The Four Elements by Bradstreet Text of the Poem The Fire, Air, Earth and Water did contestWhich was the strongest, noblest and the best,Who was of greatest use and might’est force;In placide Terms they thought now to discourse,That in due order each her turn should speak;But enmity this amity did break: All would be chief, and all scorn’d to be under.Whence issu’d winds & rains, lightning & thunder;The quaking earth did groan, the Sky lookt black;The Fire, the forced Air, in sunder crack;The sea did threat the heav’n’s, the heav’n’s…
Read MoreCategory: American Poetry
American poetry captures the imagination, history, and culture of the United States through unique forms and voices. It reflects social change, identity, and artistic innovation. From early colonial verses to the works of Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Langston Hughes, and Sylvia Plath, American poetry has evolved in style, theme, and expression. It explores freedom, equality, love, nature, and the human experience.
This category offers detailed articles, analyses, and discussions of major American poets, key movements, and landmark collections. You will discover Romanticism, Transcendentalism, Modernism, the Harlem Renaissance, Confessional poetry, and contemporary innovations. Moreover, it highlights how poets engage with political, cultural, and personal issues. You will study poetic techniques, symbolism, form, meter, and imagery while understanding the social context behind each poem.
Whether you are a student, scholar, or literature enthusiast, this section provides a comprehensive guide to the rich tradition of American poetry. You will learn to interpret poems, explore themes, and appreciate the craft behind each verse. Additionally, it offers resources to enhance critical reading skills and inspire creative writing. This category celebrates the diversity, power, and enduring influence of American poetry across centuries.
The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America (1650) – Anne Bradstreet’s Literary Landmark
Introduction Anne Bradstreet’s The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America (1650) holds a special place in American literary history. It was the first volume of poetry written by an American colonist to be published. More notably, it was authored by a woman. The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America (1650) is a landmark in early American literature. It reveals Bradstreet’s deep intellect, strong moral convictions, and poetic brilliance. The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America (1650) encapsulates her emergence as a literary voice from the New World.…
Read MoreThe Prologue by Anne Bradstreet: Text, Summary, and Analysis
The Prologue by Anne Bradstreet To sing of Wars, of Captains, and of Kings,Of Cities founded, Common-wealths begun,For my mean Pen are too superior things;Or how they all, or each their dates have run,Let Poets and Historians set these forth.My obscure lines shall not so dim their worth.(scribd.com, poetryfoundation.org) But when my wond’ring eyes and envious heartGreat Bartas’ sugar’d lines do but read o’er,Fool, I do grudge the Muses did not part’Twixt him and me that over-fluent store.A Bartas can do what a Bartas willBut simple I according to my…
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