Questions and Answers
How would you restate the first two lines of the poem 'To My Dear and Loving Husband'?
We are the most united couple. I love you more than any wife has loved a husband.
What kind of feeling do you get from the style of the inverted lines in the first stanza of 'To My Dear and Loving Husband'?
How are the words inverted in line 4 of the first stanza of 'To My Dear and Loving Husband'?
'Compare me with other women, if you can.'
How does the speaker communicate the depth of her love for her husband in line 6 of 'To My Dear and Loving Husband'?
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How would you paraphrase the lines 'My love is such that rivers cannot quench, / Not ought but love from thee, give recompense'?
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What does the poet ask in the first line of stanza 3 in the poem 'To My Dear and Loving Husband'?
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What is the message the poet gives in lines 9 and 10 of the poem 'To My Dear and Loving Husband'?
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How would you paraphrase the final lines of the poem 'To My Dear and Loving Husband'?
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What other word in stanza 2 of 'To My Dear and Loving Husband' gives you a clue to the meaning of the word 'recompense'?
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Study Notes
Poem Analysis: "To My Dear and Loving Husband"
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The speaker asserts a profound unity with her husband, expressing a love that surpasses any other relationship.
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The formal style of the poem, combined with plain diction, conveys seriousness and emotional control, indicating the speaker's deep commitment.
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In line 4, the phrase “compare me” emphasizes the speaker's confidence and challenges the listener to see her unparalleled love compared to other women.
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The speaker values her husband's love as more precious than material wealth, indicating an emotional connection that transcends physical riches.
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A paraphrase of the lines "my love is such that rivers cannot quench,/ not ought but love from thee, give recompense" reveals the strength of her love, which nothing can extinguish except for his reciprocal love.
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In the first line of stanza 3, she addresses God, requesting divine rewards for her husband's unwavering love and fidelity.
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The central message in lines 9 and 10 emphasizes the magnitude of her husband’s love, which she feels incapable of repaying, urging God to acknowledge her husband's devotion.
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The concluding lines express a vow to love faithfully during their lives, with a hopeful outlook towards eternal unity after death.
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The word "repay" in stanza 2 serves as a synonym for "recompense," illustrating the idea of giving back in relationships; while "repay" is a verb indicating action, "recompense" is a noun representing compensation or compensation owed.
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Description
Explore the profound themes and emotions in Anne Bradstreet's poem 'To My Dear and Loving Husband'. This quiz delves into the speaker's expression of unparalleled love and commitment, emphasizing both emotional and spiritual connections. Analyze key phrases and their significance in understanding the poem's core message.
