Final answer:
Anne Bradstreet and Phillis Wheatley were key figures in American literature who overcame gender restrictions to write poetry. Bradstreet focused on Puritan religious themes and colonial life, while Wheatley, an educated enslaved woman, gained renown in America and Europe with her religious and subtly anti-slavery poetry.
Step-by-step explanation:
When comparing the lives and writings of Anne Bradstreet and Phillis Wheatley, one can find distinct differences in their backgrounds yet similarities in their literary contributions. Anne Bradstreet, a Puritan poet of the seventeenth century, was one of the first poets to write from the American colonies and is often considered the first published American poet. Her work, rich in personal thoughts and emotions, dealt mainly with Puritan religious themes, the struggles and challenges of colonial life, and her own personal domestic experiences.
On the other hand, Phillis Wheatley, though writing almost a century later, emerged under vastly different circumstances. She was the first African American woman to publish a book of poetry, Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral in 1773. Wheatley was an enslaved woman who received an education from her owners' family, a rarity for African Americans at the time. Her poetry often contained classical themes, religious subjects, and subtle critiques on slavery. Despite her status as an enslaved person, Wheatley's work garnered recognition and praise in America and Europe, demonstrating a high level of intellectual achievement and literary skill.
Both poets established themselves as important literary figures during their respective periods, overcoming the gender restrictions of their times to express their thoughts and engage with the literary culture. They each brought new perspectives to American literature; Bradstreet shared insights about the Puritan community and domestic life, while Wheatley presented a view from the marginalized and oppressed, contributing to the evolving American identity in literature.