Anne Bradstreet: "Upon the Burning of our House" - Invert Syntax

Question 1

tips of reading the text

Answer 1

• form the very first line of the poem, Bradstreet begins inverting the syntax of her words so the poem fit a specific meter
• this poem is written in rhyming couplets, so every set of two lines will rhyme AND EVERY LINE HAS EIGHT SYLLABLES
• one way to spot inverted syntax is to compare the way Bradstreet writes her lines to the usual order of words
• for example usually, you would read John opened the door
• you would re-write is as A door John opened

Question 2

“Then straight I ‘gin my heart to chide: And did thy wealth on earth abide?” Another way to say these lines, without using inverted syntax, is

Answer 2

• straightaway I began to chide my heart: did thy wealth abide on earth

Question 3

inverted syntax is

Answer 3

• changing the order of words in a way that is not expected

- a poetic device

Question 4

which line below uses inverted syntax

Answer 4

• nor bridegroom’s voice e’er heard shall be

- in silent night when rest i took

Question 5

poets use inverted syntax to

Answer 5

• give their poems a nicer meter

- make their lines easier to rhyme

Question 6

“and them behold no more shall i”

another way to say this line, without using inverted syntax is

Answer 6

• i shall not see them anymore

Question 7

i, starting up, the light did spy, and to my god my heart did cry.
another way to say this line, without using inverted syntax is

Answer 7

• starting up, I spied the light, and my heart cried to God