Although there are a great many unique and interesting things about Anne Bradstreet, the most unique and interesting thing involves the way in which she is taught in the public schools. To listen to my eleventh grade English teacher, you would think that the most significant lines in all of her poetry are the following from "The Prologue".
I am obnoxious to every carping tongueJust in case you do not happen to be "gifted" to read poetry and instantly understand all its ramifications, I'll give a quick explanation. Anne is here saying that no matter how good her poetry may be, it will never be accepted by her community because she is a woman. I'll leave it to your imagination to decide what sort of feminist slant these lines lend themselves to.
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
In fact, after pulling her through the feminist filter, even beautiful poetry which clearly glorifies God as "Upon the Burning of Our House, July 10th, 1666" is taught as being ironic, as casting ridicule on the idea that she ought to still praise God after her house burns. Needless to say, any aspect of her powerful Christian voice is downplayed, and none of her poetry which unmistakably glorifies God does not make the cut and does not get taught. This censorship--for that indeed is what it is--should not surprise us, for any pro-Christian thinking has been systematically deleted from public school teaching, and even from many Christian private schools, for decades.
Let us here and now correct the record and let those persons who have been indoctrinated by the public school teaching know that Anne Bradstreet was a Christian poet who felt that her gift was given to her for the express purpose of glorifying God. She was a devoted wife and a loving mother. Her poetry written to her husband and children show a wife who understands what Paul meant when he wrote of a woman's duty and devotion to her husband and family. She did not feel imprisoned by her "role" as wife and mother. It was her joy! She naturally and justifiably felt that the Puritans took a view of women which was unjust and incorrect--namely that they were incapable of sustained and deep thought.
Her poetry, with its constant references to classical literature as well as moving Biblical imagery shows her to be very learned. But she certainly agreed wholeheartedly with the emphasis the Puritans placed in religion. Also, while many Puritans may have looked askance at her work, she was still very popular not only in the colony, but around the world. In fact, she was the first internationally known American poet.
As I opened with a quotation from Anne Bradstreet, let me also close with another, more appropriate one from "The Flesh and the Spirit".
How I do live, thou need'st not scoff,
For I have meat thou know'st not of;
The hidden manna I do eat,
To word of life it is my meat.
My thoughts do yield me more content
Than can thy hours in pleasure spent.
Nor are they shadows which I catch,
Nor fancies vain at which I snatch,
But reach at things that are so high,
Beyond thy dull capacity;