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Essay / Literary Analysis of Anne Bradstreet's Poem The Author of Her Book
Anne Bradstreet's “The Author of Her Book” reflects an author's feelings about her book after its publication and publication criticized as an unfinished product. The poem uses the overarching metaphor of an author and her book about the relationship between a loving mother and her child to express the author's complex attitude which changes throughout the work. Diction, apostrophe, and first-person perspective are incorporated alongside controlling metaphor to convey the speaker's true emotions. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned"? Get an original essay The controlling metaphor in the part of the poem that exposes the flaws of the author's book reflects the author's confrontational tone, introducing the basis of his feelings towards his work. The author approaches her book as her “ill-formed offspring” (1), which presents its imperfections and suggests the author's role as the mother figure of her book. Calling his book a "disjointed brat" (8), the author shares one of its major flaws – irrelevant verbosity – and the diction suggests that the author did not have control over the book's premature publication . Through multiple instances of apostrophe, which is evident in examples such as "You are in rags" (5) and "when they return" (7), the author specifically addresses his book instead of talking about it simply, giving his words a certain familiarity. and orientation. Despite the author's tone of disappointment and embarrassment with her book, the mother figure she has for it indicates an affection and responsibility that is incorporated into the central part of the poem. The author's attempts to revise his book are introduced through the poem's recurring metaphor, reinforcing the importance of metaphor in conveying the author's feelings to his book. The author continues to assume her maternal position when she compares the process of revising her book to cleaning a child, saying “I washed your face” (13). To ensure that the book is in a presentable state once published, the author attempts to improve the use of vocabulary in his book; however, “nothing but homemade fabric” (18) is all she can find. The metaphor between improving vocabulary and dressing in quality fabrics reflects the author's goal to provide the best opportunity for his book despite the complications that arise. The apostrophe once again reflects the author's truthful intent in sincerely communicating with her book, reminding her that she "stretched your joints" (15) and intended to "[cut] you" ( 17). Unlike the explanatory part of the poem, the author's tone along with the controlling metaphor informs the book of the author's devotion to it from the first person perspective of a mother cleaning and dressing her child for a momentous event. The comparison of the author's book to a lonely child entering the world parallels the author's final words to her book, suggesting that she wants the best for him despite his flaws. The diction of “In this array” (19), about the current state of the book after the author's attempts at revision, phonetically and ironically suggests a product ended in disarray despite efforts to improve the quality of the book . Preparing to release his book into the world as if it were a child leaving home, the author's tone now shifts to one of concern and advice, warning him to "take be careful not to fall” (20) into the hands of critics. The author's advice to his book about what he should do if "for your father..