Early American Early American Literature: Literature: 1600 -17501600 -1750

The PuritansThe Puritans

Important DatesImportant Dates

14921492 Christopher ColumbusChristopher Columbus 16071607 Founding of JamestownFounding of Jamestown 1620 1620 Mayflower on Plymouth Mayflower on Plymouth

RockRock 16361636 Harvard College foundedHarvard College founded 16921692 Salem Witch TrialsSalem Witch Trials 1640’s1640’s The Great AwakeningThe Great Awakening 16471647 First free public school First free public school

Two type of PuritansTwo type of Puritans

Separatists Separatists Held irreconcilable Held irreconcilable

differences with the differences with the Church of England; Church of England; they thought the they thought the church was corrupt church was corrupt and that they must and that they must distance themselves distance themselves from itfrom it

Were persecuted Were persecuted under various under various monarchies in Englandmonarchies in England

Later, came to found Later, came to found the Plymouth Colony the Plymouth Colony in America in 1620in America in 1620

Non-SeparatistsNon-Separatists Held less extreme Held less extreme

views of the Church of views of the Church of EnglandEngland

Believed in church Believed in church reform rather than an reform rather than an overthrow of the overthrow of the churchchurch

Came to America in Came to America in 1630 and founded the 1630 and founded the Massachusetts Bay Massachusetts Bay ColonyColony

This group referred to This group referred to as Pilgrimsas Pilgrims

Type of Government Type of Government

THEOCRACY- a THEOCRACY- a government ruled by or government ruled by or subject to a religious subject to a religious authorityauthority

God was the head of the God was the head of the Puritan governmentPuritan government

How does God speak to How does God speak to man?man?

Divine MissionDivine Mission

““We shall be as a City upon a Hill, the eyes of We shall be as a City upon a Hill, the eyes of all people are upon us; so that if we shall deal all people are upon us; so that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken and so cause Him to withdraw His undertaken and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by-word through all the world.”and a by-word through all the world.”

-- John Winthrop, Bay Colony-- John Winthrop, Bay Colony

Core BeliefsCore Beliefs

Doctrine of Election / Doctrine of Election / PredestinationPredestination::

•Man is innately sinful; Man is innately sinful; ORIGINAL SIN ORIGINAL SIN means means that we are incapable of any depravitythat we are incapable of any depravity•Only those who are chosen by God (the elect) are Only those who are chosen by God (the elect) are saved; salvation is not based on your beliefs or saved; salvation is not based on your beliefs or good worksgood works•The grace of Christ allows the chosen the strength The grace of Christ allows the chosen the strength to follow the will of Godto follow the will of God•The chosen will follow the path of righteousnessThe chosen will follow the path of righteousness

Puritans believed that you must have a Puritans believed that you must have a conversion experience in order to be accepted conversion experience in order to be accepted by God. by God.

God’s grace was given to the chosen, and this God’s grace was given to the chosen, and this was demonstrated through one’s behavior. was demonstrated through one’s behavior.

Even though they did not believe good works Even though they did not believe good works helped one get into heaven, they believed that helped one get into heaven, they believed that living a godly life was evidence of being living a godly life was evidence of being chosen. chosen.

No one knew who was or was not saved.No one knew who was or was not saved.

Core Beliefs (cont.)Core Beliefs (cont.)

As a result of their belief in As a result of their belief in predestination, Puritans:predestination, Puritans:

Were always looking Were always looking for signsfor signs

Scrutinized daily events Scrutinized daily events Thought there was Thought there was

always a reason for always a reason for everythingeverything

Felt that God’s hand Felt that God’s hand was in everything, no was in everything, no matter how matter how insignificantinsignificant

Puritan Beliefs & ValuesPuritan Beliefs & Values

Puritans believed in a literal interpretation Puritans believed in a literal interpretation of the Bible – the sole expression of the will of the Bible – the sole expression of the will of Godof God

They wanted to keep things simple so that They wanted to keep things simple so that they could concentrate on God they could concentrate on God

They wanted to cleanse the religion of They wanted to cleanse the religion of corrupt sinful practices, elaborate corrupt sinful practices, elaborate ceremonies, and decorationsceremonies, and decorations

There is a constant struggle between the There is a constant struggle between the forces of God and Satan (ORIGINAL SIN)forces of God and Satan (ORIGINAL SIN)

God rewards the good and punishes the God rewards the good and punishes the wickedwicked

Membership in churches was limited to the Membership in churches was limited to the “visibly godly”“visibly godly”

Humans exist only to glorify God.

Puritan IdealsPuritan IdealsEducation & Work EthicEducation & Work Ethic

Self-improvement: They Self-improvement: They believed in living a virtuous, believed in living a virtuous, self-examined lifeself-examined life

Hard work: They believed in Hard work: They believed in strict discipline and had a strict discipline and had a strong work ethicstrong work ethic

Frugality: They felt that Frugality: They felt that qualities that led to qualities that led to economic success were economic success were virtuousvirtuous

Self-reliance: They looked Self-reliance: They looked down on debt and handouts.down on debt and handouts.

Harvard was founded in 1636 to train Harvard was founded in 1636 to train ministersministers

Children were not allowed to play Children were not allowed to play games; boys were taught to go games; boys were taught to go hunting and fishing, while girls were hunting and fishing, while girls were taught how to run a householdtaught how to run a household

Women were considered less capable Women were considered less capable intellectually, physically, theologically, intellectually, physically, theologically, and morally (Eve was the first sinner)and morally (Eve was the first sinner)

They valued educationThey valued education

InstructiveInstructive Reflective—think through problems Reflective—think through problems

and feelingsand feelings Reinforce authority of:Reinforce authority of:

BibleBible ChurchChurch

Literature and WritingLiterature and Writing

They did not write for pleasure or entertainment.They did not write for pleasure or entertainment.The purpose of writing was to be:The purpose of writing was to be:

Types of TextsTypes of Texts

Sermons and other religious documentsSermons and other religious documents Diaries and journalsDiaries and journals Historical documentsHistorical documents LettersLetters Poetry (inspired by religious beliefs)Poetry (inspired by religious beliefs) Captive narrativesCaptive narratives

Content /topicContent /topic Christian utopiaChristian utopia Relationship with GodRelationship with God HistoriesHistories Puritan beliefs– reflections on:Puritan beliefs– reflections on:

CommunityCommunity Original sinOriginal sin Hard workHard work

Plain Style Plain Style Plain StylePlain Style: a mode of expression : a mode of expression

characterized by its clarity, accessibility, characterized by its clarity, accessibility, straightforwardness, simplicity, and lack straightforwardness, simplicity, and lack of ornamentation. of ornamentation.

Rejecting ornamental flourishes and Rejecting ornamental flourishes and superfluous decoration as sinful vanity, superfluous decoration as sinful vanity, plain stylists worked to glorify God in plain stylists worked to glorify God in their expressions rather than to show off their expressions rather than to show off their own artistry or claim any renown for their own artistry or claim any renown for themselves. themselves.

Plain Style Plain Style Does not use the features common to rhetoric Does not use the features common to rhetoric

of the day– the types of language and devices of the day– the types of language and devices that were popular with European writersthat were popular with European writers So, Plain style does not make much use ofSo, Plain style does not make much use of

MetaphorMetaphor “learned” quotations“learned” quotations AllusionAllusion “decorative” words“decorative” words

Most texts, especially sermons, open with a main Most texts, especially sermons, open with a main point, provide clear reasons and close with point, provide clear reasons and close with applications to lifeapplications to life