Anne Bradstreet: "Upon the Burning of our House" - Invert Syntax Flashcards Preview

High School English III > Anne Bradstreet: "Upon the Burning of our House" - Invert Syntax > Flashcards

Flashcards in Anne Bradstreet: "Upon the Burning of our House" - Invert Syntax Deck (7)
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1
Q

tips of reading the text

A
  • form the very first line of the poem, Bradstreet begins inverting the syntax of her words so the poem fit a specific meter
  • this poem is written in rhyming couplets, so every set of two lines will rhyme AND EVERY LINE HAS EIGHT SYLLABLES
  • one way to spot inverted syntax is to compare the way Bradstreet writes her lines to the usual order of words
  • for example usually, you would read John opened the door
  • you would re-write is as A door John opened
2
Q

“Then straight I ‘gin my heart to chide: And did thy wealth on earth abide?” Another way to say these lines, without using inverted syntax, is

A
  • straightaway I began to chide my heart: did thy wealth abide on earth
3
Q

inverted syntax is

A
  • changing the order of words in a way that is not expected

- a poetic device

4
Q

which line below uses inverted syntax

A
  • nor bridegroom’s voice e’er heard shall be

- in silent night when rest i took

5
Q

poets use inverted syntax to

A
  • give their poems a nicer meter

- make their lines easier to rhyme

6
Q

“and them behold no more shall i”

another way to say this line, without using inverted syntax is

A
  • i shall not see them anymore
7
Q

i, starting up, the light did spy, and to my god my heart did cry.
another way to say this line, without using inverted syntax is

A
  • starting up, I spied the light, and my heart cried to God

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