American literary movements Pre-1600 through 1775

For many, this era begins with the first settlement at Jamestown to the outbreak of the American Revolution. We will also include the “pre-settlement” period which covers Native American tradition. Writings from this era were – for the most part – religious, practical, or historical. Some of the more significant writers of the time include William Bradford, theologian Cotton Mather, Benjamin Franklin, Anne Bradsheet, and Phillis Wheatly. Sub Periods include: -Pre-settlement period -Puritanism  Colonial Period

Pre-settlement <1620

Characteristics  Oral literature relying on performance  Most stories collected and written down in the end of 19th and beginning of 20th century  Distinguishable by form, content, and style - thus correspond to the most fundamental features of literature  Types of oral narratives: Origin and Emergence Stories, Historical Narratives, Culture Hero Stories, Trickster Tales

Puritanism

PUritanism, cont  Characteristics  Forms of writing: Histories Diaries Chronicles (describe the earthly in terms of the eternal) Poetry Sermons:  a. explanation of biblical quotation  b. interpretation  c. application to the life of the colony

 Role of sermons: new argument in the ongoing theological debates a part of the political process (“Election Days.”)  on an election day, a sermon would be given by those wishing to be elected to religious office. These sermons would generally consist of an account of that person’s experience of grace. scaring the congregation back into religious life (“jeremiads”)  Jeremiads are literary works or speeches that express a bitter lament or righteous prophecy of doom. Characteristics Cont.

 Literal truth substituted with potential symbolic lesson  No novels – they divert people’s attention from work  Writing should have a practical purpose  Belief in America being the “promised land” and Americans being the “chosen people”  Frequent religious references  Often plain style so that common people can understand

Revolutionary Age

Revolutionary Age  Era most often begins with the Stamp Act of Writings focused on the concepts of freedom, change, and self-government.

Characteristics  Rational approach to the world, belief in progress  Pragmatism –Truth measured by practical experiences; law of nature  Deism –God created the world but has no influence on human lives.  Idealism – Conviction of the universal sense of right and wrong; belief in the goodness of man.  Interest in human nature

Writers  Political Pamphlets  Philosophical / Religious Tracts:  Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790)  Thomas Paine (1737 – 1809)  Thomas Jefferson (1743 – 1826)  Alexander Hamilton (1757 – 1804)

Persuasion Review

Persuasion Review (Persuasive Techniques)  Logical Appeal: Using facts, figures, numbers, tangible evidence, charts, graphs, statistics, etc. to persuade.  Emotional Appeal: Using emotion, visuals, stories, anecdotes that produce sadness, empathy, sympathy whereby changing one’s opinion or feelings.

Persuasion Review (Persuasive Techniques)  Ethical Appeal: Directed at audience’s sense of morality or values.

Persuasion Review (Rhetorical Devices)  Rhetorical Question: Asking the audience, or listener specific questions. No response is required, however the effect is that the question and the way it is posed produces thought and understanding in the audience and the listener whereby changing one’s opinion of feelings.

Persuasion Review (Rhetorical Devices)  Exclamation: Using charged words to excite, anger, or rally the audience to action.  Repetition: Using the exact same words to produce the exact same idea. By using repetition, one is placing emphasis on the key point or points one wants the audience wants to focus on.

Persuasion Review (Rhetorical Devices)  Restatement: Using different words, but the overall effect is an echo of the same key idea or key ideas. (Look for key points, main ideas, etc. to be restated with different words, but emphasizing for the same idea(s).  Parallelism :Creating a list of arguments, usually separated by commas to prove a point.

Persuasion Review (Rhetorical Devices)  Antithesis: Using strongly contrasting words, images, or ideas.  Allusions: Referring to well-known people, events, or stories.