Post on 14-Dec-2015
THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS
John Bunyan
The Pilgrim’s Progress
Considered the most influential religious book ever written in the English language
John Bunyan (1622-1688)
Learned reading and writing at village school in hometown of Elstow
Drafted into parliamentary army in 1644 Married first wife in 1649
She introduced him to various religious writings: Plain Man’s Pathway to Heaven; Practice of Piety
1653 joined a Nonconformist church
John Bunyan
Became a preacher Married second wife 1659, after first wife
died in 1656 (left with 4 children) Arrested in 1660 for preaching without a
license Spent approximately next 12 years in
Bedford jail
John Bunyan
During first half of this period, wrote 9 books The Holy City (1665) Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners
(1666) A Confession of My Faith, and a Reason of
my Practice (1672)
John Bunyan
Released from jail in 1672 Began preaching again Jail once again
where he probably finished the first part of The Pilgrim’s Progress
Timeline History of The Pilgrim's Progress
1675 (age 47) John Bunyan wrote The Pilgrim's Progress
during six months of incarceration February 1678
The Pilgrim's Progress is published. 1678
Second edition published in the fall
Timeline History ofThe Pilgrim's Progress
1682 Bunyan's eighth edition published with
additional last improvements. 1684
Bunyan's ninth edition published. 1684
John Bunyan published Part Two of The Pilgrim's Progress
1685 Bunyan published tenth edition
Bunyan…
"It came from my own heart, so to my head,And thence into my fingers trickled;Then to my pen, from whence immediatelyOn paper I did dribble it daintily.Matter and manner too was all mine own,Nor was it unto any mortal known,Till I had done it. Nor, did any then,By books, by wits, by tongues, or hand or penAdd five words to it, or write half a lineThereof; the whole and every whit is mine."
The Pilgrim’s Progress
The allegory takes the form of a dream by the author.
Main character: Christian, an everyman character Journey:
City of Destruction
Celestial City
The Pilgrim’s Progress
THE FIRST STAGE Author's Apology for his Book Christian's deplorable condition Evangelist directs him Obstinate and Pliable Slough of Despond Worldly Wiseman Mount Sinai Conversation with Evangelist
The Pilgrim’s Progress
THE SECOND STAGE The Gate Conversation with Good-Will The Interpreter's House Christian entertained The sights there shown him
The Pilgrim’s Progress
THE THIRD STAGE Loses his burden at the Cross Simple, Sloth, Presumption, Formalist, Hypocrisy hill Difficulty the Arbor misses his roll the Palace Beautiful the lions talk with Discretion, Piety, Prudence, and Charity wonders shown to Christian he is armed
The Pilgrim’s Progress
THE FOURTH STAGE Valley of Humiliation conflict with Apollyon Valley of the Shadow of Death Giants Pope and Pagan
The Pilgrim’s Progress
THE FIFTH STAGE Discourse with Faithful Talkative and Faithful Talkative's character
The Pilgrim’s Progress
THE SIXTH STAGE Evangelist overtakes Christian and Faithful Vanity Fair the Pilgrims brought to trial Faithful's martyrdom
The Pilgrim’s Progress
THE SEVENTH STAGE Christian and Hopeful By-ends and his companions plain of Ease Lucre-hill Demas the River of Life Vain Confidence Giant Despair the Pilgrims beaten the Dungeon the Key of Promise
The Pilgrim’s Progress
THE EIGHTH STAGE The Delectable Mountains entertained by the Shepherds a by-way to Hell
The Pilgrim’s Progress
THE NINTH STAGE Christian and Hopeful meet Ignorance Turn-away Little-Faith the Flatterer the net chastised by a Shining One Atheist Enchanted Ground Hopeful's account of his conversion discourse of Christian and Ignorance
The Pilgrim’s Progress
THE TENTH STAGE Talk of Christian and Hopeful Temporary the backslider the land of Beulah Christian and Hopeful pass the River welcome to the Celestial city
Part II
The second part was published in 1684 describes the journey of Christian's wife
and children from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City they travel under the guidance of Mr.
Greatheart, the servant of the Interpreter
Bunyan’s Style
Characteristics his constant use of the phraseology and the
imagery of the Bible the frequent occurrence of provincial and
colloquial expressions
Stylistic features
The vividness of the descriptive passages (they are usually sentences or merely phrases)
Reproduction of scenes from the Bible (as Bunyan
understood them) scenes from provincial and rural England
Theme
The Pilgrim's Progress is primarily a religious allegory
in intention it is an exposition of the Protestant theory of the plan of salvation Example of Puritan theology
No fanaticism