1. From Colony To Country: 1620-1800 The Puritan Tradition
Lima
Unit 2
11 English honors

2. From exploring to colonizing…
Pirates, adventurers and explorers led to more permanent colonists
Not just English
Since England eventually took possession of North American colonies, the best known colonial-literature is English

3. The Colonial Period in New England
New England- the northeastern United States
Between , there were as many university graduates in the northeastern United States (New England) as in the mother country
At that time, the most intellectuals were aristocrats who were unwilling to risk their lives in wilderness conditions
The PURITANS were the exceptions
Wanted to understand and execute God’s will as they established their colonies throughout New England

4. The First Puritans
Pilgrims --the first Puritan colonists to settle in new England (Plymouth)
“Separatists” --Disillusioned with the Church of England, they formed underground “covenanted” churches and swore loyalty to the church instead of the King
Persecution – seen as both traitors and heretics
Migrated from England to Holland and eventually the New World
Exemplified Reformation Christianity
They interpreted the Bible literally

5. The Puritan Lifestyle
Puritans saw “earthly success” as a sign of election (whether or not they would be “saved” by God)
Lifestyle rested on ambition, hard work, and success
Wealth and social status were sought not only for themselves, but as welcome reassurances of spiritual health and promises of eternal life
Felt that by advancing their own profit and community’s well-being, they were also furthering God’s plans
All of life was an expression of divine will

6. Puritan Beliefs
Human beings are inherently evil, and must struggle to overcome their sinful nature
Original sin
Personal salvation depends solely on the grade of God, not on individual effort
Believed in predestination –
all events are foreseen and foreordained by God
only those “elected” by God are saved
Individuals could only know that he/she was saved by directly experiencing God’s grace
Bible = supreme authority on earth

7. Puritan Beliefs, cont’d
Education was extremely important
Schools were publicly supported
Harvard was established in 1636 to train ministers
Politically, a theocracy- line between religious and political authority was very blurry
Those who do not agree/conform must be expelled/destroyed

8. Puritan Literature
Puritans defined good writing as writing that “brought home a full awareness of the importance of worshipping God and of the spiritual dangers that the soul faced on earth.”
Puritan writings focus on nonfiction and pious genres
Complex, metaphorical poetry
Sermons
Theological Tracts
Homely journals
Religious History

9. Themes in Puritan Literature
Life is a test
Failure led to eternal damnation and hellfire
Success led to heavenly bliss
World is an arena of the constant battle between the forces of God and the forces of Satan, whom had many disguises
Focus on Inner and Outer Events
Inner- feelings, such as stages experienced on the road to salvation
External- events seen as messages from God
Style– VERY plain, like the Puritans
Strong, simple and logical

10. William Bradford, cont’d.
Came over on the Mayflower
Elected governor of Plymouth in the Massachusetts Bay Colony
Drafted the first document of colonial self-governance
the “Mayflower Compact”
Was the first historian of the colony
Of Plymouth Plantation (1651)
Deeply pious, self-educated man
Learned several languages

11. Important Puritans in Literature
Anne Bradstreet ( )
Emigrated to the colonies with her family at the age of 18
Daughter of an earl’s estate manager
Married to a man who eventually became governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony (later became Boston)
Wrote long religious poems on conventional subjects, such as the seasons, as well as poems about daily life, her husband and children

12. Anne Bradstreet, cont’d.
Wrote the first book of poems ever by an American, which was also the first book ever published by an American woman
The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America (1650)
Published in England
Wrote long religious poems on conventional subjects, such as the seasons, as well as poems about daily life, her husband and children
Was inspired by English metaphysical poetry
Often used
Extended Metaphor
Conceits
Imagery, and comparisons

13. Important Puritans in Literature
Edward Taylor ( )
Former teacher who sailed to New England in 1668 rather than take an oath of loyalty to the Church of England
Poet and minister
Studied at Harvard College
Never published his poetry, which was discovered in the 1930s
Funeral elegies
Lyrics
Metrical History of Christianity
Wrote about finding spiritual truth in the natural world
“Upon a Spider Catching a Fly”

14. Important Puritans in Literature
Jonathan Edwards ( )
The Great Awakening- religious revival that swept New England from
Calvinist
Pastor
Highly educated man devoted to law and authority
Molded by his extreme sense of duty and rigid Puritan environment
Best known for his sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” (1741).
Very powerful and moving