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The Colonial Period in American Literature

The Colonial Period in American Literature. English 11 Mrs. Bozinko. The Time Period. Mid 1600’s – 1750 Colonization and survival Religious thought Moral judgment. Northern Settlers: The Pilgrims. Led by William Bradford Fall of 1620 landed in Plymouth, MA

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The Colonial Period in American Literature

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  1. The Colonial Period in American Literature English 11 Mrs. Bozinko

  2. The Time Period • Mid 1600’s – 1750 • Colonization and survival • Religious thought • Moral judgment

  3. Northern Settlers: The Pilgrims • Led by William Bradford • Fall of 1620 landed in Plymouth, MA • Spring of 1621 only 50 survivors • Religious reformers • Withdrew from church of England • Nickname: Separatists (protestant)

  4. The Puritans: A Social and Cultural Force • Led by John Winthrop • Established Massachusetts Bay Colony 1628 • Religious Reformers • Stayed within Church of England to PURify from within • THEOCRACY • Radical • Conservative • Nickname: Calvinists

  5. The Puritans • Most important in American Literature • Well educated • Primarily middle class • Grounded in religious beliefs • Believed in Pre-Destination and election • Wanted ideal society • Is there somewhere better than here?

  6. Pre-Destination

  7. Puritan Beliefs • Believed in omnipotent God • Believed in unmerciful God • Believed in the Bible • Believed in Original Sin • Believed in Pre-Destination • Believed in Education for men AND women • Believed in daily workings of God • Believed in Puritan work ethic

  8. Great Awakening • 1730’s • Led by Jonathan Edwards and clergy • Bring Puritans back • Series of tent meetings • Greater importance on individual and spiritual experience

  9. Covenant Theology • Second religious movement • Soften idea of pre-destination • Gives control • Must do TWO things: • Believe in deity • Do good deeds on earth

  10. The Literature of the Puritans • NO novels • NO short stories • NO drama • Little poetry • Mostly ALL nonfiction! • Anne Bradstreet, Edward Taylor, Jonathan Edwards

  11. The Function of Puritan Writers • 1. To instruct people about secular things on a religious level • 2. To make God more relevant to the universe. • 3. To glorify God.

  12. Subject and Style • RELIGION AND GOD • Daily life • Simple style of writing

  13. What did they write? Journals Diaries History Biography Autobiography Religious studies Hymns Sermons Some metaphysical poetry

  14. Metaphysical Poetry • England had romantic poetry • Difficult and thought provoking • Shows man’s place in universe • Puritan’s plagiarized English Metaphysical poetry • Puritan Poetry = English Metaphysical Poetry

  15. Characteristics of Metaphysical Poetry 1. Follows a logical pattern; poem as argument POET VS. GOD POET VS. LOVER POET VS. HIMSELF 2. Can be intellectual, analytical, psychological 3. Theme: physical death, religion, physical love 4. Diction: Simple word choice 5. Deals with IMAGERY: common place, ordinary 6. Conceit = extended metaphor

  16. The Puritan Legacy

  17. The Real Puritan Legacy • First free public school • Founded Harvard and Yale • Set up first printing press in colonies • The need for moral justification for private, public, and governmental acts. • The Questing for Freedom • The Puritan work ethic. • fascination with death. • The city upon the hill

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