Question

What is a possible reason Bradstreet ended each poem with a confirmation of her belief in the afterlife?

A...to convince others of Puritan beliefs
B...to persuade others to allow for religious freedom
C...to show spiritual and undying love for her husband
D...to avoid disapproval for challenging Puritan authority

Answer 1

Since she was a Puritan woman she was some what looked down on for writing because men were the only people in that time period who were considered great writers. Many poems reflect her struggle to accept the adversity of the Puritan colony, contrasting earthly losses with the eternal rewards of the good.

I believe the answer is either A or C.

Answer 2

Answer: D. to avoid disapproval for challenging Puritan authority.

One of the possible reasons why Bradstreet would end her poems with a confirmation of her belief in the afterlife is that she did not want her views to be disapproved. Bradstreet was a Puritan, and although she sometimes produced literature that was critical of Puritan values, she did not want to separate herself from the religion. Therefore, restating her values could have been a way in which she could avoid disapproval and scrutiny.