The Puritans: Enter the Devout

Location!

The General History of Virginia

• book was intended to be a chronological record of notable events in the New World.

• Twofold purpose: record and PROMOTE

• Simultaneous history and propaganda

John Smith: Fact and Fiction

Did he? •

Or not? • Marry Pocahontas

Self-centered

What cultural aspects can you find hidden in their literature?

How were Native Americans looked upon?

Pocahontas

Pocahontas @ 21 with sonChristian name: Rebecca

Want to know more?

Bradford & Plymouth Plantation

Only half of the Mayflower’s passengers shared the same religious beliefs. How did the other half behave? Bottom of page 80

Were Samoset and Squanto treated differently than the Indians from Smith’s account?

Style

Other than narratives, what was the content of the rest of Puritan literature?

Major Authors:Anne BradstreetEdward Taylor Jonathan Edwards

Puritan Plain Style

• Simple words• No symbolism/metaphor• Simple, recognizable images• Direct

Huswifery by Taylor

Poem Page 94

1. “Make me, O Lord…..”

2. “Then clothe…my words and actions…my ways with glory…”

3. “Clothed in holy robes for glory”

Meaning

1. Why directly address?

2. How does this fit in with their culture/beliefs?

3. What conveys that grace comes only from God?

Huswifery by Taylor

Question about poem: • What images in the

poem contradict the Puritan requirement of dark and undecorated clothes?

Inference about the author• What do the

colors/images suggest about his feelings about God?

To My Dear and Loving Husband-Bradstreet

• Page 96• “prize thy love more than whole

mines of gold”~Is that consistent with “Plain Style?”

• The last two lines contradict one another ~ Why?

• Content/meaning of the poem vs. Puritan Plain Style and God