Puritans

1620-1758

Literature in Early America

• Early colonists did not call themselves “Americans” until the mid 18th century

• Roanoke Island, 1580• Jamestown, 1607• Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, 1620• Puritans founded Mass Bay Colony, 1630

Mass Bay Colony

• The Puritans were the center of colonial culture– Found Harvard, 1636– First colonial press, 1638– First American published book, 1640– First colonial newspaper, 1690

Puritan Beliefs

Doctrine of the Original DepravityAdam and Eve broke the covenant with GodAll people were sinners and damned

Doctrine of the ElectPredestination – only a select few would go to heavenAll sinners must live a holy life – you never knewBeing good would not change your damnation

Puritan Concepts

Supremacy of Divine WillNatural phenomena is the will of GodUn-natural events caused by the Devil’s witches

TheocracyGovernment controlled by the church

The Devil

Puritan Values

Education – created America’s first schoolsHard WorkFamily LifeCommunity ServiceSelf-sacrifice

The forest is evil and home to the Devil

Characteristics of Puritan Writing

• The Bible provided a model for Puritan writing – each individual life was a journey to salvation.

• They saw a direct connection between Biblical events (allusions) and their own lives.

• They used writing to explore the inner and outer lives for signs of the workings of God.

• Diaries and histories were the most common types of literature.

• They favored a “plain style” similar to that of the Geneva Bible and stressed clear expressions over complicated figures of speech.

Characteristics of Puritan Writing

William Bradford

• 1590-1657• Of Plymouth Plantation• Described hardships of

journey to New World; unshakeable belief in God.

• Plain Style of writing - few figures of speech or metaphors.

Mary Rowlandson

• 1636-1678• A Narrative of Captivity• Story of capture by

Native Americans; endured many hardships

• Saw her story as reflection of Bible stories of hardship- used allusions to Biblical stories.

Anne Bradstreet

• 1612-1672• The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America…By a

Gentlewoman in Those Parts• Published in England without her knowledge.• Explores religion and personal relationship with God.• Difference - Use of metaphor in writing.

Edward Taylor

• 1642-1729• The Poetical Works of Edward Taylor• Differed from other Puritan writers - use of

metaphor in writing.• Explored how his identity was shaped by

“God’s Grace”.

Huswifery by Edward Taylor

Make me, O Lord, thy Spinning Wheel complete.

Thy Holy Word my Distaff make for me.

Make mine Affections thy Swift Fliers neat

And make my Soul thy holy Spool to be.

My Conversation make to be thy Reel

And reel the yarn thereon spun of thy Wheel.

Analysis of “Huswifery”

• Examines personal relationship with God.• Shows belief in God’s “grace” and rebirth as a

“saint” here on earth.• Differences: Use of metaphor to compare life

and self to weaving and spinning wheel - avoids the “plain style.”

Jonathan Edwards• 1703-1758• Fire and brimstone

imagery.• Helped bring about the

Great Awakening.• Tyrannical pastor -

extreme and strict - humans “lowly sinners.”

• The last Puritan (Elements of Literature, Fifth Course, 77 ).

Works Cited

Dolan, Jennifer. Puritan Literature in America. Henry County Schools, McDonaugh, GA. 2001. PPT.