New World Women

Photo: Phyllis Wheatley, Poetry Foundation

Photo: Anne Bradstreet, Poetry Foundation

Anne Bradsreet and Phyllis Wheatley lived almost a century apart, but are both notable "firsts" in American literature as well as exhibiting many similarities as poets. Bradstreet, a Puritan housewife and early colonist, has the distinction of being America's first published female poet. Wheatley was brought to the colonies from West Africa as a slave, but the family who bought her noticed her brightness and gift. Although she remained a slave, learned to read and write and eventaully was published. She is the first published African-American author. Both women write about their Christian religion and are heavily influenced by Classical thought and forms. However, they offer different cultural perspectives and write from vastly different personal experience.