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Unit one: origins of the american tradition

Unit one: origins of the american tradition. Drawing connections between the history and literature of America Mrs. Motta English 10-H. The First Americans. Before Europeans, actually came Asians 20-50 thousand years ago Europeans arrive late 15 th c.

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Unit one: origins of the american tradition

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  1. Unit one: origins of the american tradition Drawing connections between the history and literature of America Mrs. Motta English 10-H

  2. The First Americans • Before Europeans, actually came Asians • 20-50 thousand years ago • Europeans arrive late 15th c. • 24 Native American cultures by then, 1-2 million people • Cultures vary widely • But their commonality is appreciation and reverence for natural world • HOWEVER…

  3. The Arrival of the Europeans… • They see world as something to be owned and turned to human ends • But then we withdraw for 500 years… • Until Columbus arrives at a Bahamian island • Thought he had reached India; hence, “Indians”

  4. What this means for Native Americans • Devastation • Indians help Europeans to survive by teaching them to live off of the land, but…. • Millions die from diseases • Europeans bring them over, Indians have no tolerance built • Millions are enslaved or driven away (Westward) • See “The Very Brief Relation of the Devastation of the Indies” by Bartolome de las Casas

  5. New England Colonization • 1587- English settlers founded colony on Roanoke Island • John White (founder) returns to England, then comes back to Roanoke… and finds no trace of the colony- it’s a mystery! • 1607- Jamestown, Virginia is first colony to survive • But winter is harsh– only 38 or 104 colonists live through it

  6. Pilgrims & Puritans • Both are critical of Church of England • Pilgrims- separated completely from the church • Focus on individual righteousness before God • Puritans- try to reform the church • Beliefs: • Humans existed for the glory of God • Predestination (and not all will be chosen by God) • Original sin . . . good came from hard work and self-discipline • Importance of community – functioned as Theocracies (societies guided by religious law) • High level of intolerance for anything else

  7. Native American Literature • poetic and moving lyrics and songs • Oral Tradition – a work, idea, or custom that is passed by word of mouth from generation to generation • Myth - a story that explains objects or events in the natural world as resulting from the action of some supernatural force or entity. • Pictographs – a pictorial symbol for a word or phrase; earliest form of writing

  8. Puritanical Literature • dominated by religion & individual spiritual development • hymns, histories, poetry, biographies, autobiographies • Give spiritual insight / instruction • For this reason, plain statement and clarity in content was highest goal • no fiction & no drama • Considered sinful!

  9. Puritan Authors • Anne Bradstreet • moving and personal voice • Massachusetts is progressive in supporting education for women; however, not interested in being educated by them • Edward Taylor = religious • These people are not the best ever… but they are the first names in American literature!

  10. Unit Essential Questions • How does the earliest literature and an understanding of its chronology and themes contribute to how we as a people came to be who we are today? • How does the literature reveal the values of a given culture or time period?

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