Advanced Comp and Novel Mrs. Wilson The Puritans Advanced Comp and Novel Mrs. Wilson

Who were the Puritans? 16th and 17th century protestant movement They were called puritans because they sought to reform or “purify” the church of England. Puritanism is a type of Calvinism

Two Types of Puritans Separatists Separatists believed that the church was corrupt and that they should distance themselves from it. Due to persecution, fled to Holland They came to America in 1620 Founded Plymouth Colony Non-Separatists Non-separatists were less extreme. They believe in Church Reform They came to America in 1630 Massachusetts Bay Colony

Plymouth Colony 1627

Doctrine of Election Man is innately sinful. Original sin means that we are capable of any depravity. Only those who are chosen by god (the elect) are saved. Salvation is not based on your beliefs or good works. The grace of Christ allows the chosen the strength to follow the will of god The chosen sticks to the path of righteousness

No one knew who was or was not saved No one knew who was or was not saved. Puritans believed that you must have a conversion experience to be accepted. God’s grace was given to the chosen, and this grace was demonstrated by your behavior. Puritans would therefore, look inside themselves (self-examination) for signs of this grace. So, even though they did not believe good works got you into heaven, they believed that living a godly life was a sign of being chosen.

As a result of their belief in predestination, puritans: Were always looking for signs Scrutinized daily events – “there is a reason for everything” Felt that God’s hand was in everything however insignificant

Puritan Values They wanted to live by their own literal interpretation of the Bible Didn’t want rituals or adornment – no singing, stained glass, incense, or cushioned pews. They wanted to keep things simple to concentrate on God’s word. Nothing in excess Hell fire and damnation

Puritan Values cont. They wanted to get their children far away from the ills of home (England) They believed in living a virtuous, self-examined life They believed in strict discipline Had a strong work ethic

Additional Beliefs There is a constant struggle between the forces of God and Satan God rewards the good and punishes the wicked They valued education (Harvard was founded in 1636 to train ministers) They felt that qualities that led to economic success were virtuous Women were considered less capable intellectually, physically,theologically, and morally (Eve as the first sinner)

Puritan Writings They did not write for pleasure or entertainment. One reason was the fact that they were struggling to establish their city. Another was the fact that they considered works of fiction frivolous and quite possibly immoral

Puritan Plain Style plain style - A mode of expression characterized by its clarity, accessibility, straightforwardness, simplicity, and lack of ornamentation. In early America, the plain-style aesthetic had broad cultural relevance, shaping the language of prose and poetry, the design of furniture and buildings, and the style of painting and other visual arts. Rejecting ornamental flourishes and superfluous decoration as sinful vanity, plain stylists worked to glorify God in their productions rather than to show off their own artistry or claim any renown for themselves. This aesthetic appealed to both Quakers and Puritans.

Types of Texts Historical documents: preserving their history and offering their justifications to relieve the guilt they felt over leaving relatives behind in England Personal journals – as tools for self-examination and as a way to look for signs Poetry Religious tracts