North American LiteratureNorth American LiteratureColonial TimeColonial Time

In studying American literature, it is important to understand that although similarities exist between English and American literary styles, there are also great divergences.

After having been politically and culturally dominated by England, it became necessary for Americans to develop a means of expression which could reflect Americans habits, thoughts and ambitious. American society demanded a literature expressed in a new style.

American culture offered characteristics which greatly differed from those of the old cultures of Europe: democracy, the frontier, and a new concept of humanity. By its very nature, American society lacked a definite structure about which to write. Search for identity has always been an outstanding trait in the American literature.

It is necessity to remember that the American population has never been homogeneous, since it is comprised of people of European, African, and Asian ancestry. America has always been a land in which one looked to the future for fulfillment of his expectations.

The emphasis has been upon individualism, dynamism and innovation, rather than upon moderation or respect for an established social hierarchy.

American literature has always reflected the double consciousness of its parent cultures and its own youthful ambition. Up to the first part of the twentieth century, there had been a trend to avoid topics such as the imperfection of humanity or the nation. The literature reflected the process of settlement, the conquering of a continent, the growth of political, social and spiritual ideals.

Although trends do exist, American literature is by no means static. Its temperament changes from decade to decade and it has been subjected to violent shocks through war, economic changes and criticism generated by changes in the intellectual climate. The sentiments of optimism and pessimism mix when America ideals find themselves contradicted by reality.• Gay Literature• Survival Literature• Jewish Literature

EARLY COLONIAL EARLY COLONIAL LITERATURELITERATURE

The early literature was produced by a God centered world. Literary Englishmen believed that was first among the disciplines of learning and all events were ruled by Divine Providence. Thus the writings produced in the early colonial period were fundamentally religious.

American culture and literature were derived from western European culture, literature and civilization. The first English settlement in America was fortunate. Thirteen colonies were spread along the Atlantic coast of the continent and this caused great influence on the American language, ways of thought and civilization.

The first literary manifestations in America tell us the story of New England and Virginia. Two main things forced the English toward America: material improvement and religious freedom.

THE PLANTERSTHE PLANTERSTheir first writings about America came from the colony of Virginia which the British had established around 1584. These writings were mostly advertising to attract more English people to Virginia to establish to invest and explore the new colonies. These first writings portrayed exactly what they saw in the new continent – descriptions of geographic and economic conditions, the climate of the new land and some aspects of indian life. Sometimes their works exaggerated the remarkable wealth of the land.

THE PURITANSTHE PURITANSAt the beginning of the 17th century, a different kind of settler came to New England attempting to escape from the religious persecutions in England. They, the Separatists, now called Pilgrims, wished to purify the forms and rituals of the established Anglican Church.

In 1620, the first group of Protestants arrived in America where they established Plymouth Colony. Ten years later a second group settled down in Massachusetts Bay Colony. These two colonies accepted religion as law, custom and daily care. In 1691 they were joined to form a single colony.

The First Literary The First Literary WorkWork

PURITANISM AS A SCHOOL OF THOUGHTPURITANISM AS A SCHOOL OF THOUGHT

•Religious movement

•Prime mover: God, all powerfull

•Universe: God’s creation, handled by God

•Man: God’s creature, a source of temptation

•Attitude towards life: deterministic, everything was predetermined by God

•Man’s duty: faith, the glorification of God and preparation for after life, to

read the bible

•Social attitude: obedience to authority

•Man’s destiny: election or reprobation

PURITAN LITERATUREPURITAN LITERATURE 

Puritan Literature was a reflection of Puritan life; therefore it was

connected with religious matters. The Puritans literary writers

produced mostly sermons, religious poems, biographies, diaries and

essays. They expressed the experience of building a new land and the

emotional and spiritual life of the individual. Their works were sober

and realistic and were written in plain style. These writers produced a

more refined type of literature. They made use of biblical analogies

and allusions and of homely expressions.

SOME WRITERS OF THIS PERIODSOME WRITERS OF THIS PERIOD

WILLIAM BRADFORD – like all puritans historians, wrote with several guiding principles in mind. No “one” thing could be more important than the other because all things were under Divine control. He was to tell every fact never stressing one fact or minimizing the other.

Works: “The History of the Plymouth Plantation” and “The Mayflower Compact”.

ROGER WILLIAMS – he was considered dangerous for those who thought that uniform beliefs were essential to an effective government. Because of his departure from traditional Puritan beliefs he has a special place in early American literature.

Work: “The Bloody Tenant of Persecution”

ANNE BRADSTREET – she wrote poetry and prose, but it was in poetry that she could show her best style with simplicity and erudition.

Works: “Contemplations”, “The Prologue”, “Meditatios – For My Dear Son Simon Bradstreet” and others.

COTTON MATHER – he is often blamed for causing the fury if the witchcraft scare which led to the trial and execution of nineteen citizens of Salem in 1692. He wanted to prove with his work the existence of devils and witches in New England.

JONATHAN EDWARDS – In the middle of the eighteenth century, when

rigid religious doctrines of the Puritans were beginning to give way to a

practical idealism, Jonathan Edwards attempted to bring back early

American theology. Edwards’ religious beliefs were deep-rooted in the

ideas of John Calvin, who stressed the unquestionable majesty of God

over all things. It was Jonathan Edaward’s concept of a “Divine Light”

flowing from God through various aspects of nature that built the

foundation for the philosophy of Ralph Waldo Emerson.Asserting the presence of sin and evil in the world, Edwards believed that it was the job of the preacher to depict for man the horrors of the world of the devil. Hence, we have the flaming scenes of hellfire and brimstone, the grotesque and violent imagery of “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” Sermons of this type he felt were necessary to encourage his parishioners to strive forever to receive the mystical, wondrous grace of God. We can well imagine Edwards’ words leaping from the pulpit in Einfield, Connecticut where they were first delivered, and searing the minds of their frightened listeners.