American Literature

American Literature Colonialism to Contemporary Literature

What is a survey course? • A survey course is a course designed to give a brief explanation of the chief topics that exist in a broad field of knowledge. • This means we will be studying American Literature (the broad field) by looking at each major literary period. • This is advantageous because you will get the historical context, the prevailing philosophy, the people who lived during that time, and what they wrote.

Reading for Entertainment vs. Didacticism • The things we read in this class are not intended to entertain you. They have a didactic purpose. In other words, they are designed to teach you to utilize your thinking skills through American Literature.

What is American Literature? • American Literature is that literature written between the Colonial period and Contemporary period by Americans or in the United States.

How will we be studying American Literature?

The Colonial Period • This is a period of literature as well as a historical period. • It is defined by the philosophy or belief system or religion of “Puritanism” –which is, of course, rooted in a purity of spirituality • The literature is mostly narratives regarding Native Americans, sermons, and personal accounts.

The Colonial Historical Period An imperialistic nation is one that extends its power over other nations through military force. Great Britain was “great” because it was imperialistic during the “Age of Discovery” or “The Age of Exploration,” which began at or around the 15th century. The most famous and relevant is Christopher Columbus in 1492.

King Henry VII • King Henry VII sent John Cabot to the Americans and claimed most everything north of Florida. • However, he didn’t do anything with this claim.

Queen Elizabeth • The first settlement was not until Queen Elizabeth’s reign in 1607. • The first settlement was in Jamestown, Virginia. • They did not produce many written works because they were too busy clearing away forest, tilling soil, and contending with Native Americans. • John Smith “Pocahontas”

What is happening over in Europe? • Overlapping and during the Enlightenment (Rationalism/Realism) or “The Age of Reason” was the Reformation. • The Reformation was a discontent within the Catholic Church. Martin Luther protested against the abuses the Catholic Church was committing. • This instigated a movement called the Reformation, which produced Protestantism. A Protestant was anyone who dissented from the Catholic Church. • The Church of England or Anglicanism is a faction of Protestantism.

So what? • Well, the formation of Protestantism and is factions was not the end of the unrest. • In fact, the unrest continued into Protestantism –specifically Anglicanism. • Puritans were those dissatisfied with the purity of Anglicanism. • They decided to take advantage of the fruits of the Age of Exploration and make their way to New England (1620-1640)

Puritanism • Puritanism was for a higher pursuit than intellectualism -spiritualism • A special sect of Puritanism was called Pilgrims. • William Bradford was a Pilgrim • For more than thirty years he was the governor of the Pilgrim Plantation.

William Bradford (1590-1657) • King James I is now King of England • He commissions the writing of The King James Bible • Many feared the King’s authority over religion • This was the England Bradford was born into • Many of Bradford’s close family members died when he was very young. Historians attribute how religiously devote he was to his sense of loss. • At one point he was completely orphaned.

Continued • After he inherited his family’s inheritance, he became a prominent member of society. • He was a part of Puritans called “Separatists.” In his journals he refers to them once as “pilgrims” and it stuck so Separatists and Pilgrims are basically understood to be synonymous now. • They wanted to celebrate their religion independent of King James I • There were two boats on their way. The Speedwell was not sea worthy so they all crowded on the Mayflower.

They were bound for New York but never made it. • Consequently, since they didn’t have permission to colonize anywhere –they made “The Mayflower Compact” –a contract to ensure civil rule. • This is when they voted John Carver their first governor. William Bradford was their second. • He was reelected thirty times.

Of Plymouth Plantation • This work is William Bradford’s journal chronically life on the plantation • When they arrived there was nothing to shelter them. • During the first winter half of them died. • Bradford then talks about, in his journal, why they did not prosper their first spring: why?

The First Thanksgiving • After they changed from a communal to a capitalistic economic system, they had an abundance. They no longer felt it was a good idea to try and be “wiser than God.” With this abundance, they paid off their debts with merchants and celebrated the blessings they received from God for trying to be more humble and not feel they could take away property and be God-like.

Mary Rowlandson • Captured by Indians • Gives her account of what happened

Jonathan Edwards

Information • Attended Yale –at this point still a seminary as was Harvard • Was very much influenced by the English Enlightenment following John Locke • Considered a great philosopher, theologian, writer, preacher, and practiced progressivism in reference to women.

“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” • A sermon given to his flock in 1741

American Literature