Anne Bradstreet was born Anne Dudley in Northamptonshire, England in 1612. At the age of 18, she moved to America with her husband and parents and settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts. She became one of the first poets to write English verse in the American colonies, but also wrote many poems that her brother-in-law would later take over to England and publish under the title, The Tenth Muse, Lately Sprung Up in America, in 1650. It was the only collection of Bradstreet's poetry to be published during her lifetime. In 1678, the first American edition of Tenth Muse was published posthumously, and expanded as Several Poems Compiled with Great Wit and Learning. Bradstreet’s most highly regarded work, a sequence of religious poems entitled Contemplations, was not published until the middle of the nineteenth century. She died in Andover, Massachusetts in 1672.
Movement: Elizabethan
Prevalent Literary Themes: nature, feminism, humility, motherhood, love, puritanism
Prevalent Literary Devices: metaphor, allusion, personification, apostrophe
When matched to Anne Bradstreet, it means that similarities have been found between your poetic style and the themes and literary techniques typically seen in works by this famous poet. For example, you might use powerful metaphor or allusion in the same way that Bradstreet does. Recognizing these similarities is important because it gives you information about the history of your poetic style, which poets might inspire you, and what writing techniques you should try next.
Which Writing Techniques Should You Try Next?
Try using metaphor and personification more often. You might also like experimenting with using apostrophes and rhythm in your poetry to develop a more unique style.
Make sure to check out poets.org for more information!