Early American Literature

1600 to 1750

Historical Background

• English Monarchy & the Church of England:– Protestantism or Catholicism?

• Puritans in the Northern Colonies: – interested in “purifying” the church of its Catholic

influences– were persecuted by Anglicans– allowed to colonize the New World and to practice

their religion (not freedom of religion)

Historical Background

• Southern Colonies:– 1607 Jamestown established– Unlike the Puritans, these were plantation owners,

tradesmen, artisans, and slaves– Motivated by wealth, land, and opportunity

Early American Literature

• Puritans valued writing as an extension of religion:– Journals and diaries (ex. Bradford’s “Plymouth

Plantation”)– Spiritual poetry– Sermons– Disapproved of fiction and drama/plays

• Literature was to be practical, expressing useful and religious ideas

• Writing was a way to express praise for God’s grace and mercy upon the Puritans

Early American Literature

• Southern colonists wrote with a different purposes:– Journals as political propaganda (ex. Smith’s

“Description of New England”)– Less praise for God’s grace and more for Man’s

diligence and hard work– Writings for science and discovery in the New

World

Early American Literature

• Let’s look carefully at two writers of the period with completely different purposes:– William Bradford (Puritan) writing

about traveling to the New World and the struggles with setting up a colony

– John Smith (Prospector and Explorer) writing about the New World and what it provides for those looking for a new

life

Early American Literature: • Jonathan Edwards’ sermon “Sinners in the

Hands of an Angry God” epitomizes the core beliefs of the Puritans. Speaking for over 6 hours, he frightened his congregation with his imagery of Hell and eternal damnation for their sins.

• Let’s look closer at the Puritan Concepts

Puritan Concepts: • God is . . .– Omnipotent (all powerful)– Omniscient (all knowing)– Omnipresent (all present)

• Man is . . . – born into sin– glorifies God through hard work, humility, and reverence

to God’s laws– totally deprived of any good; only God can create good

• Salvation is . . .– only through the mercy (GRACE) of God

• Bible is . . .– an absolute code, to be taken literally

Puritan Concepts:

• Satan is . . . – a real and present danger who preys on Man’s

sinful nature– preys on the righteous and pious– This tension adds to the cause of the Salem Witch Hunt in the 1690s

Early American Literature

• Puritan Plain Style:– Communicate ideas clearly– Reference everyday objects– No elaborate imagery or metaphors– Opposite of Ornate Style of European writers

• Exceptions to Puritan Plain Style:– Taylor’s “Huswifery”– Edwards’ “Sinners . . .”

Early American Literature

• Poetic Meter:– Iamb: unstressed + stressed– Trochee: stressed + unstressed– Anapest: unstressed + unstressed + stressed– Dactyl: stressed + unstressed + unstressed

Early American Literature

• Poetic Meter:– Iamb: unstressed + stressed– Trochee: stressed + unstressed– Anapest: unstressed + unstressed + stressed– Dactyl: stressed + unstressed + unstressed

Early American Literature

• Poetic Meter:– Iamb: unstressed + stressed

“If ev / ver two / were one / then sur / ely we”- Anne Bradstreet

“Make me/ O Lord / Thy spin / ning wheel / complete”- Edward Taylor

Early American Literature

• Poetic Meter:– Iamb: unstressed + stressed– Five (Pent) Iambs = Iambic Pentameter

“If ev / ver two / were one / then sur / ely we”- Anne Bradstreet

“Make me/ O Lord / Thy spin / ning wheel / complete”- Edward Taylor

Early American Literature

• Poetic Rhyme Scheme:– Bradstreet’s “To My Dear . . .”• A-A-B-B-C-C . . . (quench & recompense is a slant

rhyme)

– Taylor’s “Huswifery”• So, what is Taylor’s?

Early American Literature

• Poetic Rhyme Scheme:– Bradstreet’s “To My Dear . . .”• A-A-B-B-C-C . . . (quench & recompense is a slant

rhyme)

– Taylor’s “Huswifery”• So, what is Taylor’s?• A-B-A-B-C-C . . .