Puritans

The Puritan (or Colonial) Period (page 134)The time period most often associated with

Puritan (or Colonial) literature is about 1607-1776. This is about from the founding of Jamestown all the way until the American Revolution.

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The Puritan PeoplePuritans are often stereotyped as black-clad self-

righteous moralists. Usually, calling a person a Puritan is not a compliment.

However, this Negative Image is mostly brought about by the sterotypes of the 16th Century Puritans. This Negative Image is actually Largely Untrue.

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The Truth about the Puritans• They valued Hard Work and Self-Sacrifice.

• They viewed Wealth as a reward for a virtuous life.

• They valued family life, community, service, art, and literature.

• They were the first in the colonies to establish printing press, free public grammar schools, and a college (Harvard).

http://www.harvard.edu/

In Regards to their Religion…• Puritans were Arrogant in their religious faith.

• They were completely intolerant of viewpoints (and religions) and were different from their own.

• They focused on Other Christians in an effort to root out the Devil

• Harshly punished others for their beliefs (including with execution).

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Key Beliefs of the Puritans• Human beings are inherently evil and so must

struggle to overcome their sinful nature.

• Personal salvation depends solely on the grace of God, not on

individual effort. (Predestination)

http://peacewanderer.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/baloo-predestination.jpg

• The Bible is the supreme authority on earth.– Bible governs moral/spiritual life– Bible also governs church and society as a whole– Result= Churches more democratic (congregation-

centered)– Result= Repressive political system &intolerant of

others.

Key Beliefs of the Puritans (cont)

Poems of Anne Bradstreet

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Anne Bradstreet• Anne Bradstreet wrote Puritan Poetry.• She lived from 1612 until 1672 and she was the first

notable American Poet in the colonies.• She was born in England, married in 1628, and by

1630 she was sailing to Massachusetts Bay with her Husband.

• Despite her domestic (she had 8 kids) and religious responsibilities she managed to fund time to write some Puritan Poetry.

mainstreetmallonline.com

Anne Bradstreet (cont)• Most poetry in the 17th century

New England was mostly devotional in nature.

• Bradstreet’s poems were unusual due to the personal subject matter of them.– They focused on the realities of life.– They also viewed life in spiritual

(Puritan) context.• This is because she never planned

for these poems to be published! Her brother-in-law published them without her knowing.

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Some terms you need to know (pg 138)• Meter: 1) the repetition of a regular rhythmic unit

in a line of poetry.– each unit is known as a foot. Each foot has 1 stressed

syllable ) & 1 (or 2) unstressed syllables (˘)(̒�• “In silent night when rest I took” (from “Upon the

Burning of Our House) • Iambic Tetrameter (“Husband”=Iambic Pentameter)– Iambic Tetrameter=unstressed-stressed / # of feet

= 4– Iambic Pentameter=unstressed-stressed / # of

feet = 5)

More word you need to know• Archaic Language: Words that were once

commonly used in the past, but are now out-of-dateExamples Include:

TheeYe

Thou

All of these mean… You.

Last word... For these notes at least (promise)

• Inverted Syntax: Reversal of expected order of words– For example: Bradstreet says “when rest I took”

instead of “When I took rest”

Now Lets Read!• Turn to page 139 in your book. Follow along.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbQRMbJmx5g&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=actives.

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Question time.• What would be a summary of what we just read?

• What is valued more than gold in this poem?

• What do you think Bradstreet is saying in the last two lines of this poem?

More Questions• What emotions does Bradstreet express toward her

husband?

• What relationship is seen between earthly love and eternal life (lines 9-12)?

Now Lets Read Some More!• Turn to page 140 in your book. We can either read

as a class or can listen/watch the youtube video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7bEKzp4Bpc&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active

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Question time.• What would be a summary of what we just read?

• What does she conclude about the reason for the fire?

• What does Bradstreet miss about her house?

More Questions• What is Bradstreet comparing to a house in lines 43-

54? What literary term is this?

• Where does she expect to find a permanent home?