1. The Literature of Colonial America Puritans

2. In 1560, a group (Puritans) wanted to purify the Church of England. Felt that the Church of England had become a product of political struggles and man-made doctrines. Puritans wished to return to a simpler form of worship and church organization.

3. Puritans Believed neither the clergy nor the government has the right to act as intermediary between man and God. Because of this, many were persecuted, put in jail, tortured, and even killed.

4. Puritans They also believed that they were God’s “chosen elect.” They wanted to purify Christian faith; they believed that a complete separation from the corrupt Church of England was best. In 1620, William Bradford led a small group to the New World.

5. Puritans They voyaged to the New World on the Mayflower and established Plymouth Plantation. Part of their motivation for coming to the New World was to create a “city on a hill”—a shining beacon of God’s grace and goodness on Earth. Viewed as the second Paradise, a land gifted by God to establish a society patterned after His word.

6. Puritans The Puritans believed they must set an example. Their behavior was extremely important. There would be serious consequences if they did not live up to their beliefs. Believed God chooses an ‘elect’ few to save from eternal damnation.

7. Puritans PREDESTINATION: God has chosen his elect before we are born. One never knows if he/she belongs to the damned or the elect group. Everyone must live a holy life (you never know if you are elected) Salvation comes from God’s grace.

8. Puritans If God chooses to bestow this gift, then it will be reflected in behavior: self- reliance, industriousness (seriousness), temperance (self-restraint), and simplicity Puritans entered into a contract with God to create a society governed by the scriptures.

9. Puritans They believed that the Bible was God’s true law, with a guide for living; Everyone worked together for the common good. Puritan lifestyle demanded strict conformity. Dissenters were often flogged, banished, or even sometimes put to death.

10. Puritans Belief in the literal authority of the Bible, which served as a model for their own lives. Puritans turned to the Literal Authority of the Christian Bible as a code for living.

11. Puritans Human beings are sinful by nature. The World Is an Arena For the Battle between the forces of God and the forces of Satan, a formidable enemy with many disguises. A person who was outwardly sinful was manifesting the evil that had been predestined for him.

12. Puritans Those who were favored with wealth and happiness had been chosen by God. Those elected by God have full power to interpret the will of God, and to live uprightly. Hard work and success are signs of God’s grace.

13. Puritans Protestant work ethic: the belief that hard work was an honor to God which would lead to a prosperous reward. Education is essential in order to read the Word of God. The puritans created America’s first university, Harvard, in Cambridge, Mass.

14. Puritans A person should be thrifty, modest, and simple. Emphasis on individual responsibility, on a direct and personal relationship with God. Society should be ruled by covenants that parallel God’s covenant with his people.

15. Puritans Puritanism, and its emphasis on self- discipline, individualism, responsibility, work, and asceticism was also an important influence upon the values and attitudes of the emerging middle classes.

16. Decline of Puritanism Puritanism declined rapidly in the 18thcentury for several reasons: Many non-Puritans settled close by and the Puritans failed to convert them. Introduction of the philosophy that humans are naturally good and “perfectible” Spread of Capitalism –work is monetarily rewarded Spread of Democracy –no one is elect; everyone has their own choices to make

17. Characteristics of Puritan Writings Purpose of Puritan Literature: Spiritual enlightenment and enrichment Record history Personal reflection Puritans were not allowed to read fiction for pleasure. Literature and art’s main purposes were to teach. The Puritans were able to be successful writers because they were incredibly well-educated. Supported the idea of education for all of the colonists.

18. Characteristics of Puritan Writings The Bible was a great influence. Their writing predominately reflected their religious views. Puritan literature concerns life as a journey to salvation. Literature was considered to be a tool to explore faith and to meditate upon God. Literature mostly consisted of Diaries and histories describing God’s work.

19. Characteristics of Puritan Writings The language was very plain, clear, with no figures of speech or flowery/lavish description. Strong imagery and inversion – the reversal of the usual word order of a sentence – were used for emphasis and variety.

20. Characteristics of Puritan Writings Literature included allusions to people and incidents from the Bible. Biblical metaphors were often used to explain the Puritan condition. One of their writing techniques was the use of jeremiads. A jeremiad is an interpretive account of one’s hardships, meant to demonstrate one’s faith in God. Some jeremiads were exaggerated, to make the faith challenge more impressive.

21. Characteristics of Puritan Writings The reading public was literate and well-grounded in religion. Puritans were basically middle class and fairly well-educated. Writing should be a tool to help readers understand the Bible and guide them in their daily lives.

22. Characteristics of Puritan Writings Used writing to explore the inner and outer lives for signs of the workings of God. Search soul for signs of grace. Must accomplish good through hard work and self-discipline. Can’t take election for granted. Diaries and histories were the most common types of literature.

23. William Bradford (1590-1657) One of the leaders of colonial America. Bradford arrived at Cape Cod on November 11, 1620, on the flagship Mayflower. He was one of the authors of The Mayflower Compact. Was the first leader of the Puritan colony, and wrote “On Plymouth Plantation”.

24. William Bradford (1590-1657) Emphasized the idea that dedicated believers could create a utopian society, a society that was perfect. His writing style is heavily influenced by the writing style of the Bible, particularly the Old Testament. His writing was heavily influenced by plain style, a form of writing that emphasized the use of ordinary, rather than ornate or poetic diction.

25. John Winthrop (1588-1649) One of the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Winthrop arrived in 1630 aboard the flagship Arbella. As governor of the Colony, he established the center of government at Boston. Winthrop began writing his Journal in 1630 and continued it till his death. On board the Arbella, he prepared his famous sermon "A Model of Christian Charity."

26. Anne Bradstreet(1612?-1672) Famous as the first American poet Poetry as a means to explore relationship between the individual and God.

27. Mary Rowlandson Many question the reliability of what she wrote. Her story become one of the most widely sold books. Sensationalized her accounts of her experience with the Indians she encountered. As a result, captivity narratives became a huge genre of literature in the era.

28. Mary Rowlandson (1637-1711) “A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration…” Her depiction of the Indians also helped create the cultural myth of their savagery. Both colonists and the people back home in Europe became convinced that the Indians of North American were “savages” and “devils” because of these accounts.

29. Forces Undermining Puritanism A person's natural desire to do good - this works against predestination. Dislike of a "closed" life. Resentment of the power of the few over many. Change in economic conditions - growth of fishery, farms, etc. Presence of the leaders of dissent - Anne Hutchinson, Roger Williams.

30. Forces Undermining Puritanism The presence of the frontier - concept of self- reliance, individualism, and optimism. Change in political conditions - Massachusetts became a Crown colony. Theocracy suffered from a lack of flexibility. Growth of rationality - use of the mind to know God - less dependence on the Bible. Cosmopolitanism of the new immigrants.