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Edward Taylor

Edward Taylor. (c. 1645 – 1729). Edward Taylor. Born in Leicestershire, England circa 1645. Not much is know about him before his arrival in Boston in 1668. Admitted to Harvard; graduated in 1671. Went to settlement of Westfield as minister & remained there for the rest of his life.

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Edward Taylor

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  1. Edward Taylor (c. 1645 – 1729)

  2. Edward Taylor • Born in Leicestershire, England circa 1645. • Not much is know about him before his arrival in Boston in 1668. • Admitted to Harvard; graduated in 1671. • Went to settlement of Westfield as minister & remained there for the rest of his life. • Married twice • 14 children • Acted as physician for town as well as being their spiritual leader.

  3. Edward Taylor • Although his poems were composed in the late 17th & early 18th centuries, they were not made available to the reading public until over 200 years later. • Fundamental religious ideas were identical to those of John Calvin (Calvinism). • His library contained only one book of poetry: a copy of Anne Bradstreet’s collection.

  4. Edward Taylor • Manuscript of his works inherited by his grandson, Ezra Stiles. • Respected injunction that “his heirs should never publish it.” • Given to library at Yale during Stiles’ presidency there. • Remained there until their discovery in 1937.

  5. Edward Taylor • His activities as a preacher in the wilderness takes on significance of his poetry. • Had they been different, his poetry would not be what it is. • His preaching so influenced his poetry that the poems lose their full importance if separated from his sermons.

  6. Edward Taylor • 2 groups of poems: • Preparatory Meditations • God’s Determinations • Both groups (in different ways) promulgate his Puritan Calvinism. • Employed a poetical style that was derived chiefly from 2 sources: • The Bible (esp. Song of Solomon & Revelation) • Poetry he read as young schoolboy (John Donne & other metaphysicals)

  7. Edward Taylor • Collection of sermons “Christographia” • Composed sermons at 6-week intervals • After each one – before delivering it – he composed the poetic meditation. • Regarded his meditations as sacramental acts of private devotion & worship. • Used them for the cleansing of his soul & to put him in the correct spiritual frame of mind • In preparation for administering Lord’s Supper • In preparation for his eternal heavenly union with Christ

  8. Edward Taylor • Primarily were addressed to God or to Christ (and not to any other reader, public or private). • More than 200 preparatory meditations preserved • All are entirely religious in subject matter. • Motivated by poet’s sincere and intense religious beliefs.

  9. Edward Taylor • Meditations • Are what their title suggests: an act of contemplation expressing profound & pious emotions. • According to Louis Marz, in The Meditative Poem: An Anthology of 17th Century Verse, the poem’s “central meditative action consists of an interior drama, in which a man projects a self upon a mental stage, and there comes to understand that self in the light of a divine presence.”

  10. Edward Taylor • Taylor frequently begins his meditations with an intellectual or reasoned consideration of his condition or a Biblical verse before feeling an emotional intensity, sometimes ecstasy, that comes with the understanding of God’s greatness and/or his own confidence of being one of the saved. • His poetic imagination springs from his religious struggle and faith.

  11. Edward Taylor • Meditations • Followed clearly defined organizational method • Rely on the same structure • 6-line stanzas • Iambic pentameter • ababcc rhyme scheme • suggests that writing poetry is a ritualistic activity • a means to an end and not an end itself

  12. Edward Taylor • Meditations • Followed clearly defined organizational method • Involved 3 faculties of the soul • Memory • Understanding • Will

  13. Edward Taylor • Meditations • Subject matter is heavenly doctrine supplied by the memory • This doctrine is analyzed & comprehended by the understanding or reason • Once understood, the affections of the will (emotions) are aroused in this order: • Love • Desire • Hope • Courage • Joy

  14. Meditations Subject Original Sin Christ’s saving grace Possibility of personal salvation Emotion Despair Joy Hope Edward Taylor

  15. Edward Taylor • Content & structure of God’s Determinations: • Begins with the damned: • depiction of man’s fallen estate, original sin, his own sins • Depicts Christ and redemptive power; vision of the elect. • Concludes with a plea to Christ (hope). • Final lines state that he will sing the praises of Christ if he is among the elect.

  16. Edward Taylor • Imagery used by Taylor (from Norman Grabo) : • Images of writing • Images of warfare • Images of metallurgy • Images of gardens & vegetation • Images of feasting & communion • Images of spinning & weaving

  17. Edward Taylor • Recurrent theme: • Fear that his heart has grown cold toward God and the hope that, through God’s grace, his affections will be warmed.

  18. http://www.puritansermons.com/poetry/taylor.htm • http://www.poemhunter.com/edward-taylor/

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