American Literature before Puritans
calendar of chronology 1) Native American Literature
2) Pre colonial Literature (before 1620)
3) Puritan Literature (1620-1730s)
4) The Enlightenment (1730-1800s) / The Literature Of New Republic (1776-1830s)
5) Romanticism (1815-1860s)
6) Realism (1860-1890)
7) Naturalism (1890-1920)
8) Modernism (1910/1915-1940s)
9) Southern Fiction (1930-today)
10) American Drama (1920-today)
11) Social Novel (1930)
12) Black and Jewish Literature (after 1940s)
13) The War Literature (after 1940s)
14) Women's Literature (after 1940s)
15) Non Fiction Novel (after WWII)
16) Post Modern Fiction (after WWII)
17) Mystery Fiction
before Puritans The Literature of the New World and Native American Texts
"Stories of the Beginning" - large number of the stories of creation
- each tribe's story was similar, as they wanted to explain their beginnings, show how they appeared
- stories were created probably thousands of years ago
- oral tradition - passed from generation to generation; important person in the tribe says the
story, and it goes on
the stories we know now were caught in 20th c. by writers and they might be somehow changed
through the years, as long stories might lose details etc.
MAN + FLORA + FAUNA (humans + plants + animals)
"The Time When There - 1st man creating in the universe of this tribe - inside the plant, world of nature and man "a dark
Were No People on the object... raven-god" God that have features of man and animal
Earth Plain" - there is no specific time that these were created, like "looong looong ago" as in tale
- usually started with "Before people came..." or "When coyote (or other animal) was a man.."
Pre-Colonial Literature Puritan Writers in Colonial America
Europeans writing about - texts about the view of colorful America, rich country, good climate, wonderful people (natives)
"New World" → America - Columbus and sailors show how they looked at the America from European perspective
- Amateur writes writing about the New World, gave certain picture of this part of the world
- often wrongfully not included as American Literature, because it was written by Europeans
travelling - colonial reasons, occupying the land (expeditions, tourism)
- religious reasons - spreading Christianity
text - Christopher addressee: Your Highnesses (to convince Ferdinand and Isabella [Spain] to continue funding his
Columbus "The Journal voyages)
of the 1st voyage" - the only religion is Christianity, no other matter
- people living there, with friends and family - Columbus interrupts and shows no respect telling
them they go with him back to Britain
poem - Michael Drayton Virginia → Virginia Colony (tribute to the Queen Virgin)
"To the Virginian Voyage" - beginning of the 17th century, written 100 years after Columbus
- all positive aspects of the New World, allusions to myth - idealizing reality
- Virginia as only paradise, golden age
- Drayton probably represents British government at this time, "we should go there"
- They created the "American Dream" and somehow influenced further literary works
, Puritan Literature
Puritan Literature - started at the beginning of the 17th century
(Puritanism) - 1620 - Puritans arrive on 3 ships to the American Colony (refugees)
- mission: to spread religion in the New World, to simplify the church, wanted a change
- Puritans are protestants, strongly focused on family, aware of economics
- goal: to survive in the New World, certain focus on individual freedom
- Puritans strongly follow the Bible - in the daily life and literature (some followed biblical writing
style)
Puritanism → religion, government, lifestyle
the middle of 17th c. Puritan strength in America, development of the country, they were aware of importance of
education → 1st institution of higher education in America - 1636 Harvard College
predestination God already decided what happens with people after death → salvation and condemnation;
belief that God gives visible signs who will be taken to heaven
providence active presence of God; God's hands and eyes are upon you → good behavior will be rewarded, bad
punished
Puritans hated drama experienced Shakespeare plays in Britain; in Elizabethan theatre most of plays were comedies, and
puritans were realistic and strict
characteristics of - fact-oriented literature
literary works - didactic texts, journal reports, memoirs
- poetry well-expressing feelings
- sermons (orations/lectures by a preacher)
- topics: 80% religion, 20% moral aspects of life
end of Puritans around 1730/1740 (they move, new families look for new place to live, so they are moving)
Puritan writers 1) William Bradford
2) Mary Rowlandson
3) Sarah Kemble Knight
4) Anne Bradstreet
5) Edward Taylor
6) Cotton Mather
7) Michael Wigglesworth
8) Roger Williams
9) William Bird II
William Bradford - born in Britain, came to America, Massachusetts, in 1620 on "Mayflower" ship
- founder and elected a long-time governor of the Plymouth Colony (responsible of agriculture etc.)
- an example to be followed, called "a living saint" by other Puritans
- professional farmer, knew a lot, also the economy of agriculture
- possibly the 1st author in the America
text - William Bradford historical, fact-based text, one of the most important early chronicles of the settlement in New
"Of Plymouth Plantation" England
fact literature authors (journals, diaries)
Mary Rowlandson - her faith was very strong
- taken into captivity by Native Americans
narrative - M. Rowlandson during King Phillip Wars - many puritans were kept under captivity, she with her children also (one
"The narrative of of them died under captivity)
captivity and restoration" - based on fact, but also has a religious aspect
- enslavement/captivity motive
, Puritan Literature
Sarah Kemble Knight participated in the journey Boston → New York
journal - S. K. Knight
"The Private Journal of Boston was a strongly puritan place and New York was a harbor and cosmopolitan place
a Journey from Boston - listed the differences between people from Boston and New York
to New York"
Jonathan Edwards - lived in the 18th c.
- offered inoculation (vaccination) to indigenous people but no one wanted it, so he gave it to
himself
- wise and educated person, academic position - Princeton College (today Princeton University)
- represented the great awakening - religious movement in the time of religious crisis
(enlightenment is coming), his intention was to bring people to strong Puritanism again
- criticised as a clergymen
- writer of sermons
text - Jonathan
Edwards "Sinners in the gathering people back to the faith and church by showing them the threatening vision of hell, as
Hands of Angry God" only their God is a way to keep them away from hell
Anne Bradstreet - 1st published poet in America (her works were published in England)
- 1st woman to be recognised as an accomplished New World Poet
- Bradstreet family - influential and well known (father and husband were diplomats)
- woman position at that time - male-oriented culture, woman had hard times
motives in the poetry - her own art
- religious and moral poems - didactic
- poetic family chronicle - devoting a poem to something important that happens in her family, joy
and sadness, burning of the house, death of her child
poem - Anne Bradford introduction by a 3rd voice (medieval), debate poetry in a sarcastic tone, metaphysical conceit
"The Flesh and The Spirit" (comparison of things that are very dissimilar at first glance), personified abstractions of a
constant dialogue between flesh (body), who is sinning and spirit (soul) which has higher religious
meaning
poem - Anne Bradford the author wears kind of mask, as she wants to be equal as men, she does not want to be
"The Prologue" censored, men might be better but woman need space to create too, feminism
poem - Anne Bradford
"Verses upon Burning she prays to God to give her faith, to distress
of our House"
Edward Taylor - born in England in 1642, died in Massachusetts in 1729
- educated man, studied at Harvard College - clergymen
- his poetry was kind of forgotten, and discovered in the 20th century
- invented meditations (2 main series)
meditations poetic commentaries of the fragments of the Bible read in the church every week, chosen by
Christian calendar
topics - religious - relationship sinners-God; motive of grace
certain scenario - poor sinner who is helplessly and hopelessly thinking about heaven and
predestination, but he can't obtain it, because of people who deserve heaven more; he tries to be
poem - Edward Taylor seen by God to have a chance to enter the heaven; sinner usually reaches the heaven - God's grace
"Prologue"
poem - Edward Taylor position of man is minimized, as the significance is on God, vivid description of God, Hell as a
"Meditation 39" forceful phenomenon, a speech between Jesus (advocate) and sinner (client); motive of grace, as
sinner cannot deliver any evidence do God but God is convinced and they enter heaven
poem - Edward Taylor
"Upon a Spider Catching poem concerning aspect of temptation, as fly is a sinner, potentially human, spider is the devil;
a Fly" spider’s net is almost invisible and fly gets caught in it
calendar of chronology 1) Native American Literature
2) Pre colonial Literature (before 1620)
3) Puritan Literature (1620-1730s)
4) The Enlightenment (1730-1800s) / The Literature Of New Republic (1776-1830s)
5) Romanticism (1815-1860s)
6) Realism (1860-1890)
7) Naturalism (1890-1920)
8) Modernism (1910/1915-1940s)
9) Southern Fiction (1930-today)
10) American Drama (1920-today)
11) Social Novel (1930)
12) Black and Jewish Literature (after 1940s)
13) The War Literature (after 1940s)
14) Women's Literature (after 1940s)
15) Non Fiction Novel (after WWII)
16) Post Modern Fiction (after WWII)
17) Mystery Fiction
before Puritans The Literature of the New World and Native American Texts
"Stories of the Beginning" - large number of the stories of creation
- each tribe's story was similar, as they wanted to explain their beginnings, show how they appeared
- stories were created probably thousands of years ago
- oral tradition - passed from generation to generation; important person in the tribe says the
story, and it goes on
the stories we know now were caught in 20th c. by writers and they might be somehow changed
through the years, as long stories might lose details etc.
MAN + FLORA + FAUNA (humans + plants + animals)
"The Time When There - 1st man creating in the universe of this tribe - inside the plant, world of nature and man "a dark
Were No People on the object... raven-god" God that have features of man and animal
Earth Plain" - there is no specific time that these were created, like "looong looong ago" as in tale
- usually started with "Before people came..." or "When coyote (or other animal) was a man.."
Pre-Colonial Literature Puritan Writers in Colonial America
Europeans writing about - texts about the view of colorful America, rich country, good climate, wonderful people (natives)
"New World" → America - Columbus and sailors show how they looked at the America from European perspective
- Amateur writes writing about the New World, gave certain picture of this part of the world
- often wrongfully not included as American Literature, because it was written by Europeans
travelling - colonial reasons, occupying the land (expeditions, tourism)
- religious reasons - spreading Christianity
text - Christopher addressee: Your Highnesses (to convince Ferdinand and Isabella [Spain] to continue funding his
Columbus "The Journal voyages)
of the 1st voyage" - the only religion is Christianity, no other matter
- people living there, with friends and family - Columbus interrupts and shows no respect telling
them they go with him back to Britain
poem - Michael Drayton Virginia → Virginia Colony (tribute to the Queen Virgin)
"To the Virginian Voyage" - beginning of the 17th century, written 100 years after Columbus
- all positive aspects of the New World, allusions to myth - idealizing reality
- Virginia as only paradise, golden age
- Drayton probably represents British government at this time, "we should go there"
- They created the "American Dream" and somehow influenced further literary works
, Puritan Literature
Puritan Literature - started at the beginning of the 17th century
(Puritanism) - 1620 - Puritans arrive on 3 ships to the American Colony (refugees)
- mission: to spread religion in the New World, to simplify the church, wanted a change
- Puritans are protestants, strongly focused on family, aware of economics
- goal: to survive in the New World, certain focus on individual freedom
- Puritans strongly follow the Bible - in the daily life and literature (some followed biblical writing
style)
Puritanism → religion, government, lifestyle
the middle of 17th c. Puritan strength in America, development of the country, they were aware of importance of
education → 1st institution of higher education in America - 1636 Harvard College
predestination God already decided what happens with people after death → salvation and condemnation;
belief that God gives visible signs who will be taken to heaven
providence active presence of God; God's hands and eyes are upon you → good behavior will be rewarded, bad
punished
Puritans hated drama experienced Shakespeare plays in Britain; in Elizabethan theatre most of plays were comedies, and
puritans were realistic and strict
characteristics of - fact-oriented literature
literary works - didactic texts, journal reports, memoirs
- poetry well-expressing feelings
- sermons (orations/lectures by a preacher)
- topics: 80% religion, 20% moral aspects of life
end of Puritans around 1730/1740 (they move, new families look for new place to live, so they are moving)
Puritan writers 1) William Bradford
2) Mary Rowlandson
3) Sarah Kemble Knight
4) Anne Bradstreet
5) Edward Taylor
6) Cotton Mather
7) Michael Wigglesworth
8) Roger Williams
9) William Bird II
William Bradford - born in Britain, came to America, Massachusetts, in 1620 on "Mayflower" ship
- founder and elected a long-time governor of the Plymouth Colony (responsible of agriculture etc.)
- an example to be followed, called "a living saint" by other Puritans
- professional farmer, knew a lot, also the economy of agriculture
- possibly the 1st author in the America
text - William Bradford historical, fact-based text, one of the most important early chronicles of the settlement in New
"Of Plymouth Plantation" England
fact literature authors (journals, diaries)
Mary Rowlandson - her faith was very strong
- taken into captivity by Native Americans
narrative - M. Rowlandson during King Phillip Wars - many puritans were kept under captivity, she with her children also (one
"The narrative of of them died under captivity)
captivity and restoration" - based on fact, but also has a religious aspect
- enslavement/captivity motive
, Puritan Literature
Sarah Kemble Knight participated in the journey Boston → New York
journal - S. K. Knight
"The Private Journal of Boston was a strongly puritan place and New York was a harbor and cosmopolitan place
a Journey from Boston - listed the differences between people from Boston and New York
to New York"
Jonathan Edwards - lived in the 18th c.
- offered inoculation (vaccination) to indigenous people but no one wanted it, so he gave it to
himself
- wise and educated person, academic position - Princeton College (today Princeton University)
- represented the great awakening - religious movement in the time of religious crisis
(enlightenment is coming), his intention was to bring people to strong Puritanism again
- criticised as a clergymen
- writer of sermons
text - Jonathan
Edwards "Sinners in the gathering people back to the faith and church by showing them the threatening vision of hell, as
Hands of Angry God" only their God is a way to keep them away from hell
Anne Bradstreet - 1st published poet in America (her works were published in England)
- 1st woman to be recognised as an accomplished New World Poet
- Bradstreet family - influential and well known (father and husband were diplomats)
- woman position at that time - male-oriented culture, woman had hard times
motives in the poetry - her own art
- religious and moral poems - didactic
- poetic family chronicle - devoting a poem to something important that happens in her family, joy
and sadness, burning of the house, death of her child
poem - Anne Bradford introduction by a 3rd voice (medieval), debate poetry in a sarcastic tone, metaphysical conceit
"The Flesh and The Spirit" (comparison of things that are very dissimilar at first glance), personified abstractions of a
constant dialogue between flesh (body), who is sinning and spirit (soul) which has higher religious
meaning
poem - Anne Bradford the author wears kind of mask, as she wants to be equal as men, she does not want to be
"The Prologue" censored, men might be better but woman need space to create too, feminism
poem - Anne Bradford
"Verses upon Burning she prays to God to give her faith, to distress
of our House"
Edward Taylor - born in England in 1642, died in Massachusetts in 1729
- educated man, studied at Harvard College - clergymen
- his poetry was kind of forgotten, and discovered in the 20th century
- invented meditations (2 main series)
meditations poetic commentaries of the fragments of the Bible read in the church every week, chosen by
Christian calendar
topics - religious - relationship sinners-God; motive of grace
certain scenario - poor sinner who is helplessly and hopelessly thinking about heaven and
predestination, but he can't obtain it, because of people who deserve heaven more; he tries to be
poem - Edward Taylor seen by God to have a chance to enter the heaven; sinner usually reaches the heaven - God's grace
"Prologue"
poem - Edward Taylor position of man is minimized, as the significance is on God, vivid description of God, Hell as a
"Meditation 39" forceful phenomenon, a speech between Jesus (advocate) and sinner (client); motive of grace, as
sinner cannot deliver any evidence do God but God is convinced and they enter heaven
poem - Edward Taylor
"Upon a Spider Catching poem concerning aspect of temptation, as fly is a sinner, potentially human, spider is the devil;
a Fly" spider’s net is almost invisible and fly gets caught in it
