From Colony To Country: 1620-1800 The Puritan Tradition

1. From Colony To Country: 1620-1800The Puritan Tradition Lima Unit 2 11 English honors

2. From exploring to colonizing… • Pirates, adventurers and explorers led to more permanent colonists • Not just English • Since England eventually took possession of North American colonies, the best known colonial-literature is English

3. The Colonial Period in New England • New England- the northeastern United States • Between 1630-1690, there were as many university graduates in the northeastern United States (New England) as in the mother country • At that time, the most intellectuals were aristocrats who were unwilling to risk their lives in wilderness conditions • The PURITANS were the exceptions • Wanted to understand and execute God’s will as they established their colonies throughout New England

4. The First Puritans • Pilgrims --the first Puritan colonists to settle in new England (Plymouth) • “Separatists” --Disillusioned with the Church of England, they formed underground “covenanted” churches and swore loyalty to the church instead of the King • Persecution – seen as both traitors and heretics • Migrated from England to Holland and eventually the New World • Exemplified Reformation Christianity • They interpreted the Bible literally

5. The Puritan Lifestyle • Puritans saw “earthly success” as a sign of election (whether or not they would be “saved” by God) • Lifestyle rested on ambition, hard work, and success • Wealth and social status were sought not only for themselves, but as welcome reassurances of spiritual health and promises of eternal life • Felt that by advancing their own profit and community’s well-being, they were also furthering God’s plans • All of life was an expression of divine will

6. Puritan Beliefs • Human beings are inherently evil, and must struggle to overcome their sinful nature • Original sin • Personal salvation depends solely on the grade of God, not on individual effort • Believed in predestination – • all events are foreseen and foreordained by God • only those “elected” by God are saved • Individuals could only know that he/she was saved by directly experiencing God’s grace • Bible = supreme authority on earth

7. Puritan Beliefs, cont’d • Education was extremely important • Schools were publicly supported • Harvard was established in 1636 to train ministers • Politically, a theocracy- line between religious and political authority was very blurry • Those who do not agree/conform must be expelled/destroyed

8. Puritan Literature • Puritans defined good writing as writing that “brought home a full awareness of the importance of worshipping God and of the spiritual dangers that the soul faced on earth.” • Puritan writings focus on nonfiction and pious genres • Complex, metaphorical poetry • Sermons • Theological Tracts • Homely journals • Religious History

9. Themes in Puritan Literature • Life is a test • Failure led to eternal damnation and hellfire • Success led to heavenly bliss • World is an arena of the constant battle between the forces of God and the forces of Satan, whom had many disguises • Focus on Inner and Outer Events • Inner- feelings, such as stages experienced on the road to salvation • External- events seen as messages from God • Style– VERY plain, like the Puritans • Strong, simple and logical

10. William Bradford, cont’d. • William Bradford (1590-1657) • Came over on the Mayflower • Elected governor of Plymouth in the Massachusetts Bay Colony • Drafted the first document of colonial self-governance • the “Mayflower Compact” • Was the first historian of the colony • Of Plymouth Plantation (1651) • Deeply pious, self-educated man • Learned several languages

11. Important Puritans in Literature • Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672) • Emigrated to the colonies with her family at the age of 18 • Daughter of an earl’s estate manager • Married to a man who eventually became governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony (later became Boston) • Wrote long religious poems on conventional subjects, such as the seasons, as well as poems about daily life, her husband and children

12. Anne Bradstreet, cont’d. • Wrote the first book of poems ever by an American, which was also the first book ever published by an American woman • The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America (1650) • Published in England • Wrote long religious poems on conventional subjects, such as the seasons, as well as poems about daily life, her husband and children • Was inspired by English metaphysical poetry • Often used • Extended Metaphor • Conceits • Imagery, and comparisons

13. Important Puritans in Literature • Edward Taylor (1644-1729) • Former teacher who sailed to New England in 1668 rather than take an oath of loyalty to the Church of England • Poet and minister • Studied at Harvard College • Never published his poetry, which was discovered in the 1930s • Funeral elegies • Lyrics • Metrical History of Christianity • Wrote about finding spiritual truth in the natural world • “Upon a Spider Catching a Fly”

14. Important Puritans in Literature • Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) • The Great Awakening- religious revival that swept New England from 1734-1750 • Calvinist • Pastor • Highly educated man devoted to law and authority • Molded by his extreme sense of duty and rigid Puritan environment • Best known for his sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” (1741). • Very powerful and moving