Huswifery

​Huswifery

​Literary Analysis: Conceit

A metaphor is a form of figurative language. It compares two unlike things, people, or objects, but does not use the words like or as, which are used in similes. Compare the two examples below.

My grief made my heart like a stone.

My grief made my heart a stone.

The second example is a metaphor, a comparison of a heart with a stone, but without using the words like or as. A conceit is an extended metaphor, a comparison developed throughout several lines or an entire poem. Edward Taylor’s poem is an extended metaphor as he asks God

to make him into a spinning wheel and a loom so that he can clothe himself in God’s glory.

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Open Ended

Make me, O Lord, Thy spinning wheel complete.

Thy holy word my distaff make for me.

Make mine affections they swift flyers neat

And make my soul Thy holy spoole to be.

My conversation make to be Thy reel

And reel the yarn thereon spun of Thy wheel.

Which complete device does the poet compare himself to in his metaphor in this stanza?

Open Ended

Make me, O Lord, Thy spinning wheel complete.

Thy holy word my distaff make for me.

Make mine affections they swift flyers neat

And make my soul Thy holy spoole to be.

My conversation make to be Thy reel

And reel the yarn thereon spun of Thy wheel.

Which part of the poet himself does he ask God to make into the spoole [spool] of the spinning wheel?

Open Ended

Make me, O Lord, Thy spinning wheel complete.

Thy holy word my distaff make for me.

Make mine affections they swift flyers neat

And make my soul Thy holy spoole to be.

My conversation make to be Thy reel

And reel the yarn thereon spun of Thy wheel.

As the poet develops his extended metaphor, he mostly asks God to make parts of the poet

into a loom. Which part of the wheel does he compare with God’s word in the metaphor?

Open Ended

Make me Thy loom then, knit therein this twine;

And make Thy holy spirit, Lord, wind quills;

Then weaver the web Thyself. The yarn is fine,

Thine ordinances make my fulling mills.

Then dye the same in heavenly colors choice.

All pinked with varnished flowers of paradise.

To what major device does the poet compare himself in this stanza?

Open Ended

Make me Thy loom then, knit therein this twine;

And make Thy holy spirit, Lord, wind quills;

Then weaver the web Thyself. The yarn is fine,

Thine ordinances make my fulling mills.

Then dye the same in heavenly colors choice.

All pinked with varnished flowers of paradise.

In Stanza 3, when the poet asks God to clothe all parts of him in the new apparel, to what

does he compare the apparel he will be wearing?

​Reading Strategy: Adjust Reading Rate

The poem “Huswifery” is a complex poem. Its subject and style are difficult. It is full of unfamiliar words that are defined at the bottom of the page, so that the reader has to stop and look away from the poem momentarily. The poem’s ideas are put in a specific order that must be

followed closely if a reader is to understand the full message. For these reasons, it is reasonable to read such a poem slowly, and more than once, rather than skimming through it as if it were a popular ballad.

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Open Ended

Make me, O Lord, Thy spinning wheel complete.

Thy holy word my distaff make for me.

Is the poet asking the Lord to make a spinning wheel for the poet to use? Or is he asking the Lord to make the poet himself into a spinning wheel? How can you be sure?

Open Ended

Thine ordinances* make my fulling mills*.

They dye the same in heavenly colors choice.

All pinked* with varnished flowers of paradise.

This passage has three unfamiliar terms in it. How would you read this part and what would you do besides read the lines?

Open Ended

Make mine affections Thy swift flyers neat

Then weave the web Thyself. The yarn is fine.

Which of the examples above might you read faster than the other? Why?

Multiple Choice

In “Huswifery,” Edward Taylor compares things that are very different from each other. What is this literary device called?

• alliteration

• personification

• conceit

• hyperbole

Multiple Choice

Whom or what does the speaker in this poem address?

• God

• a loom in his home

• his wife

• all Puritan wives

Multiple Choice

Taylor develops an extended metaphor in this poem. What kinds of activities make up that extended metaphor?

• grinding grain into flour at a mill

• spinning yarn and weaving cloth

• cleaning different kinds of clothes

• dressing for and attending a funeral

Multiple Choice

How can you tell that this opening line is an example of Puritan Plain Style?

Make me, O Lord, Thy spinning wheel complete.

I. It is a direct statement.

II. It addresses God.

III. It refers to an everyday object.

IV. It is strongly emotional.

• I and II

• II and III

• I and III

• II, III, and IV

Multiple Choice

Which structure does Taylor use to present his main comparison in “Huswifery”?

• God’s past actions, God’s present actions, God’s future actions

• repentance, prayers, better behavior

• an unbeliever, a Christian on earth, a Christian in heaven

• fibers to yarn, yarn to cloth, cloth to finished clothing

Multiple Choice

Why might you want to read the first two stanzas of this poem rather slowly?

• The stanzas contain many unfamiliar details and images.

• The stanzas present a series of challenging questions.

• The poet uses old-fashioned spellings and punctuation.

• The poet creates images that appeal to the senses.

Multiple Choice

What is the speaker’s main attitude in this statement?

Make me Thy loom then, knit therein this twine: / And make Thy holy spirit, Lord, wind quills: / Then weave the web Thyself.

• He trusts in God’s faithfulness.

• He fears God’s holy spirit.

• He is submissive to God’s will.

• He is eager to sing God’s praise.

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best describes the “clothing” that God is making for the speaker?

• plain, but soft and comfortable clothes

• colorful, decorated, and shining clothes

• sturdy clothes, to help the speaker work for God

• pure white clothes, to represent God’s holiness

Multiple Choice

What reading rate would help you most in understanding these lines, and why?

Then clothe therewith mine understanding, will, / Affections, judgment, conscience, memory / My words, and actions, . . .

• Fast: The lines use simple words and don’t have much detail.

• Average: This isn’t the speaker’s main point, anyway.

• Slow: There is a list of words that are confusing because they seem close in meaning.

• Slow: The image in these lines is completely different from images earlier in the poem.

Multiple Choice

What is the speaker asking for in these lines?

Then clothe therewith mine understanding, will, / Affections, judgment, conscience, memory / My words and actions, that their shine may fill / My ways with glory and Thee glorify.

• that he would never disappoint God

• that all of his words and actions would glorify God

• that he would have beautiful clothing that everyone would admire

• that his actions would match his thoughts and feelings