Anne Bradstreet and Phillis Wheatley were both female poets who wrote during the 17th and 18th centuries, respectively. However, their lives and writing differed in many ways.
Anne Bradstreet was born in England in 1612 and immigrated to America with her family in 1630. She became one of the first influential poets in American literature and is known for her Puritan beliefs and writing about her experiences and emotions as a woman, wife, and mother. Bradstreet's poetry was deeply personal and focused on themes of love, family, and spirituality.
Phillis Wheatley, on the other hand, was born in Africa around 1753 and was kidnapped and enslaved as a child. She was brought to America and became the first published African American female poet. Wheatley's writing focused on themes of freedom, equality, and the struggle against oppression. She used her poetry to advocate for the abolition of slavery and to challenge societal norms of race and gender.
In terms of writing style, Bradstreet's poetry was more traditional and structured, following the conventions of Puritan literature. Wheatley's poetry, on the other hand, was more lyrical and influenced by classical literature, incorporating themes of Greek and Roman mythology.
Overall, both Anne Bradstreet and Phillis Wheatley played important roles in American literature and used their poetry to express their unique perspectives and experiences. While Bradstreet focused on personal themes of family and spirituality, Wheatley used her poetry to advocate for social justice and equality.
Compare and contrast the lives and writing of Anne Bradstreet and Phillis Wheatley. Select the link to access the Short Answer Rubric.
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