Question

Selections must be from Unit 1: William Bradford (U1L2), Anne Bradstreet (U1L4), Phillis Wheatley (U1L4), Jonathan Edwards (U1L5), Olaudah Equiano (U1L6), Thomas Paine (U1L7), and Thomas Jefferson (U1L8).
12a. Identify two early American/colonial authors from the list above along with a text/excerpt they wrote. Possible Selections:


Author choice 1 and selection:


Author choice 2 and selection:



12b. What is similar and/or different about each author’s purpose in your two selections above? (Is it to inform, explain, persuade, create, express, reflect, etc.?)



12c. What is similar and/or different about each author’s audience in the two selections above? (Think about who the author is writing to.)



12d. What is similar and/or different about each author’s style in the two selections above? (Think about themes, word choice, tone, form, etc.)

Answer 1

Answer:

William Bradford.

Anne Bradstreet.

Explanation:

Excerpt written by Willian Bradford, in the poem "A word to New England":

"Oh New England, you can not boast;

Thy former glory thou hast lost.

When H00ker, Winthrop, Cotton died,

And many precious ones beside,

Thy beauty then it did decay,

And still doth languish more away. "

William Bradford was one of the first American writers, being one of the most important in the literary production and in the general history of the country. He was a Puritan, served as governor of the Plymouth colony and is the author of the most important account of English colonists and the difficulties they faced on the new continent.

Excerpt written by Anne Bradstreet, in the poem "Upon a Fit of Sickness":

"Bubble blast, how long can'st last?

That always art a breaking,

No sooner blown, but dead and gone,

Ev'n as a word that's speaking.

The whil'st I live, this grace me give,

I doing good may be,

Then death's arrest I shall count best,

because it's thy decree. "

Anne Bradstreet is recognized as the first poet within the territory where the USA is today. She never went to school, but she learned to read and write with her father who was instrumental in her education and one of the main responsible for her ability. She was also a Puritan, but she was not well regarded by other Puritans for displaying behavior considered wrong for that society, such as a woman writing and showing love for her husband.