ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -The tone of this poem goes from shock to wistfulness to hope. Just before the poem begins, the narrator sleeps peacefully, in unsuspecting security. She is suddenly awakened by “thundering noise” (line 3) and “piteous shrieks” (line 4).

Detailed explanation-2: -Bradstreet feels guilty that she is hurt from losing earthly possessions. It is against her belief that she should feel this way; showing she is a sinner. Her deep puritan beliefs brought her to accept that the loss of material was a spiritually necessary occurrence.

Detailed explanation-3: -And Piteous shreiks of dreadfull voice. That fearfull sound of fire and fire, Let no man know is my Desire.

Detailed explanation-4: -“I wakened was with thund’ring noise / And piteous shrieks of dreadful voice. / That fearful sound of ‘Fire! ‘ and ‘Fire! ‘ / Let no man know is my desire.” The power of Bradstreet’s poem is ultimately in its inquiry into whether and how the stuff-the material possessions destroyed in the fire-should be valued.