Edward Taylor (1642-1729)

Biographical Background

• Born in England in 1642, son of a farmer.• Educated by a nonconformist schoolmaster; increased

persecution of Puritans after the restoration of the monarchy in 1660.

• Sailed to America in 1668. Graduated from Harvard in 1671.

Poetic Style

• Shared things in common with metaphysical poets of England (John Donne, Andrew Marvell, etc.):– Vivid figures of speech– Playful language– Puns– Elaborate imagery

• Also used images from the Bible, from everyday working and family life

• “Huswifery” • “Upon Wedlock, and Death of Children”

– Similarity to Bradstreet’s poem, “In Memory of My Dear Grandchild”?

Preparatory Meditations

• Begun when he was 42, considered his greatest work.

• Written in preparation to receive and administer the sacrament of Communion.

• “Meditation 8”