Anne Bradstreet: Prologue Study Questions

How Anne Bradstreet Criticize the male society in her Prologue.

In the prologue, Anne Bradstreet criticizes the frailty and folly attitude of men towards women. In order to criticizes the male society, Bradstreet seeks help some literary devices such as- irony and sarcasm. He satire the whole male society with her soft tone. But, behind her soft tone there is a extreme criticism of male society. She is very polite with the male society. But, her politeness marks the irony.
At the outset of the poem, she uses some understatements to make her position cleared. She uses "mean pen" which indicate to her creativity. But, ironically she uses it to indicate her inability. She compares her with Bartas, who has the chance to write whatever he likes. But, in spite of being talented like Bartas, she is not allowed to do anything according to her will. She sharply criticizes this attitude of male society with polite tone.
She uses another understatements to compare her with school boy and from the later we cannot except anything rhetorical.

                      "From school-boy's tongue no Rhet'ric we except,
                       Nor yet a sweet consort from broken strings.
Her inability is inborn. That is why, cannot be irreparable.

                     "And this to mend alas, no art is able
                      Cause nature made it so irreparable".

Though she degrades her position by comparing herself with school-boy, but we know she is the first woman who writes something valuable in the early american society.
In the fourth stanza, she compares herself with Demosthenes who mumbles at his early life. But, he had been able to come out from this problem and becomes a great orator. But, as their worse situation  are made by the nature, so it is impossible for them to get rid of it.

                    "Art can do much but this maxim's most sure
                      A week or wounded brain admits no cure."

According to  men, women are week by their born. So, they compel  a woman to feel herself as week. This prejudice of men criticized by Bradstreet with polite tone. But, her politeness are no longer exist in the next stanza. She brings directs attacks to male society from fifth stanza. Here she reflects the hostility of the women with the male world. The male society does not want them to have the taste of the enlighten world. So, they want to confined them in darkness. They think that world will destroy,if they are brought out of the house. Male world does not want her to ride on top. She uses "obnoxious" and "carping tongue" to clarify the hostility of the male world. They try to degrade the position of her by telling her that,"Her hands fit better at needle".
In the next stanza, her criticism becomes more direct and she uses some hyperbolic expression to criticize male society in sarcastic way. She uses "excel" and "preeminence" which are sarcastic expression. She calls male society cowards. Because, they want to wage war to whom, are not equal in power to them. So, it is huge unjust of male society.
In the last stanza, she tries to understand the male society that, their writings are not worthless and valueless. If they think so, then they should acknowledge their works and make a sit for them beside their work. Because, their unrefined works cannot dim their worth rather it will shine like glistering gold.
Thus, Anne Bradstreet uses polite tone to criticize the male world. But, she is quite successful in her campaign. Because, she draws the attention of the reader by using sarcastic and ironic expression.
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Anne Bradstreet: Prologue
Summary & Analysis
Prologue as a Lyric Poem

Prologue: Study Questions

Anne Bradstreet's prologue as a lyric.

Before evaluating the prologue as a lyrical poem, we have to know what lyric is.

Lyric poem is that kind of poem, which usually short and personal expressing the poet's personal feelings and emotions rather than telling a story.This definition of lyric absoulately match with the characteristics of the prologue.

In the prologue, Bradstreet expresses her personal feelings and emotions against the attitude of male society. Women were treated as the servant in the early puritan society. They were confined to the home. It is not possible for them to go outside of the fixed territory without any emergency. So, they were kept in darkness. Looking after the master and children, were their chief tasks. They were disconnected from the social revolution. Women cannot do whatever she likes. There is no value of her likes and dislikes. They often forced to do the things against their will.

Women had not any right to practice art and literature. If someone does so, she will be disconnected from the society.The male society made them week at their birth. They had been brought to the state that, they are soft and they should behave softer and talk  in lower voice. The male society cannot bear their advancement. If someone does something valuable, they say," she must copy or happen it by chance". The male society is reluctant to acknowledge their creations. So, this kind of harsh attitude of male society cannot be acceptable and Bradstreet bitterly criticizes it. She criticizes bitterly, but in a soft tone by using some understatements and exaggerations.

So, the prologue contains the personal feelings and emotions of the poet, for that we can consider the Prologue as lyric.

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Anne Bradstreet Prologue

Summary & Analysis

Prologue: Summary, Analysis & Explanation

In the next stanza, she again expresses her pathos for the women as the nature made them irreparable.
                                  Nor can I, like that fluent sweet-tongue Greek
                                   .........................................................
                                 A week and wounded brain admits no cure.
Demosthenes, who is the great orator of Greek, mumbled at first. But, his unstoppable attempts makes him possible to speak plain. But, the condition of the women is not curable. Because, they are made week and wounded by the nature. So, a week and wounded brain have no cure.
                              I am obnoxious to each carping tongue,
                               ................................................
                              They'll say it's stolen, or else it was by chance.
She is not adorable to the carping tongue of male. They said her hands best fit with the needle.  If any woman does something great they will say, she must steal someone else work or it happens by chance.
                             But sure the antique Greeks were far more mild,
                              .............................................................
                             Yet grant some small acknowledgement of ours.
However, the Greeks in someway show respect to the women. It is clear that, men are preeminently excel than women. We also acknowledge the precedence of men. But, it is very unfair to wage war with women as they are not equal to the men. Women know that men can do best. But, the only thing women want from men is to little acknowledgement in their writing. It will not dim their worth, if they do so.
                            And oh ye high flown quills that soar the skies,
                            .........................................................
                           Will make to glist'ring gold but more to shine.
The last stanza contains the direct attack to the male society. The writings of women are not less worthy than men. They just need to be positive with women. Bradstreet urges the male just to acknowledge their creations, they will not claim anything from them. This mean and unrefined lines of her will not dark their worth, rather it will make their works more shining.
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Prologue: Summary & Analysis

Anne Bradstreet was the first woman of early puritan society who wrote few intelligent and artistic words. The early puritan society was not favorable for the women. They were neglected and regarded as the servant of men. They have no right to do or write something creative. So, always confined to domestic chores. Their chief task is to look after husband and children. They are totally deprived of enlightenment. So, in this adverse condition Bradstreet wrote this prologue to make the male society realized importance of women in the society. 

She did it with help of the rhetorical device "satire", which is used to expose the truth through humor. To expose the truth of the society she uses very soft tone. In the first stanza, she says-

                                           To sing of Wars, of Captain, of Kings

                                           .......................................................

                                          My obscure lines shall not dim their worth.

She straightly acknowledges that, it is impossible for her to write something valuable about the glorious thing of world. Because, she has got a pen which is mean. So, her mean pen  is unable to praise the glorious things and she leaves it to the Great poets and historians. Her lines are valueless or worthless to those poet's creations and these cannot dark their worth. So,the first stanza makes us ready for praise for the women which comes in next stanza in a direct way.

In the second stanza, she gives us a vivid idea about gender discrimination in the puritan society.

                                         But when my wond'ring eyes and  envious heart

                                          ..................................................................

                                        But simple I according to my skill.

In these lines, she makes a comparison herself with Bartas. She agrees that she has less intellect than Bartas.

She is jealous with the great creations of Bartas. But, she cannot do whatever she likes. Bartas has the chance to do anything in ocean of art and culture. Though, she has same quality like Bartas , does not get the chance or free will to do something which can overstep Bartas.

                                         From school-boy's tongue no Rhetoric we expect,

                                         .........................................................................

                                        Cause nature made it so irreparable

We cannot expect anything rhetoric or creative from the mouth of a school-boy. So, the male society thinks women like school-boy. Beauty cannot be perfect where is a defect. The defect which women inherits is irreparable. Because, their defect comes with them at their birth. Nature makes it impossible to cure this inability and they cannot be equal to the men. 

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Anne Bradstreet: Prologue

 Prologue

The Prologue, was the first literary work produced by a female in the early puritan society. It was written in 1650 and published in England, as it is impossible for women to publish literary works in early American society.

                                           To sing of Wars, of Captain, of Kings

                                           Of cities founded, common-wealth begun,

                                            For my mean Pen are to superior things

                                           Or how they all, or each their dates have run

                                            Lets Poets and Historians set these forth.

                                           My obscure lines shall not so dim their worth.

But when my wond'ring eyes and envious heart

Great 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 will

But simple I according to my skill.

From School-boy's tongue no Rhet'ric we expect,

Nor yet a sweet Consort from broken strings,

Nor perfect beauty where's a main defect.

My foolish, broken, blemished Muse so sings,

And this to mend, alas, no Art is able,

'Cause Nature made it so irreparable. 

Nor can I, like that fluent sweet-tongued Greek

Who lisp'd at first, in future times speak plain.

By Art he gladly found what he did seek,

A full requital of his striving pain.

Art can do much, but this maxim's most sure:

A weak or wounded brain admits no cure. 

I am obnoxious to each carping tongue

Who says my hand a needle better fits.

A Poet's Pen all scorn I should thus wrong,

For such despite they cast on female wits.

If what I do prove well, it won't advance,

They'll say it's stol'n, or else it was by chance. 

But sure the antique Greeks were far more mild,

Else of our Sex, why feigned they those nine

And poesy made Calliope's own child?

So 'mongst the rest they placed the Arts divine,

But this weak knot they will full soon untie.

The Greeks did sought but play the fools and lie. 

Let Greeks be Greeks, and Women what they are.

Men have precedency and still excel;

It is but vain unjustly to wage war.

Men can do best, and Women know it well.

Preeminence in all and each is yours;

Yet grant some small acknowledgement of ours. 

And oh ye high flown quills that soar the skies,

And ever with your prey still catch your praise,

If e'er you deign these lowly lines your eyes,

Give thyme or Parsley wreath, I ask no Bays.

This mean and unrefined ore of mine

Will make your glist'ring gold but more to shine.

Next: Summary & Analysis

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Literature: Phaedra

Phaedra as an unrequited love.

Phaedra is one of the most wonderful creations of Seneca which contains the story of a lady who is burning with a forbidden passion. The play was named after the name of the protagonist of the play who falls in an illicit love with her stepson Hippolytus. Several elements can found in Phaedra, which make it as an unrequited love. To consider Phaedra as an unrequited love, we should go through the play.

The play starts with the lamentation of Phaedra who is in wretched condition because of her husband who left her to help his friend to the underworld. It is a common believe that no one can come back from there.  She has become alone. She cannot sleep or take rest. She does not find any interest in dancing. What she figures out is a lawless passion in her mind. She has understood that, she is in love with her stepson Hippolytus. Unreason driving her to this unlawful passion and she cannot control it. Because, everything is under controlled by love god Cupid. She cannot do anything against him. So, she lost control over her mind. Now, she is determined to get her love at any cost. She does not care about the people, world and her husband. She just wants to make love with Hippolytus. Nothing can stop her from fulfilling her wicked desire. She loves her own stepson Hippolytus, which is not concern to her. Whatever she knows that she loves Hippolytus and she will get him at any cost.

The nurse, who is the most important person in Phaedra’s life and  the only guard come to know about the unlawful passion of Phaedra. She advises her to wage war against her unlawful passion. Shake it off before engulfing. Once she accepts it could not come back. Her passion is an unpardonable sin. This cannot happen and consequence of this love is horrible. He says Phaedra-

“Cleanse your pure heart at once of such evil thoughts”

Stand up to love and rout him

At the first assault, that is the surest way

To win without a fail.”

In order to bring Phaedra in the right path the Nurse spends some moral lessons. But, nothing can make her sooth. She says-

“Unreason drives me into evil,

I walk upon the brink with open eyes,

Wise counsel calls, but I cannot turn back

To hear it.”

She has become deaf and blind. Infact, the Nurse tries to understand her saying that royal pride abhors correction. But, she is unchanged and crying for her illicit passion. At last, The Nurse says-

“Do you want to be common spouse of father and son”?

All the efforts of the Nurse go in vain. Evil wins finally. When Phaedra is determined to commit suicide, she agrees to help her in this matter. Then she goes to the most stubborn young man Hippolytus who is a misogynist. Nurse urges him to quit way of life that he maintains. His life is worthless. He should not sleep alone. He needs a companion. The nurse invites him technically to come back to the city and enjoy the life. But, her words cannot touch the ears of Hipplytus. He says that he is happy what he has. He does not want more than it. He wants to end his life with nature. By this way he can stay off from the unpardonable sin done by the city dwellers. By this time, Phaedra comes and falls in the ground. Hippolytus lifts her and takes her in his arms. The wickedness of phaedra’s mind has been started. She uses different ways to express her love to Hippolytus. But, everytime she is unsuccessful. At last,shaking  off all her shame Phaedra proposes her love to Hippolytus.

Hearing this Hippolytus  has become crazy. He instantly refuses her proposal and curses her for this kind of wicked thinking. Hippolytus wants to cut her into pieces but he changes his  mind instantly when he hears that she wants to die at his hand. Then  the Nurse make a plot to cover the crime of Phaedra. She accuses Hippolytus in the way that he attempts to rape his step-mother.

By this time, Theseus comes back from the underworld  unexpectedly. He comes to know the fact that his lovely wife Phaedra wants to take her life away. When he wants to about the culprit, Phaedra tells him to see the sword that the rapist left. Then he makes sure that the rapist is no one his only son HIppolytus. Then he makes his last wish to destroy Hippolytus. According to his wish HIppolytus  was killed by the  monster  and after his death this play reaches to its climax.  Phaedra cannot bear the death of Hippolytus  and commit suicide.

So if we consider the whole story of this play we can find that Phaedra is the story of an unrequited love. Phaedra, the central character of the play loves HIppolytus, but she does not get her love back. Hippolytus loves his father, but he does not get the expected behave from his father and finally killed by him. And the Nurse who loves Phaedra does not get it back. So, it is clear that Phaedra is the story of an unrequited love.

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