American Literature American Literature 1700-18201700-1820

The Enlightenment and The Enlightenment and thethe

Age of ReasonAge of Reason

The Age of Reason

What is “reason”?

To think logically

How did Enlightenment thinkers differ

from scientists?

They applied reason to the “human world”

not just the natural world!

Natural World: Scientists applied reason to it using

the scientific method

The Human world includes government and law

THE AMERICAN ENLIGHTENMENT

1775-1783 American Revolution American independence seen as a divine sign that America and her

people were destined for greatness. Military victory fanned nationalistic hopes for a great new literature. Yet except for political writing, few works of note appeared during or soon after the Revolution.

1790 American Copyright Law American books were harshly reviewed in England. The search for a

native literature became a national obsession. The copyright law of 1790, which allowed pirating, was nationalistic in intent. Drafted by Noah Webster, the great lexicographer who later compiled an American dictionary, the law protected only the work of American authors; it was felt that English writers should look out for themselves.

Causes of the American RevolutionCauses of the American Revolutionpage 460 - 461page 460 - 461

The 13 English Colonies

Growing Discontent

Early Clashes

Part of British global trade Mercantilist policies Navigation Acts: regulated colonial trade Colonists felt entitled to the rights of English citizens

French and Indian War drained British treasury. Britain passed and enforced new tax law on the colonists “No taxation without representation.”

Boston Massacre Boston Tea Party Punitive laws passed by British to punish colonists Continental Congress with representatives from all 13 colonies

Boston Tea Party (1773)

Let’s Party Like It’s 1699!Let’s Party Like It’s 1699!

1818thth century was a period of major century was a period of major change in American ideas and change in American ideas and ideals…ideals…

As with beliefs of Puritans, changes As with beliefs of Puritans, changes originated in England, but took on originated in England, but took on new spirit and meaning in colonies.new spirit and meaning in colonies.

What factors help explain the What factors help explain the movement away from the severe movement away from the severe faith of the Puritans?faith of the Puritans?

Say What?!?!Say What?!?!

Enlightenment thinkers de-emphasized Enlightenment thinkers de-emphasized “grace” and “pre-destination” in favor of “grace” and “pre-destination” in favor of ““moral choicemoral choice” and ” and scientificscientific inquiry.inquiry.– ““virtue,” “order,” “reason,” virtue,” “order,” “reason,”

“sympathy”“sympathy” How do you think religious figures felt How do you think religious figures felt

about this changing view of the universe about this changing view of the universe and how people should function within it?and how people should function within it?

But What About But What About Providence?Providence?

Enlightenment brought a new, exciting Enlightenment brought a new, exciting way of seeing the universe…way of seeing the universe…

universe as an universe as an orderly system orderly system With application of With application of reason reason, humanity , humanity

would comprehend universe (think of would comprehend universe (think of Newton’s Laws). Newton’s Laws).

How might this change the way the How might this change the way the common man felt about religion and Godcommon man felt about religion and God??– Not necessarily a rejection…Not necessarily a rejection…

““Benjamin Franklin Benjamin Franklin Drawing Drawing Down Electricity Down Electricity from the Sky”from the Sky” (Benjamin West, ca. 1816)(Benjamin West, ca. 1816)

““I Just Believe in Science, I Just Believe in Science, Okay!”Okay!”

““Know then thyself, presume not Know then thyself, presume not God to scan/The proper study of God to scan/The proper study of mankind is man.” (Alexander mankind is man.” (Alexander Pope)Pope)

What does that mean?What does that mean?

The Philosophy

DeismDeism

Many of these thinkers (including Many of these thinkers (including Jefferson and Franklin) called Jefferson and Franklin) called themselves “Deists.”themselves “Deists.”

Man can deduce the existence of Man can deduce the existence of a supreme being from the fact a supreme being from the fact that the universe exists rather that the universe exists rather than because of what the Bible than because of what the Bible says.says.

What about Fire and What about Fire and Brimstone?Brimstone?

Deists also thought that a Deists also thought that a harmonious universe proves the harmonious universe proves the beneficence of God.beneficence of God.

How might that be?How might that be?

Take Your Buckled Shoes and Take Your Buckled Shoes and Shove ‘Em!Shove ‘Em!

Humankind is naturally good. (What Humankind is naturally good. (What was the Puritan stance on this, again?)was the Puritan stance on this, again?)

““Tabula RasaTabula Rasa” ” The more we understand and The more we understand and

sympathize with each other, the richer sympathize with each other, the richer our social and spiritual lives will be.our social and spiritual lives will be.

And Furthermore…And Furthermore…

““Our business here on Earth is not to Our business here on Earth is not to know all things, but those which know all things, but those which concern our conduct.” (Locke)concern our conduct.” (Locke)

So are these people entirely different So are these people entirely different from the Puritans? What’s similar?from the Puritans? What’s similar?

Founders and Faith?Founders and Faith?– ““Nature’s God,” “natural rights” and Nature’s God,” “natural rights” and

“public religion”“public religion”

Neo-ClassicismNeo-Classicism

What would be the best way for What would be the best way for writers in this era to articulate writers in this era to articulate their views?their views?

What is the function of their What is the function of their writing, and how does it differ writing, and how does it differ from the function of Puritan from the function of Puritan writing?writing?

Are there similarities?Are there similarities?

RhetoricRhetoricToday this term means “the art of speaking or writing Today this term means “the art of speaking or writing effectively (especially persuasive speaking or writing).” In effectively (especially persuasive speaking or writing).” In Franklin’s time the term meant the same thing, but more Franklin’s time the term meant the same thing, but more precisely it stood for “the study of principles and rules of precisely it stood for “the study of principles and rules of composition formulated by critics of ancient times.”composition formulated by critics of ancient times.”

LogicLogicA system of rules used to express reasoningA system of rules used to express reasoning

ReasonReasonIf one is “rational,” then he has the ability “to reason.” If one is “rational,” then he has the ability “to reason.” What does it mean to reason? Reasoning is a type of What does it mean to reason? Reasoning is a type of thinking used to seek a truth through cause and effect thinking used to seek a truth through cause and effect and through drawing conclusions.and through drawing conclusions.

Socratic MethodSocratic MethodA technique in which a debater does not argue directly but A technique in which a debater does not argue directly but instead asks a series of questions, with the result that the instead asks a series of questions, with the result that the opponent comes either to the desired knowledge by opponent comes either to the desired knowledge by answering the questions or to a deeper awareness of the answering the questions or to a deeper awareness of the limits of his knowledge. limits of his knowledge.

Those Greeks Had It Those Greeks Had It Right…Right…

These writers saw the lit. of the These writers saw the lit. of the ancient Greeks and Romans as the ancient Greeks and Romans as the ideal to which all must aspire.ideal to which all must aspire.

Emulation of these “classical” Emulation of these “classical” styles and traditionsstyles and traditions

Restraint rather than emotionRestraint rather than emotion Dignified, refined and decorous Dignified, refined and decorous

languagelanguage

Should We Be Wearing Should We Be Wearing Togas?Togas?

Writing, especially poetry, was seen Writing, especially poetry, was seen as having a public function; it was as having a public function; it was not seen as a means for private, not seen as a means for private, individual expression.individual expression.

A mode through which timeless A mode through which timeless truths could be imparted.truths could be imparted.

““self-help”self-help” ““Chicken Soup for the Rational Soul”?Chicken Soup for the Rational Soul”?

Artifacts of Different ErasArtifacts of Different ErasThou hast a house on high erect,Thou hast a house on high erect,Framed by that mighty Architect,Framed by that mighty Architect,With glory richly furnished,With glory richly furnished,Stands permanent though this be Stands permanent though this be

fled.fled.It’s purchased and paid for tooIt’s purchased and paid for tooBy Him who hath enough to do.By Him who hath enough to do.A price so vast as is unknownA price so vast as is unknownYet by His gift is made thine own;Yet by His gift is made thine own;There’s wealth enough, I need no There’s wealth enough, I need no

more,more,Farewell, my pelf, farewell my Farewell, my pelf, farewell my

store.store.The world no longer let me love,The world no longer let me love,My hope and treasure lies above.My hope and treasure lies above.

(Bradstreet, (Bradstreet, 1666)1666)

While virtue warms the generous breast,While virtue warms the generous breast,There heaven-born freedom shall reside,There heaven-born freedom shall reside,Nor shall the voice of war molest,Nor shall the voice of war molest,Nor Europe’s all-aspiring pride –Nor Europe’s all-aspiring pride –There Reason shall new laws devise,There Reason shall new laws devise,And order from confusion rise.And order from confusion rise.Forsaking kings and regal state,Forsaking kings and regal state,With all their pomp and fancied bliss,With all their pomp and fancied bliss,The traveler [admits], convinced though The traveler [admits], convinced though

late,late,No realm so free, so blessed as this –No realm so free, so blessed as this –The east is half to slaves consigned,The east is half to slaves consigned,Where kings and priests enchain the Where kings and priests enchain the

mind.mind.(“On the Religion of Nature,” (“On the Religion of Nature,”

Philip Philip Freneau, 1785) Freneau, 1785)

Order and VirtueOrder and Virtue

We should organize our lives into an We should organize our lives into an ordered sequence of reasoned and ordered sequence of reasoned and virtuous thoughts and behaviorsvirtuous thoughts and behaviors

Aim is “human perfection”Aim is “human perfection” How would the Puritans have felt How would the Puritans have felt

about the concept of humans about the concept of humans perfecting themselves for perfecting themselves for themselves and by themselves?themselves and by themselves?

The Literature

The Declaration of Independence(1776)

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

Declaration of IndependenceDeclaration of Independence Drafted by Thomas

Jefferson People had the right to

“alter or abolish unjust governments.”

Popular sovereignty All government power

comes from the people King had trampled the

peoples’ natural rights. Colonists now had the right

to rebel

John Trumbull (1756 –1843): Declaration of Independence (1817)

LITERARY CHARACTERISTICS

emphasis on logic and rational thought, not emotions; emphasis on the social/good of the community, not the individual

presence of numerous classical allusions; use of satire; use of elevated diction; formal style that adhered to set rhyme schemes, such as couplets; two-dimensional characters or stock types that represent a class or vice

Influence of Drama-comic satires rise of literary magazines novel in various forms, including picaresque, gothic, and

novel of manners

Newspapers and Books Many newspapers! Colonists began to publish their own

books Almanacs were very popular. Published poetry, regional history,

autobiographies “Captive Narrative” was a unique form of

literature found in the colonies It told the stories of people captured by

Indians

Literature of the American Revolution:

in an age of revolution, literature was of course greatly influenced by political texts

non-fictional textse.g. Thomas Paine: Common Sense (1776),

Thomas Jefferson: Notes on the State of Virginia (1782)

Key Writers of the Age of Reason

Ben Franklin

1706-1790 Philosopher, scientist,

publisher, legislator, and diplomat

Relationship with France “First American”

– Colonial unity– Idea of an American

nation

Michel-Guillaume Jean de Crèvecoeur (1753-1813)

“farmer’s letters”: Letters From An American Farmer (1782)

a series of letters, Set in rural America on the cusp of the

Revolution, these pieces celebrate the independence of the yeoman farmer from the hierarchy and corruption of the Old World

Crevecoeur illustrates the idealized version of a free society, America, a civic-humanist ideal of the freehold farm, virtuous independence and incorruptibility

Philip Freneau (1752-832):

“Father of American Poetry”

Poet of American Independence: Freneau provides incentive and inspiration to the revolution by writing such poems as "The Rising Glory of America" (1771) and "Pictures of Columbus.“ (1774) (patriotic verse)

first American poet to write about the Indians:“The Indian Burying Ground” (1788); “The Dying Indian” (1784)

anti-slavery poetry: “To Sir Toby” (1792)

Phillis Wheatley

On Being Brought from Africa to America

'Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,

Taught my benighted soul to understand

That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too:

Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.

Some view our sable race with scornful eye,

Their colour is a diabolic die.

Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain,

May be refin'd and join th'angelic train.

(1773)

‘The first African-American to print a book (of poetry)’