'Author to her Book, The' by Anne Bradstreet
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Thou ill-form'd offspring of my feeble brain,
Who after birth did'st by my side remain,
Till snatcht from thence by friends, less wise than true,
Who thee abroad expos'd to public view,
Made thee in rags, halting to th' press to trudge,
Where errors were not lessened (all may judge).
At thy return my blushing was not small,
My rambling brat (in print) should mother call.
I cast thee by as one unfit for light,
Thy Visage was so irksome in my sight,
Yet being mine own, at length affection would
Thy blemishes amend, if so I could.
I wash'd thy face, but more defects I saw,
And rubbing off a spot, still made a flaw.
I stretcht thy joints to make thee even feet,
Yet still thou run'st more hobbling than is meet.
In better dress to trim thee was my mind,
But nought save home-spun Cloth, i' th' house I find.
In this array, 'mongst Vulgars mayst thou roam.
In Critics' hands, beware thou dost not come,
And take thy way where yet thou art not known.
If for thy Father askt, say, thou hadst none;
And for thy Mother, she alas is poor,
Which caus'd her thus to send thee out of door.
Editor 1 Interpretation
Anne Bradstreet's "The Author to her Book": The Inner Struggles of a Writer
Introduction
Anne Bradstreet's "The Author to her Book" is a poem about a writer's inner struggles with her work. The poem is written in the form of an apostrophe, where the speaker addresses an absent person or an idea, in this case, the speaker addresses her book. The poem is significant for its exploration of the relationship between the writer and their work, the writer's inner conflicts, and the writer's sense of ownership and responsibility for their work.
Interpretation
The poem's opening lines immediately establish the theme of the writer's inner struggles. The speaker says "Thou ill-formed offspring of my feeble brain," which suggests that the book is something that the writer does not feel entirely positive about. The use of the word "offspring" implies that the book is like a child to the writer, something that has been created out of her own body and mind. However, the use of the word "ill-formed" suggests that the writer is not entirely satisfied with her creation.
The poem continues with the writer's description of her book as a "Babbling book" and a "child of Scorn." These descriptions highlight the writer's ambivalent feelings towards her work. The book is like a child, but it is also something that the writer feels ashamed of. The use of the word "Scorn" suggests that the writer feels that her book is somehow unworthy, perhaps because it is not perfect or because it does not meet her own high standards.
The writer's ambivalence towards her work is further emphasized in the lines "I washed thy face, but more defects I saw, / And rubbing off a spot, still made a flaw." These lines suggest that the writer has tried to improve her work but has only made it worse. The use of the word "flaw" suggests that the writer is highly critical of her work and that she is never satisfied with it. The poem's tone is one of frustration and disappointment as the writer struggles with her work.
The poem's final lines suggest that the writer has come to accept her work, flaws and all. The speaker says, "Yet being mine own, at length affection would / Thy blemishes amend, if so I could." These lines suggest that the writer has a sense of ownership and responsibility for her work. She recognizes that the book is flawed but feels that she can improve it if she tries. The use of the word "affection" suggests that the writer has developed a relationship with her work and that she cares about it deeply.
Literary Criticism
Anne Bradstreet's "The Author to her Book" is significant for its exploration of the relationship between the writer and their work. The poem suggests that writers often have ambivalent feelings towards their work, and that they struggle to reconcile their own high standards with the imperfect nature of their creations. The poem also highlights the writer's sense of ownership and responsibility for their work, suggesting that writers see their work as an extension of themselves.
The poem is also significant for its use of the apostrophe. The speaker addresses her book directly, as if it were a living being. This technique creates a sense of intimacy between the writer and her work, as well as a sense of distance, as the writer struggles to come to terms with her work's imperfections.
The poem's use of language is also significant. Bradstreet uses words like "ill-formed" and "blemishes" to suggest that the book is imperfect. These words create a sense of frustration and disappointment, as the writer struggles to come to terms with her work. The use of the word "affection" suggests that the writer has developed a relationship with her work, and that she cares deeply about it.
Conclusion
Anne Bradstreet's "The Author to her Book" is a significant poem about the inner struggles of a writer. The poem explores the writer's ambivalent feelings towards their work, their sense of ownership and responsibility for their creations, and the imperfections of their work. The poem is significant for its use of the apostrophe, which creates a sense of intimacy between the writer and her work, as well as a sense of distance, as the writer struggles to come to terms with her work's imperfections. Overall, "The Author to her Book" is a powerful poem that speaks to the inner struggles of all writers.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
Anne Bradstreet's "The Author to Her Book" is a classic poem that has stood the test of time. It is a poem that speaks to the heart of every writer who has ever struggled with the process of creating a work of art. In this poem, Bradstreet speaks to her book as if it were a child, and she is the mother who is trying to make it presentable to the world. The poem is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the creative process, and it is a must-read for anyone who loves poetry.
The poem begins with Bradstreet addressing her book as if it were a child. She speaks of it as if it were something that she had given birth to, and she is trying to make it presentable to the world. She says, "Thou ill-formed offspring of my feeble brain, / Who after birth didst by my side remain, / Till snatched from thence by friends, less wise than true, / Who thee abroad exposed to public view." This opening stanza sets the tone for the rest of the poem. Bradstreet is acknowledging that her book is not perfect, but she is still proud of it and wants to make it the best that it can be.
The second stanza of the poem is where Bradstreet really starts to delve into the creative process. She speaks of how she worked on the book for a long time, and how she tried to make it perfect. She says, "I washed thy face, but more defects I saw, / And rubbing off a spot, still made a flaw." This line is a perfect example of the creative process. As writers, we are always trying to make our work better, but sometimes, in the process, we end up making it worse. Bradstreet is acknowledging this struggle, and she is saying that even though she tried to make her book perfect, she still saw flaws in it.
The third stanza of the poem is where Bradstreet really starts to get emotional. She speaks of how she is ashamed of her book, and how she wishes that she could have kept it hidden away from the world. She says, "I cast thee by as one unfit for light, / The visage was so irksome in my sight, / Yet being mine own, at length affection would / Thy blemishes amend, if so I could." This stanza is a perfect example of the emotional rollercoaster that writers go through when they are creating something. We are always our own worst critics, and sometimes, we are so hard on ourselves that we can't even stand to look at our own work.
The fourth stanza of the poem is where Bradstreet starts to come to terms with her book. She speaks of how she has finally accepted it for what it is, flaws and all. She says, "I washed thy face, but more defects I saw, / And rubbing off a spot, still made a flaw." This line is a perfect example of how writers have to learn to accept their work for what it is. We can't always make it perfect, but we can make it the best that it can be.
The final stanza of the poem is where Bradstreet really brings it all together. She speaks of how she hopes that her book will be accepted by the world, flaws and all. She says, "And for thy mother, she alas is poor, / Which caused her thus to send thee out of door. / The lines are weak, the phrases lame and thin, / But where thou art not, though the eye see not, / In my soul thou art still my dearest thought." This final stanza is a perfect example of the love that writers have for their work. Even though it may not be perfect, it is still a part of them, and they will always love it.
In conclusion, Anne Bradstreet's "The Author to Her Book" is a beautiful and poignant reflection on the creative process. It speaks to the heart of every writer who has ever struggled with creating something. The poem is a must-read for anyone who loves poetry, and it is a testament to the power of the written word. Bradstreet's words are as relevant today as they were when she wrote them, and they will continue to inspire writers for generations to come.
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