1. Early American Literature: 1600 -1750
The Puritans

2. Important Dates 1492 Christopher Columbus 1607 Founding of Jamestown
Mayflower on Plymouth Rock
1636 Harvard College founded
1692 Salem Witch Trials
1640’s The Great Awakening
1647 First free public school

3. Two type of Puritans Separatists
Held irreconcilable differences with the Church of England; they thought the church was corrupt and that they must distance themselves from it
Were persecuted under various monarchies in England
Later, came to found the Plymouth Colony in America in 1620
Non-Separatists
Held less extreme views of the Church of England
Believed in church reform rather than an overthrow of the church
Came to America in 1630 and founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony
This group referred to as Pilgrims

4. Type of Government
THEOCRACY- a government ruled by or subject to a religious authority
God was the head of the Puritan government
How does God speak to man?

5. Divine Mission
“We shall be as a City upon a Hill, the eyes of all people are upon us; so that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by-word through all the world.”
-- John Winthrop, Bay Colony

6. Core Beliefs Doctrine of Election / Predestination:
Man is innately sinful; ORIGINAL SIN means that we are incapable of any depravity
Only those who are chosen by God (the elect) are saved; salvation is not based on your beliefs or good works
The grace of Christ allows the chosen the strength to follow the will of God
The chosen will follow the path of righteousness

7. Core Beliefs (cont.) No one knew who was or was not saved.
Puritans believed that you must have a conversion experience in order to be accepted by God.
God’s grace was given to the chosen, and this was demonstrated through one’s behavior.
Even though they did not believe good works helped one get into heaven, they believed that living a godly life was evidence of being chosen.

8. As a result of their belief in predestination, Puritans:
Were always looking for signs
Scrutinized daily events
Thought there was always a reason for everything
Felt that God’s hand was in everything, no matter how insignificant

9. Puritan Beliefs & Values
Humans exist only to glorify God.
Puritans believed in a literal interpretation of the Bible – the sole expression of the will of God
They wanted to keep things simple so that they could concentrate on God
They wanted to cleanse the religion of corrupt sinful practices, elaborate ceremonies, and decorations
There is a constant struggle between the forces of God and Satan (ORIGINAL SIN)
God rewards the good and punishes the wicked
Membership in churches was limited to the “visibly godly”

10. Puritan Ideals Education & Work Ethic
Self-improvement: They believed in living a virtuous, self-examined life
Hard work: They believed in strict discipline and had a strong work ethic
Frugality: They felt that qualities that led to economic success were virtuous
Self-reliance: They looked down on debt and handouts.

11. They valued education
Harvard was founded in 1636 to train ministers
Children were not allowed to play games; boys were taught to go hunting and fishing, while girls were taught how to run a household
Women were considered less capable intellectually, physically, theologically, and morally (Eve was the first sinner)

12. Literature and Writing
They did not write for pleasure or entertainment.
The purpose of writing was to be:
Instructive
Reflective—think through problems and feelings
Reinforce authority of:
Bible
Church

13. Types of Texts Sermons and other religious documents
Diaries and journals
Historical documents
Letters
Poetry (inspired by religious beliefs)
Captive narratives

14. Content /topic Christian utopia Relationship with God Histories
Puritan beliefs– reflections on:
Community
Original sin
Hard work

15. Plain Style
Plain Style: a mode of expression characterized by its clarity, accessibility, straightforwardness, simplicity, and lack of ornamentation.
Rejecting ornamental flourishes and superfluous decoration as sinful vanity, plain stylists worked to glorify God in their expressions rather than to show off their own artistry or claim any renown for themselves.

16. Plain Style
Does not use the features common to rhetoric of the day– the types of language and devices that were popular with European writers
So, Plain style does not make much use of
Metaphor “learned” quotations
Allusion “decorative” words
Most texts, especially sermons, open with a main point, provide clear reasons and close with applications to life