Puritan Poetry Edward Taylor Free Choice Journal Before

Puritan Poetry { Edward Taylor

Free Choice! Journal

Before emigration to American, Edward Taylor worked as a teacher in England. Upon arriving in Boston in 1668, Taylor entered Harvard College, graduating in 1671. Became minister and physician in Westfield, Massachusetts, and then walked more than one hundred miles to his new home. Edward Taylor

Living in Westfield was hard—fierce battles with Native Americans left the colonists in fear. Five of his eight children died in infancy Wife died young Taylor remarried and had five or six more children. Edward Taylor

Viewed as the best of the colonial poets. Viewed poetry as a form of worship; allowed only two stanzas of his poetry to be published during his lifetime because of it! Much of his poetry uses extravagant comparisons, intellectual wit, and subtle arguments to explore religious faith and affection. Edward Taylor

Purpose Attempts to express his feelings about God and the way of life. The poem is intended to be a suggestion of how to live life in order to reach heaven and salvation. Taylor suggests that people should live life through God’s guidance in order to be prepared for heaven. “Clothe mine understanding, will, affections, judgment, conscience, and memory” (13 -14). Huswifery

The reader is suggested to ask God to enhance one’s understanding and will. He believes that God should help us purify our emotions, memory, and conscience. Taylor implies that the way to salvation is through a surplus of faith, good behavior, and wholesome affections both internally and externally; “My words and actions, that their shine may fill my ways with glory and Thee glorify” (15 -16). The overall message to the reader is that much like Taylor, the reader should seek God and be spiritually close to him because once you find God you will be, “Clothed in holy robes for glory” (18). Huswifery

Taylor constantly utilizes metaphors and analogies to compare himself to a spinning wheel; Throughout the poem he exploits the use of allusion by talking about the machine and clothing while referring to himself and his life. “Make me, O Lord, thy Spinning Wheel complete”. By the conclusion of his poem however, his analogy alters and he is no loner the spinning wheel, but just a man wearing a cloth spun by the wheel “My Conversation make to be thy Reel. ” Taylor illustrates his poem through the use of stanzas. Literary Techniques

Taylor used symbolism all throughout his poem. Taylor uses the structure of iambic pentameter with 10 syllables per line. The speaker also makes use of rhyme The Spinning Wheel and the cloth were representations of him and his life. “Knit therein this Twine… The yarn is fine. ” A conceit is an elaborate, often lengthy comparison between two startlingly different subjects. For example, in “Huswifery, ” Taylor creates an intricate, extended comparison between the making of cloth and the granting of God’s grace. Literary Techniques

“Huswifery” compares the household task of making cloth with the gift of God’s salvation. This extended metaphor expresses Edward Taylor’s deep belief in God and celebrates the divine presence in daily life. The poem is like a prayer imploring God to guide the speaker to do His bidding. By submitting to God’s will, the speaker hopes to achieve eternal glory. As we begin reading…

“Huswifery” by Edward Taylor Make me, O Lord, Thy spinning wheel complete, Thy holy word my distaff make for me. Make mine affections Thy swift flyers neat Describe the give and take My conversation make to be Thy reel between man and God in this And reel the yarn thereon spun of Thy wheel. conceit. And make my soul thy holy spoole to be. Huswifery

Make me Thy loom then, knit therein this twine: And make Thy holy spirit, Lord , wind quills Then weave the web Thyself. The yarn is fine. Thine ordinances make my fulling mills. Then dye the same in heavenly colors choice. All pinked with varnished flowers in paradise. Huswifery means housekeeping. Why use this conceit?

Then clothe there with mine understanding, will, Affections, judgment, conscience, memory My words, and actions, that their shine may fill My ways with glory and thee glorify. Then mine apparel shall display before Ye That I am clothed in holy robes for glory. Huswifery How does he transition into a more common religious image?

With a PARTNER (someone you don’t have to move seats to work with!), read “Upon a Spider Catching a Fly” complete the form attached behind the poem. We will discuss responses together as a class Upon a Spider Catching a Fly

2. 5 Puritan Poetry Worksheet—due Tuesday, September 17 th. Your Homework