The Pilgrims & The The Pilgrims & The PuritansPuritans

American LiteratureAmerican Literature

Ms. WhislerMs. Whisler

Two Types of Puritans:Two Types of Puritans:Separatists Separatists

Held irreconcilable Held irreconcilable differences with the Church differences with the Church of England; they thought of England; they thought the church was corrupt and the church was corrupt and that they must distance that they must distance themselves from ithemselves from i

Were persecuted under Were persecuted under various monarchies in various monarchies in EnglandEngland

First fled from England to First fled from England to HollandHolland

Later, came to found the Later, came to found the Plymouth Colony in Plymouth Colony in America in 1620America in 1620

PilgrimsPilgrims

Non-SeparatistsNon-Separatists Held less extreme views of Held less extreme views of

the Church of Englandthe Church of England Believed in church reform Believed in church reform

rather than an overthrow rather than an overthrow of the churchof the church

Came to America in 1630 Came to America in 1630 and founded the and founded the Massachusetts Bay ColonyMassachusetts Bay Colony

Doctrine of Election / Doctrine of Election / Predestination:Predestination:

Man is innately sinful; Man is innately sinful; original sin means that original sin means that we are incapable of any we are incapable of any depravitydepravity

Only those who are Only those who are chosen by God (the elect) chosen by God (the elect) are saved; salvation is are saved; salvation is not based on your beliefs not based on your beliefs or good worksor good works

The grace of Christ The grace of Christ allows the chosen the allows the chosen the strength to follow the strength to follow the will of Godwill of God

The chosen will follow The chosen will follow the path of righteousnessthe path of righteousness

Predestination Predestination continued…continued…

No one knew who was or No one knew who was or was not saved. Puritans was not saved. Puritans believed that you must have believed that you must have a conversion experience in a conversion experience in order to be accepted by order to be accepted by God. God’s grace was given God. God’s grace was given to the chosen, and this to the chosen, and this grace was demonstrated grace was demonstrated through one’s behavior. through one’s behavior. Puritans would, therefore, Puritans would, therefore, reflect upon themselves reflect upon themselves (self-examination) for signs (self-examination) for signs of this grace. So, even of this grace. So, even though they did not believe though they did not believe good works helped one get good works helped one get into heaven, they believed into heaven, they believed that living a godly life was that living a godly life was evidence of being chosen. evidence of being chosen.

As a result of their belief in As a result of their belief in predestination, Puritans:predestination, Puritans:

Were always looking Were always looking for signsfor signs

Scrutinized daily Scrutinized daily events events

Thought there was Thought there was always a reason for always a reason for everythingeverything

Felt that God’s hand Felt that God’s hand was in everything, no was in everything, no matter how matter how insignificantinsignificant

Puritan Beliefs & Values:Puritan Beliefs & Values: Puritans believed in a literal interpretation of the Puritans believed in a literal interpretation of the

BibleBible They believed in explicit readings of the Bible, as They believed in explicit readings of the Bible, as

opposed to church doctrinesopposed to church doctrines They did not believe in excess worship; they They did not believe in excess worship; they

wanted no rituals, adornments, no stained glass, wanted no rituals, adornments, no stained glass, no cushioned pews, no singing, and no musicno cushioned pews, no singing, and no music

They wanted to keep things simple so that they They wanted to keep things simple so that they could concentrate on God could concentrate on God

There is a constant struggle between the forces There is a constant struggle between the forces of God and Satanof God and Satan

God rewards the good and punishes the wickedGod rewards the good and punishes the wicked

Education & Work Ethic:Education & Work Ethic: They believed in living a virtuous, They believed in living a virtuous,

self-examined lifeself-examined life They believed in strict discipline They believed in strict discipline

and had a strong work ethicand had a strong work ethic They felt that qualities that led to They felt that qualities that led to

economic success were virtuouseconomic success were virtuous They valued educationThey valued education Harvard was founded in 1636 to Harvard was founded in 1636 to

train ministerstrain ministers They wanted their children to get They wanted their children to get

far away from the evils of Englandfar away from the evils of England Children were not allowed to play Children were not allowed to play

games; boys were taught to go games; boys were taught to go hunting and fishing, while girls hunting and fishing, while girls were taught how to run a were taught how to run a householdhousehold

Women were considered less Women were considered less capable intellectually, physically, capable intellectually, physically, theologically, and morally (Eve was theologically, and morally (Eve was the first sinner)the first sinner)

Literature for pleasure was highly Literature for pleasure was highly censoredcensored

Puritan Literature & Puritan Literature & Writings:Writings:

They did not write for pleasure or entertainment. They did not write for pleasure or entertainment. One reason was the fact that they were One reason was the fact that they were struggling to built their settlement. Another struggling to built their settlement. Another reason was the fact that they considered works reason was the fact that they considered works of fiction frivolous and possibly immoral.of fiction frivolous and possibly immoral.

Types of texts:Types of texts:- historical documents: preserving their history - historical documents: preserving their history and offering justifications to relieve the guilt they and offering justifications to relieve the guilt they felt over leaving relatives behind in Englandfelt over leaving relatives behind in England- personal journals: as tools for self-reflection/ - personal journals: as tools for self-reflection/ examination and as a way to look for signs of examination and as a way to look for signs of salvationsalvation- poetry, but highly inspired by religious beliefs- poetry, but highly inspired by religious beliefs- religious tracts- religious tracts

Puritan Plain Style:Puritan Plain Style: Plain Style: a mode of expression Plain Style: a mode of expression

characterized by its clarity, accessibility, characterized by its clarity, accessibility, straightforwardness, simplicity, and lack of straightforwardness, simplicity, and lack of ornamentation. In early America, the plain ornamentation. In early America, the plain style aesthetic had broad cultural relevance, style aesthetic had broad cultural relevance, shaping the language of prose and poetry, the shaping the language of prose and poetry, the design of furniture and architecture, painting design of furniture and architecture, painting and other visual arts. Rejecting ornamental and other visual arts. Rejecting ornamental flourishes and superfluous decoration as flourishes and superfluous decoration as sinful vanity, plain stylists worked to glorify sinful vanity, plain stylists worked to glorify God in their expressions rather than to show God in their expressions rather than to show off their own artistry or claim any renown for off their own artistry or claim any renown for themselves. This aesthetic appealed to both themselves. This aesthetic appealed to both Puritans and Quakers. Puritans and Quakers.

William BradfordWilliam Bradford