From “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”

From “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” By Jonathan Edwards

Literary Focus: Figures of Speech • Writers use figures of speech to help us see the world in new, imaginative ways. • Jonathan Edwards uses figures of speech to help his readers experience the horrors he is describing. • In one memorable example, he describes “wickedness” as being “heavy as lead.” • By using this simile, Edwards compares the ideas of wickedness to an everyday material his audience is familiar with. • The figure of speech helps them feel the dead weight of wickedness.

Simile, Metaphor, Personification • A simile compares two unlike things, using a word such as like, as, than, or resembles: Her heart is as cold as a dungeon. • A metaphor compares two different things without using such words as like or as: Life is a carnival. • Personification gives human characteristics to objects, animals, or abstractions: The flowers nodded their heads in agreement.

Reading Skills: Identifying Author’s Purpose • Jonathan Edward’s “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” was written with a clear purpose • To make the experience of hell so real and frightening that people in his audience would change their lives. • As you read the selection, circle the details that reveal the author’s purpose.

Finding the Main Idea • The main idea is the most important idea in a piece of writing. • Main ideas are sometimes, but not always, stated directly. • When a writer does not state a main idea, it is up to you to figure it out. • You need to use details in the text to infer, or guess, what larger idea the writer is getting at. • Listing key words and details as you read can help you to find the main idea.

Into the Sermon • This is Edward’s most famous sermon which he delivered to a church in Enfield, Connecticut, in 1741. • The “natural men” he was trying to reach with his sermon were those in the congregation who had not been “born again.” • They had not accepted Jesus as their savior. • Edward’s sermon had a powerful effect • Several times he had to ask his shrieking and fainting audience for quiet.

Vocabulary • provoked: v. used as an adj.: angered • appease: v. calm; satisfy • abate: v. Reduce in amount or intensity • fain: adv. Archaic word meaning “happily” or “gladly.” • Mediator: Jesus Christ. In general, one who intervenes between two parties in conflict. • forbearance: n. Tolerance, restraint • incensed: v. Used as adj.: angered; enraged • constitution: n. physical condition • contrivance: n.: scheme; plan • affections: n. pl.: feelings • closets n. pl.: rooms for prayer and meditation. • inconceivable: adj., unimaginable; beyond understanding • omnipotent: adj.: all-powerful

Vocabulary • abhors: v.: scorns; hates • abominable: adj.: hateful; disgusting • ascribed: v.: regarded as coming from a certain cause. • induce: v.: persuade; force, cause • assunder: adv.: into pieces

Common Prefixes and Suffixes • Con: means “with” or “together” • Omni: means “all” • Able: means “capable of” • Ance: means “state of being”

From “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”