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Unit 1: The Beginnings of the American Tradition

ENGLISH 201: American Literature

Self Actualization Personal Fulfillment, Lack of Prejudice, Realizing Potential

Esteem Needs Self Esteem, Respect of Others and Self, Confidence, Achievements

Loving and Belonging Family, Relationships, Intimacy

Safety Needs Security, Protection, Stability, etc.

Physiological Needs Food, Drink, Sleep, Warmth, Shelter, etc.

MASLOW’S HEIRARCHY OF NEEDS

Motivations for America

EXPLORE MONEY FREEDOM

• Religious

PARADISE• Fountain of Youth

• Rivers of Gold

The Story of the Mayflower• John Smith & William

Bradford• Plymouth Plantation• 1620, Massachusetts• 100 people to start with (1/2

died that first winter)• 1,000 to follow in ten years

The Beginnings of The American Tradition

Providence: A sense of God working in one’s life on a regular, daily basis.

The Beginnings of The American Tradition

Puritans would “search” their daily lives for signs/symbols of God’s grace (the Bible…diaries were important)

The Beginnings of The American Tradition

Human Depravity: humans tend towards sin because of their fallenness

The Beginnings of The American Tradition

3 Main Beliefs 1. Divine Mission

• True Religion • America will be a model – “City Upon A Hill”

The Beginnings of The American Tradition

3 Main Beliefs 2. Grace

• “The miracle by which God grants some people the ability to truly love.”

• Spiritual Autobiography

The Beginnings of The American Tradition

3 Main Beliefs 3. Plainness

• Simple Religion• Simple Culture• Plain Style Writing (vs.

Ornate Style)

The Beginnings of The American Tradition

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Puritan Writers

Edward Taylor Poetical Works (1939)

Anne BradstreetThe Tenth Muse (1650)

William Bradford Of Plymouth Plantation (1630-1647)

Jonathan EdwardsSinners in the Hands of an Angry

God (1741)

The Beginnings of The American Tradition.

Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672) Grew up in the house

of a Puritan Nobleman (father worked for him)

Emigrated to America in 1630

First American poet published

First female poet published

The Tenth Muse (1650) Two versions: 1650 and 1670

(after her death) First version: long poems on

medicine, history, science Final version: short poems

about husband, house, and deep attachment to familyRemember Mazlow’s Hierarchy?

Apologetic for being a woman

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Iambic Couplet Stressed and

unstressed syllables

5 sets of stressed and unstressed “feet” per line

Two lines that rhyme

Bradstreet used this poetic device

Plain Style Writing(Bay Psalm Book)

The Lord to me a shepherd is, Want therefore I shall not, He in the folds of tender grass Doth make me down to lie To waters calm he gently leads Restore my soul doth he He doth in paths of righteousness For his names sake lead me. Yea though in valley of death’s shade I walk none ill I’ll fear, Because thou art with me, thy rod, and staff my comfort are.

PSALM 23

Ornate Style Writing(King James Bible)

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul: He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.° 

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: For thou

art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they

comfort me.

PSALM 23

Edward Taylor(1642?-1729) Minister Emigrated to America

1668 Believed you should

only be a church member if “Grace” had been experienced

Didn’t want his poetry published

SUPER PURITAN

Poetical Works (1939) Tried to defend the

original, Puritan faith against some newer (liberal) ideas

NOT Plain Style Conceit: strange

comparison between two things• “Housewifery”

William Bradford (1590-1657) Began to read the

Bible “seriously” at the age of 12

Became Puritan (against some in his family)

Wife drowned(?) in the crossing to America

Of Plymouth Plantation (1630-1647) Publish in 1856 (!) America is dedicated and

sustained by God Later thought that America

has started to become immoral :( • “…like an ancient mother

grown old and forsaken of her children…”

Jonathan Edwards(1703-1758) Wrote treatise of insects

at 11 Entered Yale at 13 Believed he experienced

“Grace”• no longer scared of thunder

and lightning Minister in Massachusetts

• Dismissed at his insistence of Grace as the foundation of religious life

SUPER PURITAN

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God (1741) Frenzied the congregation People cried out “What

shall I do?” Vivid imagery of Hell 

• "There is nothing that keeps wicked men at any one moment out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God."

http://www.jesus-is-savior.com/Basics/foot_shall_slide.htm

Edwards remains an influence today