Huswifery

==What do you think was the common theme of most Poetry works during the late 17th and early 18th centuries? Why? __"Huswifery" by, Edward Taylor__==

Make me, O Lord, thy Spining Wheele compleate. Thy Holy Worde my Distaff make for mee. Make mine Affections thy Swift Flyers neate And make my Soule thy holy Spoole to bee. My Conversation make to be thy Reele And reele the yarn thereon spun of thy Wheele.

Make me thy Loome then, knit therein this Twine: And make thy Holy Spirit, Lord, winde quills: Then weave the Web thyselfe. The yarn is fine. Thine Ordinances make my Fulling Mills. Then dy the same in Heavenly Colours Choice, All pinkt with Varnisht Flowers of Paradise.

Then cloath therewith mine Understanding, Will, Affections, Judgment, Conscience, Memory My Words, and Actions, that their shine may fill My wayes with glory and thee glorify. Then mine apparell shall display before yee That I am Cloathd in Holy robes for glory.


 * __Huswifery__**
 * What is the author's purpose in writing the selected piece?**

Throughout this poem the author attempts to express his feelings regarding God and the way of life. The poem is intended to be a suggestion of how to live life in order to reach heaven and salvation. Taylor suggests that people should live life through God’s guidance in order to be prepared for heaven. “Clothe mine understanding, will, affections, judgment, conscience, and memory” (13-14). The reader is suggested to ask God to enhance one’s understanding and will. He believes that God should help us purify our emotions, memory, and conscience. Taylor implies that the way to salvation is through a surplus of faith, good behavior, and wholesome affections both internally and externally; “My words and actions, that their shine may fill my ways with glory and Thee glorify” (15-16). The overall message to the reader is that much like Taylor, the reader should seek God and be spiritually close to him because once you find God you will be, “Clothed in holy robes for glory” (18).


 * What literary techniques does the author employ in achieving his or her purpose?**


 * Taylor constantly utilizes **metaphors** and **analogies** to compare himself to a spinning wheel; “Make me, O Lord, thy Spinning Wheel complete”. By the conclusion of his poem however, his analogy alters and he is no loner the spinning wheel, but just a man wearing a cloth spun by the wheel
 * Throughout the poem he exploits the use of **allusion** by talking about the machine and clothing while referring to himself and his life. “My Conversation make to be thy Reel.”
 * Taylor illustrates his poem through the use of **stanzas**.
 * Taylor used **symbolism** all throughout his poem because both the Spinning Wheel and the cloth were representations of him and his life.
 * Taylor uses the structure of **iambic** **pentameter** with 10 syllables per line.
 * The speaker also makes use of **rhyme**; “Knit therein this **Twine**… The yarn is **fine.”**


 * Effect of time period on the work:**

Since this poem was written during the late 17th century in the “New England” region of the original 13 colonies, the common theme was God. Taylor was a Puritan; therefore he had very strong and pure beliefs regarding God. Taylor’s work was an illustration of the effect of Puritanism on early Americans. This whole poem is based on the grace and glorification of God. His objective during the 17th century was also to express his feelings and beliefs through poetry in order influence and convert people to Puritans. A great influence at this time was also the Great Awakening, which was a time of separation from church and the beginning of individual deliberation and philosophies. Because of this people, like Edward Taylor, were able to think for themselves and come up with their own conclusions regarding religion.

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