Early American Literature

Indian trickster tales god, goddess, spirit, man or woman who plays tricks or disobeys normal rules Can be foolish or wise; a villain or a hero Creation tales Essential for creation and/or birth

Puritans began Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1620 Very small structures, usually 18’ square Built with logs – chinks filled with clay 2 rooms – living room and kitchen Sleeping places in garret reached by a ladder Heated by fireplaces

Larger structures built once sawmills and manufacturing of bricks established Windows were small with diamond-shaped panes House of Seven Gables - Nathaniel Hawthorne

Some brought from England Some made at home Generally, few toys at first because children were expected to learn their catechism and to read at 2 years old… Dolls, carved whistles and dolls, corn husk dolls

In England – had enjoyed instrumental, organ music In New England – only slow, unison singing allowed (no organ accompaniment) Tunes converted from Psalms in the Bible

Supposed to be work-related yet gave them an opportunity to talk and enjoy each others’ company Men: hunting parties & house raisings Women: quilting bees Youth: apple bees & corn husking

Many laws to assure compliance with religious restrictions 1631 – no cards/dice 1638 – no theater nor dancing

Almost anything enjoyable is a sin Drinking, dancing, tobacco, and idleness a sin Strict rules Church attendance important Strict punishment of sinners Serious meditation in reference to one’s sins and soul Believed it was God’s will that they separate and establish a new community Kept personal diaries

Accounts of travels – personal diary of Capt. John Smith To inform and convert English minds to the Separatist thinking – William Bradford’s of Plimouth Plantation The tale of God’s will revealing itself in history Sermons – John Cotton ( style much changed from his sermons in England) Personal journals aimed at serious introspection – Wigglesworth’s journals Histories – Cotton Mather’s Magnalia Christi

Myths – tales of “travail and wandering, with the Lord’s guidance, in quest of a higher purpose” Psalms turned into song or poetry and given meter Poetry “rigorously defined place” – purpose to help them define and live a holy life – The New England Primer (1638?)

Poems about daily living – Anne Bradstreet (first published poet in America) Poems about glory and goodness of God – Edward Taylor

Some novels and plays written later but set in Puritan New England - The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne - The Crucible, Arthur Miller

Non-Fiction is serious and written in “the plaine style” with “singular regard unto the simple truth in all things” – William Bradford and John Cotton (sermons) But…all of their writing did contain imagery, rhythm, complex metaphor, allegory, scriptural analogy Later style is called “jeremiad” – more than a tale of woe – interpretive account of the hardships and troubles with an anguished cry for the purity of earlier times – Later portions of of Plimouth Plantation

Sermons – purpose was to inspire and to generate emotion and faith – Jonathan Edwards’ “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”

John Winthrop Increase Mather John Cotton William Bradford