II. Literature of Colonial America (1620-1776)

II. Literature of Colonial America (1620-1776) • Puritanism • Captivity Narratives • Benjamin Franklin

Puritanism • Beliefs • William Bradford • John Winthrop • Salem Witch Trials • The Great Awakening

Puritan Beliefs • Natural depravity (original sin) • Predestination (no free will) • God acts in the world • Typology

Puritanism • Search for God’s grace • Self-examination • History important

William Bradford • Led Pilgrims for first 30 years • Wrote Of Plymouth Plantation—a history of the Plymouth colony. -typology (meaning of New England) -documents community & changes in ideals -audience = ”backsliders”

John Winthrop • Led Puritan ”Great Migration” in 1630 • Not the same as Pilgrims • Delivered sermon on ship before landing—”A Modell of Christian Charity” • Defines purpose of ”errand into the wilderness”

Winthrop - 1630 ”that men shall say of succeeding plantacions: the lord make it like that of New England: for wee must Consider that wee shall be as a Citty upon a Hill, the eies of all people are uppon us; soe that if wee shall deale falsely with our god in this worke wee have undertaken and soe cause him to withdrawe his present help from us,”

Salem Witch Trials – 1692 • 19 people executed • 1 dies during interrogation • Most victims female • Most victims around 40 years old. • Wealthier than in previous witch hunts

Causes of witch trials? • Anti-women? • Crusade against wealth? • Repressive religious environment? • Mass hysteria? • Symptom of decline in Puritanism

The Great Awakening • Religious revival sweeps colonies • 1720s, 30s, 40s • Reaction to ”backsliding” • Helps unify colonies (common experience) • Religious renewal • Democratic tendencies • Salvation now in man’s hands

Captivity Narratives What are they?

Captivity Narratives • Whites captured by Indians • Tale told as spiritual trial or test • Advocates particular interpretation of Indians (=devils) • New literary genre • ”Narrative of Mary Rowlandson”

What Captivity Narratives reveal (and conceal) • Not everyone wanted to return • Racial attitudes • Role of women • Reversal of ”Pocahontas” myth

Captivity Narratives

Legacy of Captivity Narrative • ”The Searchers” (1956) • Later used as exploration of racial attitudes

Modern Captivity Narrative • Search for a mission • Test of moral strength • Search for home

Benjamin Franklin • Born 1706 • Died 1790 • Famous for?

Benjamin Franklin • Businessman • Printer • Inventor • Diplomat • Writer • Founding Father

Printer • Published Poor Richard’s Almanck • Introduced sayings into language • ”Early to bed, early to rise….” • ”A penny saved is a penny earned” • ”Time is money” • ”Fish and visitors stink after three days” • ”There was never a good war or a bad peace”

Inventor • Experiments with electricity • Wood stove • Swimming fins • Bifocal glasses • Lightning rod • Folding chair • Daylight savings time?

Statesman • Signed all major documents creating American state • Declaration of Independence • Alliance with France • Treaty of Paris • Constitution

Writer • Satire • Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

Autobiography • Concious attempt to give country an ideology • First articulation of American Dream—the self-made man • Self-help manual

Autobiography It was about this time I conceiv'd the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. I wish'd to live without committing any fault at any time; I would conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into. As I knew, or thought I knew, what was right and wrong, I did not see why I might not always do the one and avoid the other.

Autobiography • 1. TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation. • 2. SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation. • 3. ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time. • 4. RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve. • 5. FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing. • 6. INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions. • 7. SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly. • 8. JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty. • 9. MODERATION. Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve. • 10. CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation. • 11. TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable. • 12. CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation. • 13. HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates. . . .

Importance • Articulation of American Dream • Rags-to-riches images • Move from religious to secular -virtues maintained -good works -material reward for virtue • Calling → career

Key terms • Puritanism • ”City upon a Hill” • Mary Rowlandson • Franklin’s Autobiography

Next week: • Literature of the New Republic • Read ”Rip van Winkle”

II. Literature of Colonial America (1620-1776)