristics, though with slight deviations due to the personal and emotional nature of the subject matter.
- Aspects of the Poem That Do Not Reflect Puritan Plainness
While the poem adheres to many conventions of the Puritan Plain Style, it diverges in its intense emotional expression. Puritans emphasized modesty and restraint, particularly in personal matters, but Bradstreet’s poem exudes profound passion. The exaggerated comparisons, like love being worth “mines of gold” and “all the riches that the East doth hold,” show an intensity not typically seen in Puritan writing. Puritans viewed material wealth and earthly love with suspicion, yet Bradstreet glorifies her love in highly emotional terms. Such expressions seem more romantic than plain, which reflects Bradstreet’s struggle to balance her faith with her personal emotions.
- Customary Syntax and Inversion in the Poem
- (a) Customary Syntax: The line “If ever two were one, then surely we” follows the customary English syntax of subject-verb-object. It’s clear and direct, typical of Puritan Plain Style.
- (b) Inverted Syntax: Inversion occurs in the line, “Thy love is such I can no way repay.” The natural order would be, “I can in no way repay thy love.” Another example is “Then while we live, in love let’s so persevere,” where the inversion emphasizes the continuity and strength of love, a stylistic choice used to maintain rhyme and rhythm.
- Paraphrase of the Last Stanza
Original:
“Then while we live, in love let’s so persevere,
That when we live no more, we may live ever.”
Paraphrase:
Let’s keep loving each other strongly while we are alive, so that when we die, our love will live on forever, possibly in heaven.
Explanation (300 words):
The last stanza of “To My Dear and Loving Husband” expresses Anne Bradstreet’s deep belief in both the endurance of love and the promise of eternal life. In Puritan theology, the concept of everlasting life was central, but here Bradstreet ties it to the personal relationship with her husband. The stanza begins with a call to perseverance in love during life. “While we live, in love let’s so persevere” encourages the couple to continue loving deeply throughout their lives. This perseverance is not just emotional but also spiritual, showing a devotion that transcends daily life.
The second half of the stanza introduces a hopeful vision of eternal love, a love that lasts beyond death. Bradstreet imagines that their love will carry on even “when we live no more.” In Puritan beliefs, life on earth was temporary, but the soul’s afterlife was eternal. The poem thus suggests that their earthly love can transform into eternal love in the afterlife, which might be interpreted as their union in heaven.
This fusion of romantic love with spiritual faith reflects both Puritan values and Bradstreet’s personal experience. While Puritans emphasized faith in God, Bradstreet extends that faith to the bond between husband and wife, showing that her earthly relationship has the potential to reflect divine love, which can be eternal. This hopeful and emotional conclusion challenges the typical Puritan reserve, adding to the poem’s enduring appeal.