America’s First America’s First WritersWriters

1607-17501607-1750

In order to really In order to really understand people, you understand people, you

must understand the must understand the time in which they livedtime in which they lived..

Questions you should answer:Questions you should answer:

1.1. Why did people explore and then settle Why did people explore and then settle America?America?

2.2. What 2 groups did the early settlers fall What 2 groups did the early settlers fall into and what characterizes each group?into and what characterizes each group?

3.3. What were the basic Puritan beliefs?What were the basic Puritan beliefs?

4.4. What was the typical Southern What was the typical Southern gentleman like?gentleman like?

5.5. What are the differences between the What are the differences between the literature of the South and the North?literature of the South and the North?

Why did people explore and then Why did people explore and then settle America?settle America?

Religious freedomReligious freedomAdventureAdventureFinancial gainFinancial gain_____________?_____________?_____________?_____________?

What could make you What could make you leave your homeland?leave your homeland?

Should a place of Should a place of worship be fancy or worship be fancy or

plain? WHY?plain? WHY?

Religious freedom, Religious freedom, WHYWHY??

King Henry VIII split w/Catholic King Henry VIII split w/Catholic church and formed the Church of church and formed the Church of England a.k.a. Anglican Church—England a.k.a. Anglican Church—WHY?WHY?

Some Anglican church people Some Anglican church people thought the Church was still too thought the Church was still too much like the Catholic churchmuch like the Catholic church

Puritans—Who are they?Puritans—Who are they?

Called themselves “Saints”Called themselves “Saints” Others called them “Separatists”Others called them “Separatists” They thought the Church of England They thought the Church of England

was still too much like Catholic was still too much like Catholic church and needed reforming—no church and needed reforming—no stained glass, fancy robes, etc.stained glass, fancy robes, etc.

They didn’t like attending the Church They didn’t like attending the Church of Englandof England

King James IKing James I

Attend Church of England Attend Church of England or Jailor Jail

What would you do?What would you do?

Puritans Left EnglandPuritans Left England

Went 1Went 1stst to Holland to Holland 1620 Headed for New England on 1620 Headed for New England on

MayflowerMayflower

MayflowerMayflower

½ full of Saints (Pilgrims)½ full of Saints (Pilgrims) ½ full of “Strangers” non-Pilgrams ½ full of “Strangers” non-Pilgrams

mainly out for adventure or financial mainly out for adventure or financial gain.gain.

Why care about the Puritans?Why care about the Puritans?

Virtually all early American Virtually all early American literature significantly literature significantly influenced by Puritanisminfluenced by Puritanism

Puritan beliefs still Puritan beliefs still reflected in modern reflected in modern American societyAmerican society

Puritan BeliefsPuritan Beliefs

Plainness—simplicity is better than Plainness—simplicity is better than fancinessfanciness

Divine Mission—God was calling Divine Mission—God was calling them to make a heaven on earth in them to make a heaven on earth in New EnglandNew England

Grace—look for God’s grace in your Grace—look for God’s grace in your lifelife

Are humans basically Are humans basically good or basically evil?good or basically evil?

Puritanism: Sin and Guilt 101Puritanism: Sin and Guilt 101

1.1. Total depravity: Total depravity: Through Adam’s fall we Through Adam’s fall we sinned all. Every sinned all. Every human is born sinful. human is born sinful. A.K.A. “original sin.”A.K.A. “original sin.”

Is life after death Is life after death possible? If so, how?possible? If so, how?

Puritanism: Sin and Guilt 101Puritanism: Sin and Guilt 101

2. The Doctrine of Election: 2. The Doctrine of Election: God freely chooses those God freely chooses those He saves and those He He saves and those He damns eternally.damns eternally.

Puritanism: Sin and Guilt 101Puritanism: Sin and Guilt 101

3. Predestination: Only a 3. Predestination: Only a few are selected for few are selected for salvation.salvation.

Puritanism: Sin and Guilt 101Puritanism: Sin and Guilt 101

4. Limited atonement: Jesus 4. Limited atonement: Jesus died for the chosen only, died for the chosen only, not for everyone.not for everyone.

Puritanism: Sin and Guilt 101Puritanism: Sin and Guilt 101

5. Irresistible grace: 5. Irresistible grace: God’s grace is freely God’s grace is freely given. It can’t be earned given. It can’t be earned or denied.or denied.

Puritanism: Sin and Guilt 101Puritanism: Sin and Guilt 101

6. Perseverance of the 6. Perseverance of the “Saints”: Those elected “Saints”: Those elected by God have full power to by God have full power to interpret the will of God. interpret the will of God. Puritans freely told other Puritans freely told other how to live their lives.how to live their lives.

Which of these Puritan Which of these Puritan beliefs are still beliefs are still

prevalent in today’s prevalent in today’s society?society?

Puritan WritingsPuritan Writings

SermonsSermons Religious poemsReligious poems Religious tractsReligious tracts Interpretations of God’s doings on Interpretations of God’s doings on

earthearth Diaries and journals about religious Diaries and journals about religious

experiencesexperiences

Anne Bradstreet’s Anne Bradstreet’s PoemsPoems

1612-16721612-1672

Who is Anne Bradstreet?Who is Anne Bradstreet?

DevotedDevoted–WifeWife–MotherMother–GrandmotherGrandmother

Who is Anne Bradstreet?Who is Anne Bradstreet?

Came to America at age Came to America at age 18 with her husband18 with her husband

Mother of 8Mother of 8

Significant Because:Significant Because:11stst Volume of American Volume of American Poetry Published in Poetry Published in EnglandEngland

One of the 1One of the 1stst volumes volumes of English poetry written of English poetry written by a woman.by a woman.

Significant Because: (cont)Significant Because: (cont)

It won her modest It won her modest acclaimacclaim

What is your What is your poetry about?poetry about?

Bradstreet’s Poetry is about:Bradstreet’s Poetry is about:

LoveLoveHome lifeHome lifeThoughts/feelings about Thoughts/feelings about GodGod

To My Dear and Loving To My Dear and Loving HusbandHusband

Written in iambic Written in iambic coupletscouplets

WHAT’S THAT?WHAT’S THAT?

Iambic CoupletIambic CoupletCoupletCouplet- 2 lines that - 2 lines that rhymerhyme

Iambic pentameter-Iambic pentameter-unstressed followed unstressed followed by a stressed syllableby a stressed syllable

Edward Taylor’s Edward Taylor’s PoetryPoetry

1645?-17291645?-1729

Who is E. Taylor?Who is E. Taylor?Man of Conservative Man of Conservative religious beliefsreligious beliefs

Teacher in EnglandTeacher in EnglandMinister in AmericaMinister in America

Who is E. Taylor? (cont.)Who is E. Taylor? (cont.)

Best American poet Best American poet of 17of 17thth century century

Unpublished during his Unpublished during his lifetime.lifetime.

When was he When was he published?published?

About 200 years after About 200 years after his death. his death.

Over 200 of his poems Over 200 of his poems have been found in have been found in some old books.some old books.

His poems are mysticalHis poems are mystical—focused on his —focused on his religious beliefs.religious beliefs.

HuswiferyHuswiferyA Conceit—a type of A Conceit—a type of metaphor comparing metaphor comparing 2 things in a 2 things in a surprising waysurprising way

Is this a conceit?Is this a conceit?Comparing crying to Comparing crying to rain fallingrain falling

NONOIt’s a rather It’s a rather predictable predictable metaphormetaphor

Is this a conceit?Is this a conceit?Comparing crying to Comparing crying to traffic flow.traffic flow.

YESYES

It’s both It’s both unexpected and unexpected and

complex.complex.

What 2 things is What 2 things is Taylor comparing Taylor comparing in “Huswifery”?in “Huswifery”?

A complex A complex comparison comparison between cloth between cloth making and God’s making and God’s gracegrace

Which of the 3 basic Which of the 3 basic Puritan beliefs does Puritan beliefs does Taylor focus on in Taylor focus on in “Huswifery”?“Huswifery”?

GRACEGRACE

Read “Huswifery” and Read “Huswifery” and AnswerAnswer

What images does Taylor What images does Taylor use in the poem?use in the poem?

How can the images be How can the images be categorized?categorized?

Any repetition? If so, what? Any repetition? If so, what? Why? Why?

Read “Huswifery” and Read “Huswifery” and AnswerAnswer

What is the main point of What is the main point of each poem?each poem?

How is God portrayed in How is God portrayed in the poetry?the poetry?

See “Literature and See “Literature and Your Life” on p. 97Your Life” on p. 97

Jonathan EdwardsJonathan Edwards

1703-17581703-1758

Who is Jonathan Edwards?Who is Jonathan Edwards?

Born in ConneticutBorn in ConneticutWent to YaleWent to YaleMarried SarahMarried SarahBecame a preacher in Became a preacher in

Mass.Mass.

Who is Jonathan Edwards?Who is Jonathan Edwards?

Well known preacher Well known preacher during the “Great during the “Great Awakening” –revival from Awakening” –revival from 1735-17421735-1742

Call to return to Call to return to conservitive ways of pastconservitive ways of past

““Sinners in the Hands of Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”an Angry God”

More harsh than Edward’s More harsh than Edward’s typical sermons.typical sermons.

Excellent example of Excellent example of persuasive writing persuasive writing techniquestechniques

Persuasive Writing Persuasive Writing Techniques in “Sinners”Techniques in “Sinners”

Logical argumentsLogical argumentsAppeal to past traditions & Appeal to past traditions &

authorities *authorities *Emotional appeal*Emotional appeal*