My findings pertaining to the concepts of praise and petition in the meditative poetry of Edward Taylor are, for the most part, taken from the work of Norman Grabo1and Robert Daly2. My paper is exclusively discussing Taylor´ sPreparatory Meditations,a collection of 217 poems, which he wrote during the period from 1682 to 1725. For the purposes of an interesting view on his orthodoxy I consulted the work of Jeffrey Hammond3. In my paper I have incorporated the findings of Ursula Brumm4to a lesser extent, because her work only deals with Puritan America in general. For additional findings regarding Edward Taylor, I gathered useful information fromA Reading of Edward Taylorby Thomas Davis5. In the course of my argumentation I would like to place emphasis on a two- fold conflict, which deeply affected and influenced Taylor´ s meditative poetry: his fear of God (constant petition to purify and safe him) and his joy in the Lord and the divine creations (praise of nature and God). The question of Taylor´ s tendency towards a more unorthodox Puritan stance is only briefly discussed in my paper, but mentioning some findings along that line is justified insofar as it bears a relevance to the concepts of praise and petition in Taylor´ s poetry.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- The Puritan View of the World and their Idea of God
- Analysing Puritan Concepts of Poetry and the Divine
- The Difficult Situation of the Puritan Poet
- Functions of Meditation / The Origins of the Practice
- Possible Reasons for Taylor writing Meditative Poetry
- A Distinction between Sermon and Meditation
- Taylor's Themes and his Inner Conflict (Praise and Petition)
- Questioning Taylor's Orthodoxy
- Concluding Remarks regarding the Phenomenon Taylor
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper analyzes the concepts of praise and petition in the meditative poetry of Edward Taylor, focusing on his collection "Preparatory Meditations". The analysis incorporates insights from scholars like Norman Grabo, Robert Daly, and Jeffrey Hammond, examining Taylor's theological beliefs and their influence on his poetic practice.
- The Puritan worldview and its impact on Taylor's understanding of God and the world.
- The challenges faced by Puritan poets in reconciling their faith with artistic expression.
- The role and function of meditation in Puritan thought and practice.
- The interplay of praise and petition in Taylor's poetry, revealing his inner conflict and theological complexities.
- The potential unorthodox tendencies in Taylor's work and their connection to his use of praise and petition.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- The Puritan View of the World and their Idea of God: This chapter explores the Puritan understanding of the world as a creation of God, emphasizing the concept of sin, the importance of salvation through Christ, and the use of typology to interpret the divine in everyday life. The chapter also examines the Puritans' belief in predestination and their views on the nature of the world, highlighting both its inherent evil and its potential for revealing God's grace.
- The Difficult Situation of the Puritan Poet: This section examines the challenges faced by Puritan poets in reconciling their faith with artistic expression. It discusses the Puritans' emphasis on religious education and the limitations they placed on the use of poetry for purely aesthetic purposes. It also explores the conflict between the desire to create a likeness of God and the fear of committing idolatry.
- Functions of Meditation / The Origins of the Practice: This chapter delves into the concept of meditation as a spiritual practice and its significance within Puritan culture. It highlights the role of meditation in examining truth, combating sin, and achieving spiritual growth. The chapter also traces the historical origins of meditation within the Christian tradition, exploring its connection to mysticism and the use of symbolic imagery like gardens and feasts.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Key themes and concepts explored in this work include Puritanism, meditative poetry, praise and petition, Edward Taylor, typology, predestination, God's grace, salvation, sin, orthodoxy, and the interplay between faith and artistic expression.
- Quote paper
- Stefanie Deutzer (Author), 2005, Concepts of praise and petition in Edward Taylor´s Preparatory Meditations, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/47880
