Edward Taylor1642 -

1729

Edward Taylor

Just Kidding!

Edward Taylor1642-1729

Biographical Information• Born the son of a farmer in England

around 1642• Crossed the Atlantic in 1668 at age 26• Admitted with advanced standing to Harvard College, graduating in 1671• Roomed with Samuel Sewall, the judge who later presided at the Salem witch trials

Literary Terms

A metaphor is a figure of speech in which two very different subjects are shown to have a point of similarity.

A conceit is an extended metaphor over several lines, which shows how two seemingly different subjects are alike not just in one way but in many ways.

“Huswifery”

Make me, O Lord, thy Spining Wheele compleate. Thy Holy Worde my Distaff make for meet Make mine Affections thy Swift Flyers neate And make my Soule thy holy Spoole to bee. My Conversation make to be thy Reele And reele the yarn thereon spun of thy Wheele.

Make me thy Loome then, knit therein this Twine: And make thy Holy Spirit, Lord, wince quills: Then weave the Web thyselfe. The yarn is fine. Thine Ordinances make my Fulling Mills. Then dy the same in Hcavenly Colours Choice, All pinks with Varnisht Flowers of Paradise.

Then cloath therewith mine Understanding, Will, Affections, Judgment, Conscience, Memory My Words, and Actions, that their shine may fill My wayes with glory and thee glorify. Then mine apparel! shall display before yee That I am Cloathd in Holy robes for glory.

“Huswifery”

Make mee, O Lord, thy Spinning Wheele complete.Thy Holy Words my Distaff* make for mee.Make mine Affections* thy Swift Flyers* neateAnd make my Soule thy holy Spoole to bee.My Conversation make to be thy Reele*And reele the yarn thereon Spun of thy Wheele.

               A - wheel               B - distaff               C - flyer               D - spool               E - bobbin

Distaff n.: A staff on which raw flax or wool is wound for use in spinningAffections: emotionsFlyers n.: The part of a spinning wheel which twists fibers into yarnReele n: The spool of a spinning wheel, on which thread or yarn is wound.

Sleeping Beauty

Discussion1. In the 1st line, what request does the poet

make?2. Explain the metaphor.3. What is the point of similarity between the

two dissimilar things?4. What are the central metaphors in the second

and third stanzas?5. Explain how the metaphors developed in each

stanza build to a conceit for the poem as a whole.

6. What is the ultimate meaning of the conceit?