Puritans

1620-1758

Literature in Early America

Early colonists did not call
themselves Americans until the
mid 18th century
Roanoke Island, 1580
Jamestown, 1607
Pilgrims landed at Plymouth, 1620
Puritans founded Mass Bay Colony,
1630

Mass Bay Colony

The Puritans were the center of
colonial culture
Found Harvard, 1636
First colonial press, 1638
First American published book, 1640
First colonial newspaper, 1690

Puritan Beliefs
Doctrine of the Original Depravity
Adam and Eve broke the covenant with God
All people were sinners and damned
Doctrine of the Elect
Predestination only a select few would go to
heaven
All sinners must live a holy life you never knew
Being good would not change your damnation

Puritan Concepts
Supremacy of Divine Will
Natural phenomena is the will of God
Un-natural events caused by the
Devils witches
Theocracy
Government controlled by the church
The Devil

Puritan Values
Education created Americas first
schools
Hard Work
Family Life
Community Service
Self-sacrifice
The forest is evil and home to the Devil

Characteristics of Puritan
Writing
The Bible provided a
model for Puritan writing
each individual life was
a journey to salvation.
They saw a direct
connection between
Biblical events
(allusions) and their own
lives.

Characteristics of Puritan
Writing
They used writing to explore the inner and
outer lives for signs of the workings of
God.
Diaries and histories were the most
common types of literature.
They favored a plain style similar to that
of the Geneva Bible and stressed clear
expressions over complicated figures of
speech.

William Bradford
1590-1657
Of Plymouth
Plantation

Described
hardships of
journey to New
World; unshakeable
belief in God.
Plain Style of
writing - few
figures of speech
or metaphors.

Mary Rowlandson
1636-1678
A Narrative of Captivity

Story of capture by
Native Americans;
endured many
hardships
Saw her story as
reflection of Bible
stories of hardshipused allusions to
Biblical stories.

Anne Bradstreet
1612-1672
The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in
AmericaBy a Gentlewoman in Those
Parts
Published in England without her
knowledge.
Explores religion and personal relationship
with God.
Difference - Use of metaphor in writing.

Edward Taylor
1642-1729
The Poetical Works of Edward Taylor
Differed from other Puritan writers use of metaphor in writing.
Explored how his identity was shaped
by Gods Grace.

Huswifery by Edward Taylor

Make me, O Lord, thy Spinning Wheel complete.

Thy Holy Word my Distaff make for me.
Make mine Affections thy Swift Fliers neat
And make my Soul thy holy Spool to be.
My Conversation make to be thy Reel
And reel the yarn thereon spun of thy Wheel.

Analysis of Huswifery
Examines personal relationship with
God.
Shows belief in Gods grace and
rebirth as a saint here on earth.
Differences: Use of metaphor to
compare life and self to weaving and
spinning wheel - avoids the plain
style.

Jonathan Edwards
1703-1758
Fire and brimstone
imagery.
Helped bring about the
Great Awakening.
Tyrannical pastor extreme and strict humans lowly sinners.

The last Puritan

(Elements of Literature, Fifth
Course, 77 ).

Works Cited
Dolan, Jennifer. Puritan Literature in
America. Henry County Schools,
McDonaugh, GA. 2001. PPT.