1. Unit 1: The Beginnings of the American Tradition
ENGLISH 201: American Literature

7. MASLOW’S HEIRARCHY OF NEEDS
Self Actualization
Personal Fulfillment, Lack of Prejudice, Realizing Potential
Esteem Needs
Self Esteem, Respect of Others and Self, Confidence, Achievements
Loving and Belonging
Family, Relationships, Intimacy
Safety Needs
Security, Protection, Stability, etc.
Physiological Needs
Food, Drink, Sleep, Warmth, Shelter, etc.
MASLOW’S HEIRARCHY OF NEEDS

8. Motivations for America
EXPLORE
MONEY
FREEDOM
Religious
PARADISE
Fountain of Youth
Rivers of Gold
Motivations for America

9. The Beginnings of The American Tradition
The Story of the Mayflower
John Smith & William Bradford
Plymouth Plantation
1620, Massachusetts
100 people to start with (1/2 died that first winter)
1,000 to follow in ten years
The Beginnings of The American Tradition

10. The Beginnings of The American Tradition
Providence: A sense of God working in one’s life on a regular, daily basis.
The Beginnings of The American Tradition

11. The Beginnings of The American Tradition
Puritans would “search” their daily lives for signs/symbols of God’s grace (the Bible…diaries were important)
The Beginnings of The American Tradition

12. The Beginnings of The American Tradition
Human Depravity: humans tend towards sin because of their fallenness
The Beginnings of The American Tradition

13. The Beginnings of The American Tradition
3 Main Beliefs
Divine Mission
True Religion
America will be a model – “City Upon A Hill”
The Beginnings of The American Tradition

14. The Beginnings of The American Tradition
3 Main Beliefs
Grace
“The miracle by which God grants some people the ability to truly love.”
Spiritual Autobiography
The Beginnings of The American Tradition

15. The Beginnings of The American Tradition
3 Main Beliefs
Plainness
Simple Religion
Simple Culture
Plain Style Writing (vs. Ornate Style)
The Beginnings of The American Tradition

16. Puritan Writers
The Beginnings of the American Tradition

17. The Beginnings of The American Tradition.
Edward Taylor Poetical Works (1939) Anne Bradstreet The Tenth Muse (1650) William Bradford Of Plymouth Plantation ( ) Jonathan Edwards Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God (1741)
The Beginnings of The American Tradition.

18. Anne Bradstreet ( )
Grew up in the house of a Puritan Nobleman (father worked for him)
Emigrated to America in 1630
First American poet published
First female poet published

19. The Tenth Muse (1650) Two versions: 1650 and 1670 (after her death)
First version: long poems on medicine, history, science
Final version: short poems about husband, house, and deep attachment to family
Remember Mazlow’s Hierarchy?
Apologetic for being a woman

20. Bradstreet used this poetic device
Iambic Couplet
Stressed and unstressed syllables
5 sets of stressed and unstressed “feet” per line
Two lines that rhyme
Bradstreet used this poetic device

21. Plain Style Writing Ornate Style Writing (Bay Psalm Book)
(King James Bible)
The Lord to me a shepherd is, Want therefore I shall not, He in the folds of tender grass Doth make me down to lie To waters calm he gently leads Restore my soul doth he He doth in paths of righteousness For his names sake lead me. Yea though in valley of death’s shade I walk none ill I’ll fear, Because thou art with me, thy rod, and staff my comfort are. PSALM 23
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:  He leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.° 
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: For thou
art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me.
PSALM 23
The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:  He leadeth me beside the still waters.  He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.° 
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: For thou
art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they
comfort me.
PSALM 23

22. SUPER PURITAN Edward Taylor Minister Emigrated to America 1668
(1642?-1729)
Minister
Emigrated to America 1668
Believed you should only be a church member if “Grace” had been experienced
Didn’t want his poetry published
SUPER PURITAN

23. Poetical Works (1939)
Tried to defend the original, Puritan faith against some newer (liberal) ideas
NOT Plain Style
Conceit: strange comparison between two things
“Housewifery”

24. Began to read the Bible “seriously” at the age of 12
William Bradford
( )
Began to read the Bible “seriously” at the age of 12
Became Puritan (against some in his family)
Wife drowned(?) in the crossing to America

25. Of Plymouth Plantation (1630-1647)
Publish in 1856 (!)
America is dedicated and sustained by God
Later thought that America has started to become immoral :(
“…like an ancient mother grown old and forsaken of her children…”

26. SUPER PURITAN Jonathan Edwards Wrote treatise of insects at 11
( )
Wrote treatise of insects at 11
Entered Yale at 13
Believed he experienced “Grace”
no longer scared of thunder and lightning
Minister in Massachusetts
Dismissed at his insistence of Grace as the foundation of religious life
SUPER PURITAN

27. Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God (1741)
Frenzied the congregation
People cried out “What shall I do?”
Vivid imagery of Hell 
"There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God."

28. Edwards remains an influence today