Read the passage.
excerpt from "The Author to Her Book" by Anne Bradstreet

Thou ill-formed offspring of my feeble brain,
Who after birth didst by my side remain,
Till snatched from thence by friends, less wise than true,
Who thee abroad, exposed to public view,
Made thee in rags, halting to th’ press to trudge,
Where errors were not lessened (all may judge).

Refer to Explorations in Literature for a complete version of this poem.

How does Bradstreet’s use of figurative language in these lines affect their meaning?


By comparing the public who reads her work to judges, Bradstreet expresses respect for their opinions.


By comparing her friends to kidnappers, Bradstreet suggests that writers are often the victims of others’ foolishness.
By comparing her book to her child, Bradstreet conveys the deep bond and affection writers feel for their work.
By comparing her book to a lover, Bradstreet establishes the idea that writing is a way to give and receive affection.