Beginnings of Beginnings of American Literature:American Literature:

The Age of FaithThe Age of Faith

Functions of Native Functions of Native American LiteratureAmerican Literature

Beliefs about nature of physical worldBeliefs about nature of physical world Beliefs about social order and Beliefs about social order and

appropriate behaviorappropriate behavior Beliefs about human nature and the Beliefs about human nature and the

problem of good and evilproblem of good and evil Beings are animals spirits in more or less Beings are animals spirits in more or less

human formhuman form

Elements of MythologyElements of Mythology

Myths explain things. They may be told for entertainment, but Myths explain things. They may be told for entertainment, but they also teach cultural values. They often explain such important they also teach cultural values. They often explain such important matters as how human beings came into existence, or trivial matters as how human beings came into existence, or trivial matters such as why rabbits have short tails.matters such as why rabbits have short tails.

Myths contain supernatural elements. They usually have gods or Myths contain supernatural elements. They usually have gods or goddesses or figures associated with divinities as characters. goddesses or figures associated with divinities as characters. These figures may be human, animals, or other living things, or These figures may be human, animals, or other living things, or even inanimate beings.even inanimate beings.

Myths have dreamlike qualities. Mythic stories typically take place Myths have dreamlike qualities. Mythic stories typically take place in a timeless past, and they contain fantastic and symbolic in a timeless past, and they contain fantastic and symbolic elements often connected with dreams. Like dreams, myths can elements often connected with dreams. Like dreams, myths can bring out human beings’ worst fears and dearest wishes.bring out human beings’ worst fears and dearest wishes.

Myths can be both serious and humorous. Though some myths, Myths can be both serious and humorous. Though some myths, such as dramatic stories of the Greeks, are serious, others such as dramatic stories of the Greeks, are serious, others contain humorous elements as well.contain humorous elements as well.

The North: PuritansThe North: Puritans

In 1620, a hundred or so English men and In 1620, a hundred or so English men and women settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts, women settled in Plymouth, Massachusetts, fleeing from religious persecution.fleeing from religious persecution.

An example of such persecution:An example of such persecution: One Englishman who had written a pamphlet to One Englishman who had written a pamphlet to

reform the Church of England was put in jail, fined, reform the Church of England was put in jail, fined, whipped, had the top of his ears cut off, his whipped, had the top of his ears cut off, his forehead burned with a hot iron, and his nose slit.forehead burned with a hot iron, and his nose slit.

DIVINE MISSIONDIVINE MISSION

John WinthropJohn Winthrop ““We shall be as a City upon a Hill, the eyes We shall be as a City upon a Hill, the eyes

of all people are upon us; so that if we shall of all people are upon us; so that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken and so cause him to have undertaken and so cause him to withdraw his present help from us, we shall withdraw his present help from us, we shall be made a story and a by-word through all be made a story and a by-word through all the world.”the world.”

Bay ColonyBay Colony

Three Puritan PrinciplesThree Puritan Principles

They wished to have their feelings They wished to have their feelings changed through changed through God’s graceGod’s grace. They . They wanted to be cleansed of envy, vanity, wanted to be cleansed of envy, vanity, and lust.and lust.

They valued plainness—They valued plainness—simplicitysimplicity, , especially in church.especially in church.

They saw their bringing Christianity to They saw their bringing Christianity to America as a America as a divine missiondivine mission..

Puritan WritingPuritan Writing

HistoriesHistories William BradfordWilliam Bradford

PoetryPoetry Anne BradstreetAnne Bradstreet

Edward TaylorEdward Taylor

SermonsSermons Jonathan EdwardsJonathan Edwards

Edward TaylorEdward Taylor

The Purpose of Literature is To Edify (instruct or improve)

Puritan BooksPuritan Books The Bay Psalm Book (1640)The Bay Psalm Book (1640)

Translations of the Bible’s Psalms; first book Translations of the Bible’s Psalms; first book published in America.published in America.

The New England Primer (1690)The New England Primer (1690) Spelling and reading book.Spelling and reading book.

The Day of Doom (1662)The Day of Doom (1662) By Michael Wigglesworth; Simple poem By Michael Wigglesworth; Simple poem

about Judgement day. First Best Seller.about Judgement day. First Best Seller.

StylesStyles

Ornate (decorated)Ornate (decorated) Psalm 23 (King James Version)Psalm 23 (King James Version)

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he maketh me to lie down in green pastures; he leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of my soul; he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I righteousness for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me…staff, they comfort me…

StylesStyles

PlainePlaine Psalm 23 (Bay Psalm Book)Psalm 23 (Bay Psalm Book)

The lord to me a shepherd is.The lord to me a shepherd is.want therefore shall not I.want therefore shall not I.

He in the folds of tender grass,He in the folds of tender grass,doth cause me down to lie.doth cause me down to lie.

To waters calm me gently leads,To waters calm me gently leads,restore my path does he.restore my path does he.

Yea though in valley of death’s shadeYea though in valley of death’s shadeI walk, none ill I’ll fear;I walk, none ill I’ll fear;

Because thou art with me, thy rodBecause thou art with me, thy rodand staff my comfort are.and staff my comfort are.

Important datesImportant dates

1492 Christopher Columbus

1607 Founding of Jamestown

1620 Mayflower on Plymouth Rock

1636 Harvard College Founded

1692 Salem Witch Trials

1740’s Great Awakening

The End of PuritanismThe End of Puritanism

No longer need for theocracy.No longer need for theocracy. Puritans became guilty of religious Puritans became guilty of religious

persecution themselves. persecution themselves. Salem Witch TrialsSalem Witch Trials 1740’s-A revitalization of Puritanism 1740’s-A revitalization of Puritanism

called the Great Awakeningcalled the Great Awakening

The South: PlantersThe South: Planters

Came for Economic ReasonsCame for Economic Reasons Religion is Church of England (Anglican)Religion is Church of England (Anglican) Formed large plantations, often 100 Formed large plantations, often 100

people living on them.people living on them. Literature was more descriptive and less Literature was more descriptive and less

holy in nature.holy in nature.