Beginnings to 1750

1. Beginnings to 1750 Junior English American Literature 10th Period

2. Historical Background:Native Americans • Native Americans have been on the continent for 30 times longer than Europeans • Discovered by Christopher Columbus • Various settlements found by various explorers • No written story of Native Americans exist • Native Americans helped European settlers

3. Pilgrims and Puritans • Came in 1620 on the Mayflower • Escaping religious persecution in England • Established Plymouth, Massachusetts • Pilgrims wanted to separate from the church • Puritans looked to reform church • Massachusetts Bay Colony looked to create “City on a Hill” • Believed in theocracy and predestination • Protestantism began to take over in early 1700’s

4. The Southern Planters • Southern Colonies differed from New England • Climate • Crops – plantations instead of small farms • Social organization • Religion • Plantation owners stayed connected to church of England • Regarded selves as aristocrats • Lived more sociable and elegant lives • By 1750 plantations were reaching peak

5. Literature of the period • Native Americans – oral traditions • Puritans – preoccupation with sin and salvation • Enslaved and free African Americans • Southern planters • In the beginning most literature came from England • 1750 marked beginning of native literature

6. Native American Tradition • In the beginning viewed as folklore – studied more for content than literary quality • Many stories have no fixed/written versions • Language is often poetic and moving • Produced diverse body of literature – song lyrics, hero tales, migration legends, accounts of creation • Shows a deep love of nature

7. Explorers’ Accounts • Age of Exploration – journeys were well documented • Christopher Columbus – Journal of the First Voyage to America stressed potential of new lands • Cabeza de Vaca – 1 of 4 survivors of a 400-man expedition to Texas • Describes land as sometimes bountiful sometimes harch • Lopez de Cardenas – 1st European to see and describe the Grand Canyon

8. Slave Narrative • OlaudahEquiano – lived 200 years after explorers • Came to America against his will • Purchased his freedom • Wrote two volumes of The Interesting Narrative of the Life of OdaulahEquiano • Contains vivid and horrifying account of slaves journeying to America

9. “In Adam’s Fall/We Sinned All” • Religion dominated Puritan writing • Wrote theological studies, hymns, histories, biographies, and autobiographies • Purpose – provide spiritual insight and instruction, used writing for self examination • Regarded fiction and drama as sinful • Poetry – vehicle for spiritual enlightenment

10. “In Adam’s Fall/We Sinned All” • Placed high importance on education • First free schools in 1647 • Wrote The New England Primer combined instruction in spelling and reading with morals • Other major works: • Cases of Conscience Concerning Evil – discourse on Salam Witch Trials • Bay Psalm Book – hymnal

11. “In Adam’s Fall/We Sinned All” • Puritan style of writing • More information the better • Plain style of writing • Clear statement is the highest goal • Ornate or clever style would be a sign of vanity and not in accordance with God’s will

12. Southern Writers • Educated produced some literature • Written for practical nature • John Smith – The General History of Virginia – describes accounts of Europeans in Virginia • Letters written by plantation owners published • Opened first theater in 1716 in Williamsburg

13. The Planter from Westover • William Byrd • Commissioned to survey boundary between Virginia and North Carolina • Journal from this time published as The History of the Dividing Line • Published after his death • Recognized as a minor humorous masterpiece • Established a reputation as the finest writer in the pre-Revolutionary South