Colonial and Puritan Writers

Bradford, Bradstreet, Taylor, Edwards, and Rowlandson

• “Of Plymouth Plantation” by William Bradfordpgs. 23-35 (in green book) (ODD PAGES ONLY) pgs. 69-72 (in blue book)

• William Bradford was elected governor of the Pilgrim settlement, Plymouth Colony, in 1620.

• During his 33 years of governing, he recorded an accurate history of this Pilgrim settlement and their interactions with some helpful Indians.

• His observations give us insight into the Pilgrim’s voyage and their religious views.

Questions

• On page 53 (in green book), answer questions 1-8.

• As you answer, put the page number and the paragraph number in parentheses next to the answer, like this: “Blah blah blah” (pg. 2/paragraph 1).

• For NUMBER 3, list 5 examples.

Journal ResponsePuritans…

Choose ONE of the following to answer. Write 5-6 complete sentences. I need to see proper grammar (periods, correct capitalized letters, etc.) and MLA header.

• In what ways might Bradford’s narrative have meaning for people today? Are there any similarities in his narrative that reflects our culture today? Think of religion, exploration, etc. Explain your response.

• What occurred during the Pilgrims first Thanksgiving? Do you think the celebration of Thanksgiving today has a strong connection to the experiences of the Pilgrims on the first Thanksgiving? Explain.

• “To My Dear and Loving Husband” and “Upon the Burning of Our House” by Anne Bradstreet

pg. 37 (in green book) pgs. 77-79 (in blue book)

• She was the first recognized American poet and one of the most famous Puritan poets.

• Though she wrote poetry, she still made it clear that she was a mother and a wife as well.

• She came from a noble family, but she adapted well to life in the wilderness in the New World.

• Her poems give us a glimpse into a committed, loving, spiritual, and intelligent Puritan woman.

“To My Dear and Loving Husband” (pg. 37)

If ever two [people] were one, then we are.

If ever a man were loved by a wife, then you are.

If ever a wife was happy with a man—

All you women, compare yourselves with me if you can.

I value your love more than whole mines of gold

Or all the riches that the East may hold.

My love could not be extinguished by rivers

Nor by anything except your love, freely given.

I can never begin to repay you for your love.

I only pray that you will be rewarded by the heavens above.

So while we live, let’s love by the grace of God ever,

So that even when we die, our love will live forever.

1. What does the speaker prize more than gold?

2. Who or what will reward the speaker’s husband for his love?

3. Remember Puritans did not read or write to entertain; they wrote to inform or inspire. Puritan poetry specifically is supposed to show strong moral values and offer readers spiritual insight. Does Bradstreet’s poem meet these requirements? Explain.

Journal Response

Upon the Loss of….

• Write your own poem (or a school appropriate rap) about what it feels like to lose something that is important to you. Use either rhyme or repetition like we see with Bradstreet. While your poem may be about any type of loss, the tone of your poem needs to be serious and authentic. You are losing something here, so channel that emotion. It needs to be at least 10 lines long. If you use repetition, it should be 14 lines long.

• “Huswifery- by Edward Taylorpgs. 39-41 (in green book) (ODD PAGES ONLY)

• Came to the colonies as a young man trying to avoid taking an allegiance to the Church of England.

• He served the parish in Westfield, Massachusetts, which was, at the time, the western frontier of the U.S.

• Only two stanzas of one of his poems was published during his lifetime.

• Out of modesty, he asked his heirs not to publish anything of his after his death; his poems were filed away at Yale and rediscovered in the 1930s.

• “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwardspgs. 43-51 (in green book) (ODD PAGES ONLY)pgs. 101-104 (in blue book)

• Jonathan Edwards was a brilliant Puritan preacher.

• When he was 13, he was admitted to Yale University where he learned the great philosophical ideas of the time.

• A lot of the ideas he learned were opposed to his own strict Puritan belief.

• He became famous during the Great Awakening (1733-1750) for his powerful sermons.

• He was later dismissed from his congregation for being too strict, though he is seen as the best example of Puritan religious thought.

Discuss

• What image does Edwards use to frighten his listeners?

• Why is God so angry with people, according to Edwards?

• According to Edwards, how can people avoid the torments of hell?

• What part does fear play in Edward’s sermon?

• “A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson” by Mary Rowlandson

pgs. 85-90 (in blue book)

• Mary Rowlandson was born in England, moved to Massachusetts, and married a minister.

• Her accounts of being held captive by the Native Americans shows important insight into both her faith and the desperation of the Native Americans, as at the time their land was dwindling and they were running low on food and supplies.