ipl-logo

Phillis Wheatley Analysis

496 Words2 Pages

In comparison to Bradstreet’s style was Phillis Wheatley, who wrote with a genuine spirit, straight forward simplicity, and was direct. Wheatley first found her fame with the poem “On the Death of the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield,” in 1770. Eulogies were very popular at the time and her work found attention in England as well as America. Examples of Wheatley’s sincerity can be found in all of her work, because she wrote from the heart and in a way that all men and women could connect to her work. Entertaining ideas for equality, with a strong straight forward argument, almost 100 years before wars would be fought to end slavery, and being respected as a person and not a slave is the strongest indication of Wheatley’s success. In her poem “Being …show more content…

If this is read from line to line, one will discover that Wheatley is being sincere, making light of her life and situation saying that it was God’s mercy that saved and delivered her. Instantaneously this gains the audience member’s attention, because this is what they believe as well, it is a personal message. She is saying that she has been redeemed, bringing her to a level with her audience, or with white men and they cannot refute this because, it would go against their own beliefs. Wheatley’s action of using Christ, in her writing is such a strong emotional pull on the hearts of all readers of the time period, which they cannot deny her words, other than being nothing but the truth. She identifies her issue of black people being treated as less, because the color of their skin. “Remember, Christians, Negros, Black as Cain,
May be refin’d, and join th’ angelic train.” (Wheatley, Being Brought from a Pagan Land)
Her next line is a rebuke, of the Christian faith saying that black people are like Cain, from Genesis, and that they can be forgive and polished to be people just like they are. In conclusion, Wheatley uses Christianity as an ice breaker to the hearts of her audience, her message is personal and emotional calling on all who hear it to be human like and forgive their “brother Cain”. After winning the appeal of

Show More
Related
171 Words | 1 Pages

In some of the works that Phillis Wheatley created she does not directly criticize slavery in her poetry she only accepts that it exists. In her poem On Being Brought from Africa to America she acknowledges that racism exist in America she states “Some view our sable race with scornful eye,” (Para 5) this reflects how people viewed slaves as being subhuman. As Wheatley continues to the next line stating “Their colour is a diabolic die." (Para 6) using quotation marks this shows an elaboration on her point that there are negative societal views on black people. I feel the reason she wrote this way is in the eighteenth century people did not view Africans as human beings they were seen as being creatures.

Read More
720 Words | 3 Pages

LeAnn Snow Flesher, an Old Testament professor at American Baptist Seminary of the West lauds his theology as something open and honest protest to their white male perspective, that emphasize the cross of redemption without naming the tragedy of violence on lynching trees. (4) Critics say he developed a divisive and racist theology out of the bitterness of growing up in segregation in 1960’s. James Ellis, III, the senior pastor of a nondenominational congregation in Washington D.C. says “For Christians, white cannot be synonymous with evil nor black with good, or vice versa. That sort of rhetoric has no place in the kingdom of God.” He asserts the racial peace comes not from condemnation of whites, but from the reconciliation with God.

Read More
1022 Words | 5 Pages

Anne Bradstreet and Phillis Wheatley are two of the most important early American poets. Bradstreet was the first published American poet and Wheatley is considered to have begun the black American literary tradition (Norton, 110, 403). Both of these incredible women made enormous strides for the development of American literature at a time when it was difficult for women to be taken seriously as authors, and it is striking to notice the similarities between their individual styles. For example, both writers use descriptions of nature in conjunction with their reflections on religion.

Read More
1105 Words | 5 Pages

Bradstreet/Edwards Compare and Contrast Essay “Holiness appeared to me to be of a sweet, pleasant, charming, serene, calm nature; which brought an inaccessible purity, brightness, peacefulness and ravishment to the soul.” Jonathan Edwards was an effective and persuasive preacher in the 1700s (Meet the Author: Jonathan ... 122). In his sermon “Sinners In the Hands of An Angry God”, we receive a look at not only his writing style, but also his personality. Anne Bradstreet is considered the first notable American poet. In her poems “To My Dear and Loving Husband” and “Upon the Burning of Our House”, we gain a look at not only a mother, but also a wife.

Read More
866 Words | 4 Pages

He is composed, collective, and calm when writing his letter to the clergymen, and effectively used stirring diction and syntax to enlighten his audience on his mission towards racial justice that God Himself approves of. His letter is a testimonial to a black person’s life in America, where “we [black americans] creep at horse and buggy pace toward gaining a cup of coffee at a lunch counter” (para 13). His letter was history in the making with every stroke of the pen. It truly showed that the pen is mightier than the the

Read More
682 Words | 3 Pages

Material Possession vs Religion In “Verses upon the Burning of our House”, about the religious and human view of material things, Anne Bradstreet tries to hide the fact that during the burning of her house she secretly grieves the lost of her material things. The poet struggles in the debate of spiritualism and non spiritualism as she goes on in the poem describing her feelings and thoughts about her house burning down. As I read the poem I felt a bit of controversy from Bradstreet point of view because of her seesaw in how she illustrates the importance of possession, contrary of her religious beliefs. Bradstreet´s final point is that unlike the importance of possession, people, including the poet herself, craves and desires all material things. Bradstreet opens her poem by telling her readers about the impact caused on her when she woke up form a “silent night” (1), term she uses to later express the great impact made on her by the roaring sound of fire burning down her house, and that awakens her from her sleep.

Read More
171 Words | 1 Pages

When Harriet Beecher Stowe died at her home on July 1, 1896, the author of the extensive obituary in the New York Times called her death “one of the closing leaves in an era of our century. ”[1] Similarly, her hometown newspaper, the Hartford Courant, observed: “The death of Mrs. Stowe removes from this world one of the most interesting and conspicuous figures of this generation. ”[2] The well-known African American poet Paul Laurence Dunbar published a laudatory poem about her in the Century Magazine in 1898. While the tributes immediately after her death were international in scope, in the following Stowe’s reputation faded.

Read More
601 Words | 3 Pages

Literary Analysis #1: “On Being Brought from Africa to America” Phillis Wheatley was born in Africa and brought to Boston in 1971, after being captured by slave traders at the age of eight (Funk & Wagnalls). “She had been purchased by a wealthy tailor, John Wheatley, for his wife, Susannah, as a companion, and named for the vessel that carried her to America” (Norton 401). She was taught how to read and write by her slave owners. Due to this advantage, she began to write poetry at an early age. One of her most notable poems was “On Being Brought from Africa to America”.

Read More
2034 Words | 9 Pages

The readers of this piece can sense the anger expressed her about the views of the black community and that first line shows that this piece will continue to be as hard hitting as the beginning lines. Another powerful line in the same piece would be a line that talks about being a black woman is not a misfortune on her behalf and is calling out the people who view the black community as

Read More
733 Words | 3 Pages

By analyzing, Walkers The Color Purple, Williams brings forth another viewpoint or experience that remains beneficial to this idea of motherhood in context of the Bible. Essentially, Williams explains that by embracing this sense of motherhood, in both the Hagar story as well as, in black women’s experiences, black women can begin to embrace the Bible without the corruption and oppression of the patriarchy. She demonstrates this idea by stating how Walker “suggests that mothers get victory over oppressive social forces by bonding with one another and opposing their oppression rather than” simply praying (Williams

Read More
127 Words | 1 Pages

Phillis Ẃheatly’s poem, ¨ On Being Brought from Africa to America¨ challenges the individual rights because the colonist do not want the colored people to believe in God nor to be educated. Wheatley explains how the colonist do not think that the colored people should be part of the Christian world, they do not believe that colored people should be believing in God. Wheatley states, ¨ Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain, May be refin´, and join th´angelic train.¨ As Wheatley states she wants to show the colonist that even colored people can believe in God. Wheatley placed ¨Christians¨ and ¨Negroes¨ together so it can be clear to the colonist that no matter what color skin tone you have you have the right to believe in God.

Read More
834 Words | 4 Pages

In the short story, “Good Country People”, by Flannery O’Connor there is a heartthrob in town. Manley Pointer is a charming, young, country boy who wants nothing more but to spread the word of God in small rural towns near his. There is so much more to Manley than what meets the eye, not only is he a young, honest, country boy, he is also dying. Instead of wallowing in self pity from the knowledge of his diagnosis, Manley still continues to share and sell the Bible which is seen as remarkable by many. Manley’s irresistible charm and exuberance make him even more appealing to the customers which can potentially make his job a bit easier.

Read More
626 Words | 3 Pages

Anne Bradstreet, a particularly skilled writer in a time where women writers were practically unheard of, stands out for both maintaining her livelihood whilst writing poems injected with deceptive irony, and having the women in her poems act educated instead of not. She wrote in ways which both acknowledge men and their views, but also tore them apart with ironic writing and prose. This can be seen in The Prologue, beginning with Bradstreet comparing herself with many differing historical figures, but also using them to self-depreciate herself in an overly masculine view of herself. By doing so, she insulted the views and opinions rather than her own works, stabbing male prejudice with sharp irony. Anne Bradstreet wrote in an enjoyable

Read More
1225 Words | 5 Pages

In Phillis Wheatley’s To S.M., a Young African Painter, the reader can easily assume that Wheatley is expressing her opinion on the beauty of Scipio Moorhead’s paintings. The poem seems to discuss Wheatley’s appreciation for another African-American artist like herself. However, after looking closely at word choice, visual imagery, and deviation from the rhyme scheme one can see that there is much more going on in this poem. Wheatley addresses not only her thoughts on S.M.’s works, but also religion, immortality, race, and freedom. Looking at this poem more in-depth is important because it will allow the reader to better understand the poem’s meaning.

Read More
315 Words | 2 Pages

‘If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.’ These lines from Anne Bradstreet’s poem put light on her thought process vividly. It gives us an idea of how knowledgeable and educated she was, and how she knew the art of writing and how to make everyone fall in love with poetry. Anne Bradstreet was the most noticeable English artists of North America and first female poet in the British North American settlements to be distributed. She was also an important Puritan figure in American Literature.

Read More

More about Phillis Wheatley Analysis

Related Topics

Open Document