English Settlements

1. English Settlements Colonial Literature 1607 - 1750

2. 3 Groups – also establish location • New England – the Puritans – 1620 landed at Cape Cod • The Southern Colonies – farmers (cash crops) • The Middle Colonies – Quakers – Ethnic and culturally diverse

3. Puritans • A broad term referring to a number of Protestant groups. • Desired a simpler form of worship • Religion was a personal inner experience • Clergy/government not an intermediary between individual and God • Persecuted in England

4. Puritan theology – mixture of certainty and doubt • “Elect” = Saved • “Unregenerate” = one of the damned • Definite separation between church and state • How do you know which category you fall into? • You don’t

5. Puritans valued… • Self-reliance – • Industriousness – • Temperance – • Simplicity – plain, black/white clothing

6. Amer. Lit shaped by Puritans • American Literature was shaped by Puritans and their • Morals • Ethics • Religious Convictions

7. Characteristics of Puritan Writing • Bible provided a model for Puritan writing • Concept that each life was a journey to salvation • Used writing to explore their inner and outer lives for signs of the workings of God

8. Puritan characteristics con’t. • Diaries and histories were the most common forms • Puritans favored a plain style – stressing clarity of expression and avoiding figures of speech

9. The Age of Reason: Tinkerers and Experimenters

10. Rationalism • The belief that human beings can arrive at truth by using reason, rather than by relying on past authorities, religious faith, or intuition. • Started in Europe and made its way to the American Colonies

11. Scientific Progress • Cotton Mather, a Puritan minister is also interested in natural science and medicine. • He implemented inoculations for the Smallpox disease in 1721.

12. Deism • In contrast to Puritans – Deists believed: • God was available at all times • People were inherently good • Individuals had the gift to reason

13. Literature • Age of pamphlets • Literature was intended to serve a purpose of practical or political ends.

14. Types of Colonial Lit. • New England Primer – textbook • The Day of Doom – poem about sinners who would experience the torment of hell. • The Selling of Joseph – anti-slavery tract • Bay Psalm Book – new translation of the Psalms • The History of Plymouth Plantation • Common Sense – Thomas Paine

15. Writers • Cotton Mather – witchcraft trials • Jonathan Edwards – puritan theologian • Anne Bradstreet – Poetry • Phillis Wheatley – slave poet • Philip Freneau – patriotic poet • Benjamin Franklin – autobiography • Thomas Jefferson – Dec. Independence • Poor Richard’s Almanack

16. Historical Narratives • Determine the purpose of each work • Consult the biographies to determine the various backgrounds of writers. • Use the graphic aids. • Try to distinguish fact from opinion. • Understand that these narrative lay the groundwork for later Amer. Lit. • Look for parallels to modern life.