Upon the Burning of Our House, July 10th, 1666  

 Upon the Burning of Our House, July 10th, 1666

                                            Burning House

By Anne Bradstreet

Guiding Questions
In silent night when rest I took,
For sorrow neer I did not look,
I waken'd was with thundring nois
And Piteous shreiks of dreadfull voice.
That fearfull sound of fire and fire,
Let no man know is my Desire.
I, starting up, the light did spye,
And to my God my heart did cry
To strengthen me in my Distresse
And not to leave me succourlesse.
Then coming out beheld a space,
The flame consume my dwelling place.
  1. In the first line you see inverted syntax where the words appear in backwards order - sounding like Yoda in Star Wars. Write "rest I took" in its normal order with the subject first.
  2. English is a living language and spelling has changed over the years. Write at least five of the words which are spelled differently than in today's English. Spell them according to today's rules.
  3. Capitalization rules have also changed. Write down two words which are capitalized to show strong emotion.
And, when I could no longer look,
I blest his Name that gave and took,
That layd my goods now in the dust:
Yea so it was, and so 'twas just.
It was his own: it was not mine;
Far be it that I should repine.
  1. Here Bradstreet shows the Puritan belief that God was the true owner of everything she possessed. Write the lines that show this belief.
He might of All justly bereft,
But yet sufficient for us left.
When by the Ruines oft I past,
My sorrowing eyes aside did cast,
And here and there the places spye
Where oft I sate, and long did lye.
  1. Although Bradstreet wants to accept God's right to give and take, she does feel an emotion when she walks by her burned down house. What emotion does she feel?
Here stood that Trunk, and there that chest;
There lay that store I counted best:
My pleasant things in ashes lye,
And them behold no more shall I.
Under thy roof no guest shall sitt,
Nor at thy Table eat a bitt.
  1. Nostalgia is an emotion that occurs when a person misses someone or something that occurred in the past. What does Bradstreet say she is missing in this stanza?
No pleasant tale shall 'ere be told,
Nor things recounted done of old.
No Candle 'ere shall shine in Thee,
Nor bridegroom's voice ere heard shall bee.
In silence ever shalt thou lye;
Adieu, Adieu; All's vanity.
  1. Bradstreet personifies her destroyed house in this stanza by saying that no candle "shall shine in Thee." "Thee" means "you" and so does "thou."  In addition to the candle, what else will the house never experience again?
Then streight I gin my heart to chide,
And didst thy wealth on earth abide?
Didst fix thy hope on mouldring dust,
The arm of flesh didst make thy trust?
Raise up thy thoughts above the skye
That dunghill mists away may flie.
  1. Bradstreet chides (scolds) herself. She is having trouble accepting the loss of her house. She asks herself where true wealth abides (lives). If true wealth is not on earth, according to Puritans, where is it? (Tip: Read the last line of the poem.)
Thou hast an house on high erect
Fram'd by that mighty Architect,
With glory richly furnished,
Stands permanent tho' this be fled.
It's purchased, and paid for too
By him who hath enough to do.
  1. Who is the "mighty Architect"?
A Price so vast as is unknown,
Yet, by his Gift, is made thine own.
Ther's wealth enough, I need no more;
Farewell my Pelf, farewell my Store.
The world no longer let me Love,
My hope and Treasure lyes Above.
  1. "Pelf" is a word no longer used that meant "worldly goods." Bradstreet tells herself to not love things. Instead of possessions, what did Bradstreet and Puritans teach people to value? What does this lesson teach modern people about their place in the universe?