Early American Literature

1. Early American Literature 1600-1760

2. Before the colonists • Mostly oral literature—but where “American Literature” really does begin • Colonizing by Spanish, French, Dutch, and English, in both South (Virginia) and North (New England) • First permanent European settlement on North American continent: Spanish at St. Augustine (Florida, 1565) • English: Jamestown (Virginia) 1607

3. Puritans (Northern colonists) • Label “Puritan” emerges 16thcentury • 1530s England – Henry VIII parts with Catholic Church to form Church of England (Anglican) • Wanted to purify their lives, church, and government • Came on the Mayflower in 1620 to Plymouth

4. puritans • Believe Henry and successors haven’t gone far enough in wiping out Catholic influence in England / Church of England • Purify Church of England – get back to basics of what they think Christianity is about, including: • Follow only the Christian Bible • Destroy influence of educated priesthood—individual path to God without intercession of priest (literacy) • Ban Catholic sacraments / rituals • Ban altars, images, priesthood, convents, etc. • Ban “pagan” holidays like Christmas, Easter • Outlaw gambling, sports

5. Puritans—Non- Separatists • Most Puritans simply want to PURIFY Church of England, not break with it / separate from it (Non-Separatist Puritans) • Simply want to “fix” Church—too close to Catholic roots

6. Puritans--separatists • think Church (and by connection government of England) is beyond fixing (Separatist Puritans, or “Pilgrims”) • Purify Christianity by separating from established church

7. Puritan Beliefs • Believe in an all powerful God • Grants grace to his “Saints” • The spirit would grant salvations—eternal happiness with God • Puritans wanted to demonstrate at every moment that they possessed grace or were worthy of it

8. Puritan beliefs • God offers salvation not to all humanity per se, but to select group: “the elect” • No one knows who is elect and who is not • Must have more than “intellectual” faith to be elect – must have spiritual, emotional, moving faith, total devotion to God, church, state • Constantly watch for signs that you’ve been offered the covenant of grace

9. Puritan Vs. Pilgrims • Most Puritans are happy to keep the Church of England–simply want to PURIFY it by working from within • Pilgrims are radical Puritans—Church of England has to go—beyond salvation

10. Puritan literature • Mostly religious • Sermons, hymns, histories, poems • Journals • Diaries • Wrote to instruct others or testify to their experience with divine grace • Spiritual autobiographies • Did not approve of reading fiction

11. Southern colonists • Began in 1607 with Jamestown, Virginia for profit • Consisted of many different types of people • Lived apart from one another • Different levels of wealth • Well-educated owned and operated estates • Tradespeople, artisans, small farmers, servants, slaves • Valued • More social and outgoing way of life • Nature • Public service

12. Southern colonial literature • Letters • Read English literature • Did not break from Church of England, so had no need to create own literature • Journals • Public reports

13. Dominant Stories & Patterns from English Settlement • Story of Diversity: Not a single experience or single “story”—diversified in terms of race, colonizing nation, religion, social status, motivations, etc. • Story of Individualism: America as a place to “go it alone”—place not tied to old European alliances, traditions • Story of Expansionism & Colonialism (and Exploitation): Right & even duty (God-given) to spread across continent—“civilize” the wilderness • Story of Capitalism: America as place where personal destiny/wealth can be found—reward for leading a godly life • Story of Exceptionalism: America as an exception to the normal state of nations—an exceptional people