"The Author to Her Book" by Anne Bradstreet

Question 1

apostrophe

Answer 1

• language of the metaphor includes
• • ill-formed offspring and after birth didst by my side remain
• these lines show that the book was published before the author thought it was ready for public view
• • made thee in rags - printed, books were called rags

Question 2

if the book is a child, the author is a mother. after the book is published, the poem shifts

Answer 2

• yet being mine own

- - she wishes she could fix the book to make it better, but she can’t no matter how hard she tries

Question 3

finding theme

Answer 3

• maybe the speaker is exploring the idea that we are most critical of the things we create. we find other people’s creativity amazing, but are so judgmental about our creations

Question 4

thematic statement should be noble and global

Answer 4

we are most critical of the things that we create

Question 5

sample claim sentence wording

Answer 5

the author’s use of extended metaphor helps establish the theme of (site theme)

Question 6

answers

Answer 6

• comparing the book to a child
• extended metaphor: conceit
• offspring
• rags: printing cloth
• the experience of writing a book

Question 7

at thy return my blushing was not small

Answer 7

she is embarrassed by all the flaws she found in her book

Question 8

what is the author saying about the feelings and experience that are being explored

Answer 8

we are critical about what we create

Question 9

who in the poem takes blame for the book’s seeming inadequacy

Answer 9

mother