“Upon the Burning of Our House”

Question 1

While Bradstreet speaks on a variety of themes, such as loss, sorrow, and material wealth, the main focus of this poem is on God and religion.

Question 2

Anne Bradstreet’s faith is reaffirmed by the destruction of her home, reminding us that unexpectedly good things can come out of bad situations.

Question 3

Although it’s natural to feel sorrow at the loss of all of your possessions, Bradstreet checks herself twice, stating in proper Puritan fashion that this is part of God’s mysterious plan for her life.

Question 4

Who is the “Architect” mentioned in line 44? How do you know this?

Answer 4

God is known as the Architect, because he built everything + and heaven

Question 5

What is this poem’s rhyme scheme? How many syllables are in each line?

Answer 5

ABAB, 8

Question 6

What an inversion in poetry?

Answer 6

An inversion is a poetic device where the writer switches the usual order of words in a sentence or phrase to increase the dramatic impact of the line or to adhere to a rhyme scheme. Bradstreet uses this technique several times in her poem. For example, in the first line, she writes, “In silent night when rest I took,” an inversion of “In silent night when I took rest.”