The PuritansThe Puritans

English III: American English III: American LiteratureLiterature

Northeastern High SchoolNortheastern High School

Mrs. NagyMrs. Nagy

Who were the Puritans?Who were the Puritans?

The Puritans were a religious group The Puritans were a religious group from England who held very from England who held very different values form other different values form other predominant English religions.predominant English religions.

Often referred to in Europe as Often referred to in Europe as separatists because they usually separatists because they usually isolated themselves. isolated themselves.

Isolation was both by choice and Isolation was both by choice and necessity.necessity.

Coming to AmericaComing to America

The Puritans left England for the New The Puritans left England for the New World throughout the 1600s for the World throughout the 1600s for the same reasons many groups did…same reasons many groups did… Seeking relief from religious Seeking relief from religious

persecutionpersecution Wanted to be able to freely practice Wanted to be able to freely practice

their own religiontheir own religion

They settled mostly along the coast of They settled mostly along the coast of Massachusetts.Massachusetts.

Puritan BeliefsPuritan Beliefs Religion was a Religion was a

personal, inner personal, inner experienceexperience

All of humanity was All of humanity was “damned” eternally by “damned” eternally by the sin of Adam and the sin of Adam and Eve and individuals Eve and individuals had to work very hard had to work very hard to overcome this and to overcome this and become pure (hence become pure (hence the name PURitans). the name PURitans).

Unpure leaders of Unpure leaders of government and government and churches could come churches could come between the individual between the individual and God. and God.

Puritan Beliefs Puritan Beliefs ContinuedContinued

Puritans sought after Puritans sought after God contantly – in order God contantly – in order to be saved one had to to be saved one had to “purify” hir or her “purify” hir or her entire lifestyle and live entire lifestyle and live in a “Godly” manner. in a “Godly” manner.

The Bible was to be The Bible was to be studied daily and its studied daily and its practices followed practices followed closely. closely.

Sunday, “The Sabbath,” Sunday, “The Sabbath,” was especially was especially important – church was important – church was MANDATORY for MANDATORY for everyone and sermons everyone and sermons were often 3 hours or were often 3 hours or more. more.

Puritan Beliefs ContinuedPuritan Beliefs Continued Church leaders also Church leaders also

led the government led the government and these leaders were and these leaders were chosen basedon signs chosen basedon signs of blessing from God. of blessing from God.

Puritan values:Puritan values: Self-relianceSelf-reliance Hard workHard work ModerationModeration SimplicitySimplicity

They valued these They valued these things because they things because they led to greater led to greater connection with God. connection with God.

Puritan LifestylePuritan Lifestyle Very simple – clothing, Very simple – clothing,

games, literature, hobbiesgames, literature, hobbies Hard working – believed in Hard working – believed in

working hard to achieve working hard to achieve God’s favor, also it was a God’s favor, also it was a necessity.necessity.

Moderation (frugal) – tried Moderation (frugal) – tried not to use more than what not to use more than what they needed; believed excess they needed; believed excess to be a sinto be a sin

Did not believe in pleasure – Did not believe in pleasure – food, fun, sexfood, fun, sex

Judgemental of those who Judgemental of those who did not follow these did not follow these standards – “rule breakers” standards – “rule breakers” were publicly punishedwere publicly punished

Puritan Literature & Puritan Literature & WritingsWritings

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

Types of texts they did write:Types of texts they did write:- 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 examinations - religious examinations - sermons- sermons

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

by its clarity, accessibility, by its clarity, accessibility, straightforwardness, simplicity, and lack of straightforwardness, simplicity, and lack of ornamentation. ornamentation.

In early America, the plain style aesthetic had In early America, the plain style aesthetic had broad cultural relevance, shaping the language broad cultural relevance, shaping the language of prose and poetry, the design of furniture and of prose and poetry, the design of furniture and architecture, painting and other visual arts.architecture, painting and other visual arts.

Rejecting ornamental flourishes and Rejecting ornamental flourishes and superfluous decoration as sinful vanity, plain superfluous decoration as sinful vanity, plain stylists worked to glorify God in their stylists worked to glorify God in their expressions rather than to show off their own expressions rather than to show off their own artistry or claim any renown for themselves. artistry or claim any renown for themselves. This aesthetic appealed to both Puritans and This aesthetic appealed to both Puritans and Quakers. Quakers.