…and their contributions to American Literature PURITANS …and their contributions to American Literature

Who are the Puritans? Colonists/settlers from Europe who came to America in the 1600s for religious freedom Religious reformers that did not withdraw from the Church of England who intended to reform the Church from within

How are they different from Pilgrims? Pilgrims were also religious reformers, however, they withdrew from the Church of England and became known as “Separatists”

What was the Puritans’ Purpose? Hoped to establish the Massachusetts Bay Colony as a “city upon a hill,” a model community guided in all aspects by the Bible Their form of government was a theocracy, a state under the immediate guidance of God Idea of contract between people and government stems from that Puritan idea of covenant between God and people. Felt that the “saintly elect” should have great influence in politics.

What were the Puritans’ Central Beliefs? Human beings exist for the glory of God The Bible is the sole expression of God’s will Man is basically evil Predestination: God has already decided who will achieve salvation and who will not Continual hard work and discipline Education (for religious purposes)

How does predestination work? No one knows if they are “chosen” so, all devout Puritans searched their souls with great rigor and frequency for signs of grace The “elect” that will be saved mustn’t take election for granted, thus everyone must live as if they know they were elected

Puritan Ideals Today Hard work (“Puritan Ethic”) Frugality Self-improvement Self-Reliance Education …are all values inherited from the Puritans as basic American virtues

How did the Puritans contribute to American literature? Wrote theological studies, hymns, histories, biographies and autobiographies with the purpose of spiritual insight and instruction Fiction and Drama = Sin Puritans did write poetry as a vehicle for spiritual enlightenment

Puritan Writing Sole purpose = moral instruction The writing style of the Puritans reflected the plain style of their lives – spare, simple, straightforward = Puritan Plain Style  characterized by short words, direct statements, and references to ordinary, everyday objects

Major Authors of the Puritan Period - 1600’s-1800 William Bradford Mary Rowlandson Anne Bradstreet Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz Edward Taylor Jonathan Edwards

Anne Bradstreet 1612-1672 Published in England without her knowledge. Explores religion and personal relationship with God. Difference - Use of metaphor in writing. Bradstreet, as other Puritan women, believed that men were superior to women She felt it improper for a woman to appear in print Too bad for her beliefs…she is considered the 1st American poet.

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 “God’s Grace”.

Jonathan Edwards 1703-1758 Fire and brimstone imagery. Tyrannical pastor - extreme and strict - humans “lowly sinners.” The last Puritan