Background Information on the Background Information on the PuritansPuritans

1492 Christopher Columbus lands in the Bahamas1492 Christopher Columbus lands in the Bahamas1607 – Jamestown established1607 – Jamestown established

1620-Pilgrims land 1620-Pilgrims land 1636-Harvard College founded1636-Harvard College founded

Who were the Puritans?Who were the Puritans?

From EnglandFrom England Struggled for years to Struggled for years to

purify the church of purify the church of EnglandEngland

InfluencesInfluences Martin Luther who Martin Luther who

believed men are believed men are inherently evil and God inherently evil and God is omnipotent is omnipotent

John Calvin who believed John Calvin who believed in predestination-belief in predestination-belief that your afterlife has that your afterlife has already been already been determined before birthdetermined before birth

Believed in original sin, Believed in original sin, the consequences of sin, the consequences of sin, and that man sinning and that man sinning was inevitable because was inevitable because of Adam and Eve’s sinof Adam and Eve’s sin

Believed that hard work Believed that hard work leads them to virtueleads them to virtue

Feared wrath of God and Feared wrath of God and His divine providence in His divine providence in their lives, both physical their lives, both physical and eternaland eternal

Why did the Puritans seek permanent settlement in the Colonies?Why did the Puritans seek permanent settlement in the Colonies?

Many suffered from Many suffered from physical religious physical religious persecutionpersecution– Physical mutilation-Physical mutilation-

noses slit, ears cut, noses slit, ears cut, burningsburnings

– Thrown in jailThrown in jail

Freedom to practice religionFreedom to practice religion– Sought to simplify and purify the Sought to simplify and purify the

churchchurch– Model directly after God’s wordModel directly after God’s word– Create a “new Eden”Create a “new Eden”– No intermediary between the No intermediary between the

individual and Godindividual and God

Pilgrims (A.K.A. Separatists)-Pilgrims (A.K.A. Separatists)-Plymouth, MassachusettsPlymouth, Massachusetts

16201620-A small group of Europeans sailing from England -A small group of Europeans sailing from England on the Mayflower. These passengers were religious on the Mayflower. These passengers were religious reformers who were critical of the Church of England. reformers who were critical of the Church of England. Having given up hope from purifying the church from Having given up hope from purifying the church from within, they chose instead to withdraw from the church-within, they chose instead to withdraw from the church-earning the name earning the name SEPERATISTS SEPERATISTS (a.k.a.-Pilgrims).(a.k.a.-Pilgrims).The Separatists established a settlement at what is now The Separatists established a settlement at what is now Plymouth, Massachusetts. With the help of the natives, Plymouth, Massachusetts. With the help of the natives, the pilgrims were able to survive the harshness of North the pilgrims were able to survive the harshness of North America.America.Eventually, Plymouth was engulfed by the Mass. Bay Eventually, Plymouth was engulfed by the Mass. Bay Colony, a much larger settlement to the north.Colony, a much larger settlement to the north.

Belief system of the PuritansBelief system of the Puritans

Idea that humans exist for the glory of God and Idea that humans exist for the glory of God and the Bible is the sole expression of God’s will.the Bible is the sole expression of God’s will.

Believed in Believed in predestination-John Calvin’s predestination-John Calvin’s doctrine that God has already decided who doctrine that God has already decided who will achieve salvation and who will not.will achieve salvation and who will not. Nevertheless, those who are to be saved cannot Nevertheless, those who are to be saved cannot take their salvation for granted. Thus, all devout take their salvation for granted. Thus, all devout Puritans consistently search their souls for signs Puritans consistently search their souls for signs of grace.of grace.

Characteristics of Puritan LiteratureCharacteristics of Puritan Literature

Diaries and histories Diaries and histories important because they important because they were records of workings were records of workings of Godof GodSaw direct connections Saw direct connections between Biblical events between Biblical events and their own livesand their own livesWritten in plain style- way Written in plain style- way of writing that of writing that emphasizes simple emphasizes simple sentences and the use of sentences and the use of every day words from every day words from common speechcommon speech

An ornate or clever style of writing would be a sign of vanity and, as such, would not be in accordance with God’s will.

Puritans and educationPuritans and education

The Puritans had a strong belief in education for both The Puritans had a strong belief in education for both men and women.men and women.16361636-Puritans founded Harvard College to ensure a well -Puritans founded Harvard College to ensure a well educated ministry.educated ministry.16391639-Puritans set up their first printing press in the -Puritans set up their first printing press in the colonies.colonies.16471647-Free public schools were established in Mass.-Free public schools were established in Mass.16901690-First primer is published: Combined instruction in -First primer is published: Combined instruction in spelling and reading with moralistic teachings, such as spelling and reading with moralistic teachings, such as “In Adam’s Fall/We Sinned All.”“In Adam’s Fall/We Sinned All.”Bay Psalms BookBay Psalms Book-One of the first books printed in the -One of the first books printed in the colonies.colonies.

Lecture Notes: Puritan WritingLecture Notes: Puritan Writing

Unlike most of us today, Puritans had few possessions, Unlike most of us today, Puritans had few possessions, dressed uniformly, and frowned on creative expression.dressed uniformly, and frowned on creative expression.

Because they left so little behind, they remain a mystery.Because they left so little behind, they remain a mystery.

Poetry, Diaries/Histories, SermonsPoetry, Diaries/Histories, Sermons

The Puritan Plain StyleThe Puritan Plain StyleThe Puritan plain style of writing reflects their plain style of living: The Puritan plain style of writing reflects their plain style of living: Sparse, Simple and StraightforwardSparse, Simple and Straightforward. The Puritan Plain Style is . The Puritan Plain Style is characterized by short wordscharacterized by short words, direct statements, and reference to , direct statements, and reference to everyday, ordinary objects.everyday, ordinary objects.

For Example, poetry should serve God by clearly For Example, poetry should serve God by clearly expressing only useful or religious ideas – poetry appealing to the expressing only useful or religious ideas – poetry appealing to the senses or emotion is dangerous.senses or emotion is dangerous.

Names / Terms to Know…Names / Terms to Know…

John SmithJohn Smith

William BradfordWilliam Bradford

Anne BradstreetAnne Bradstreet

Edward TaylorEdward Taylor

Jonathan EdwardsJonathan Edwards

Mary RowlandsonMary Rowlandson

William ByrdWilliam Byrd

ApostropheApostrophe

ConceitConceit

Plain stylePlain style

John Smith / William BradfordJohn Smith / William Bradford

Smith helped to Smith helped to establish the first establish the first English settlement in English settlement in AmericaAmerica

He also was a famous He also was a famous explorer responsible explorer responsible for mapping much of for mapping much of New EnglandNew England

Bradford lead the Bradford lead the Puritans to Puritans to MassachusettsMassachusetts

He was elected He was elected governor by the governor by the PilgrimsPilgrims

He is credited with He is credited with helping the early helping the early Pilgrims survivePilgrims survive

Edward Taylor / Anne BradstreetEdward Taylor / Anne Bradstreet

He was educated He was educated both in England and both in England and in America at Harvardin America at Harvard

He is considered the He is considered the best colonial poet.best colonial poet.

He was a highly He was a highly religious manreligious man

Came to America with Came to America with her husband at the her husband at the age of 18age of 18Her works were Her works were published without her published without her consent by her consent by her brother-in-lawbrother-in-lawShe is the most She is the most famous woman poet famous woman poet of the periodof the period

Mary RowlandsonMary Rowlandson

Captured by indians during a raid…Captured by indians during a raid…

Provides an account of her experiences-Provides an account of her experiences-

““Narrative of the Captivity”Narrative of the Captivity”

-attempts to show God’s purpose / -attempts to show God’s purpose / work in her life, even in midst of such work in her life, even in midst of such horrible and difficult circumstances horrible and difficult circumstances

The Great AwakeningThe Great Awakening

A series of Puritan religious A series of Puritan religious revivalsrevivals led led by such people as by such people as Jonathan EdwardsJonathan Edwards--

““Sinners in the hands of an Angry God”Sinners in the hands of an Angry God”- -

(Sermon used as motivation by Edwards as (Sermon used as motivation by Edwards as revivals swept through colonies around 1720.)revivals swept through colonies around 1720.)

Southern WritersSouthern Writers

Most southern writing was of a practical nature but unlike the Most southern writing was of a practical nature but unlike the Puritan writers, southerners did not oppose fiction or drama. As Puritan writers, southerners did not oppose fiction or drama. As such, in…such, in…John SmithJohn Smith-The leader of the settlement at Jamestown. He wrote -The leader of the settlement at Jamestown. He wrote The General History of VirginiaThe General History of Virginia to describe his experience. to describe his experience.

William ByrdWilliam Byrd-The Planter from Westover-The Planter from WestoverWilliam Byrd was the predominant writer from the pre-revolutionary William Byrd was the predominant writer from the pre-revolutionary south. Byrd lived in Westover, a magnificent plantation on the south. Byrd lived in Westover, a magnificent plantation on the James River given to him by his father.James River given to him by his father.Byrd was commissioned to survey the dividing line between Virginia Byrd was commissioned to survey the dividing line between Virginia and N. Carolina. He kept a running journal which served as the and N. Carolina. He kept a running journal which served as the basis for his humorous book, basis for his humorous book, The History of the Dividing LineThe History of the Dividing Line, a , a story about a man from the north of England who out of curiosity story about a man from the north of England who out of curiosity explored the Dismal swamp, where Byrd later did his surveying. explored the Dismal swamp, where Byrd later did his surveying.