1. Colonial Period
Puritans and Planters

2. Puritans

3. Social/Political Climate
Early settlers not searching for wealth
Wanted to establish new society and church with available resources and freedom of worship
Religious law = civil law; laws est. according to biblical law
Bible is model for life and society
Religion permeates all aspects of life
Status in society → position in church
Seriousness, simplicity, hard work important
Community judged as whole → brother’s keeper
Close-knit towns

4. Social/Political (cont.)
Brought books from England
Blame Puritans for school—needed literate population so ministry and church could flourish
1647 Mass. Bay Colony required school
1636 Harvard U. opened—ministry

5. Social/Political (cont.)
Plymouth and Boston—two ‘cities’
Persecuted→ religious freedom
God’s chosen people
Visible saints
Example to world→ city on hill
Model society

6. Social/Political (cont.)
Wilderness encouraged reliance on individual and community; no one else to help
New world offered improvement, bright future
Abundance led to waste
Witchcraft trials led to decline in strength of church over the state

7. Religion
sovereignty of God, all powerful; influences every event in Man’s life
original sin; driven by nature to do evil deeds
the elect are chosen for salvation to escape eternal damnation
Predestination→ God grants eternal life to chosen few
cannot earn grace through good works; must pray and hope;
Grace is achieved through God’s work on soul→ spiritual self examination

8. Religion (cont.) Sloth is deadly sin = idle hands…..
Wealth is sign of election and grace
If you challenge community = opposing God
Dark side
Bible is vital for salvation

9. Characteristic of Literature
To teach, NOT entertain
Poetry→ spirit. enlighten.
Message important
Writing = works of piety and religious instruction
Plain, simple, rational expression
Imagery, similes, metaphor → detract from purpose; mainly used when taken from bible

10. Char. of Literature (cont.)
audience = simple, plain people like farmers and
More info = better style
Homey examples and expression that appealed to readers’ experience and understanding
Drama slow to develop; seen as “chapel of Satan,” corrupts playgoers

11. Literature and Works Anne Bradstreet To My Dear and Loving…
Edward Taylor Huswifery
Richard Mather Bay Psalm Book
Jonathan Edwards Sinners in the Hands…

12. Southern Planters

13. Social/Political/Religious
Less religious
Less rigorous climate, easier farming
Relatively easy life
Relaxed
Less introspective
Less critical of each other
Lack of common purpose, beliefs of Puritans
Gentleman = manners important, public service important
Plantation society
Settlements spread out, few neighbors
Plantation is center of commerce
Many slaves

14. Characteristics of Literature
Writing seldom used for teaching
Mostly journals, chronicles, letters
Drama performed privately, sometimes challenged as immoral
Practical writings

15. Writers and Works William Byrd History of the Dividing Line
John Smith The General History of VA

16. Influence on today
Puritan beliefs—work ethic, hard work leads to success—shaped Amer. society and culture
America as model for rest of world
How to live, important values to live by still in work of Amer. writers

17. Influence on Today “spirit of place” → wonder and diversity of land
Concern with land—Frost, Steinbeck
Concern with religion—Hawthorne to Hemingway

18. Relationship to Amer. Dream
Hard work
Frugality
Self-improvement
Self-reliance ?

19. Changes that led to next period
Liberal Protestants arrived and attracted followers
Great Awakening
Established societies had less harsh environment
Discontent against conformity

20. Next Period
Revolutionary Period