Significant quotes of the puritans Essay Example for Free

Significant quotes of the puritans Essay 1. â€Å"I can remember the time when I used to sleep quietly without workings in my thoughts, whole nights together, but now it is other ways with me. † Author: Mary Rowlandson, from The Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson The work, published in 1682, is an important one in that it chronicles Mary Rowlandson’s capture and subsequent captivity by Indians. Her tale is at once frightening and enlightening. This phrase highlights the problems she encounters when she is finally brought back to her home. It clearly signifies the loss of her innocence and trust (not only in her fellow man but the British soldiers who were unable to get her back) and the hard reality of life wherein one must always be alert for signs of danger. The experience of her captivity forever changed her and she was never able to forget the atrocities she suffered. 2. â€Å"Heav’ns whelmed-down Crystal meal Bowl†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Author: Edward Taylor, from Meditation 8. This work is an excellent example of the type of â€Å"metaphysical poetry† which was a popular writing form of England in the 1600’s although it was written by an American Puritan. The author took a religious concept and used vivid, often strange, imagery to portray his vision of religion, God and heaven. Whelmed-down refers to the hollowed-out shape of a drain and the phrase elicits an image of a giant crystal bowl turned upside down in the skies. 3. â€Å"And ever with your prey still catch your praise† Author: Anne Bradstreet, from The Prologue. Considered â€Å"The Gentlewoman of New England†, Anne Bradstreet was the first professional poet in the new world. She wrote often of politics and religion in her rhyming poetry although she was not considered to have a wealth of talent. It is astonishing to note that most of her poetry was written while she was in her 20’s and responsible for maintaining a household in the harsh conditions of Andover as well as being the young wife to a husband involved in matters of church and state in Massachusetts.