Upon the Burning of Our House “Upon the Burning of Our House”, by Anne Bradstreet, is a very interesting poem. It illustrates some of the puritan’s ideas. It also illustrates many archetypes. Some of these archetypes are helplessness, materialistic desires, and comfort in religion. When a disaster occurs that drastically changes our lives there is an unnerving sense of helplessness. Bradstreet shows this helplessness with lines such as, “…And to my God my heart …showed first 75 words of 281 total…

…showed last 75 words of 281 total…appears that Bradstreet, and probably many other puritans, had difficulty with always having faith and unquestioning acceptance in Gods “actions”. This is further supported in a quote by Bradstreet, “I have often been perplexed that I have not found that constant Joy in my Pilgrimage and refreshing which I supposed most of the servants I supposed most of the servants of god have.” This makes me wonder if she didn’t often question her religion.