American Literature The colonial period: 1607 – 1765

The New Literature American literature was not born like its European counterparts out of a development of earlier styles and genres. Literature in Europe had a long past to look back on, the early Americans scattered throughout 13 loosely connected colonies had basically the future to look into as well as a huge continent spreading out from their backyards. Early American literature then, consisted mainly of journals, travel logs, historical records letters and elegies. In other words, human experience. The first Americans were pioneers and this spirit is pervading in their early writings. Also, many early Americans were puritans and their lifestyle and beliefs are reflected in the early literature too.

The colonial period: 1607 – 1765 A large part of the literature of this period is of a religious nature because a great majority of the settlers came to America escaping from religious and political strife and persecution. In their view then, America appeared as the Promised Land, a land where they would be free to worship God in their own terms. There were hundreds of authors writing on theological subjects during this long period, however we can single out one of the most important and influential.

Cotton Mather (1663-1728) Clergyman, author. He entered Harvard at age twelve and graduated when he was fifteen. He was ordained in 1685. He is well known for his writings on witchcraft, especially his “Wonders of the Invisible World” which was used, wrongly apparently, in many witch trials, especially in the one in Salem. His other better known work is the “Magnalia Christi Americana”.

William Bradford (1590-1657): Pilgrim leader, born in England. Also within this period we find a large number of authors who were writing historical records, documenting the early efforts of the pioneers. William Bradford (1590-1657): Pilgrim leader, born in England. He emigrated to Holland (1609-20) before coming to America on the Mayflower. He signed the Mayflower Compact, helped to select the location of the Plymouth colony, and was the first elected governor in 1621. He wrote the “History of Plimoth Plantation”, 1620-1647, which gave ample evidence of the moral steadfastness and resolve of the early Pilgrims and ensured their place in American history and folklore.

Colonial Poetry There was also some poetry written during the colonial period though very little can be considered of good quality. Many writers of the time would easily break into verse even when writing about the most mundane events such as the wars with the Native Americans, theology or adventures. In the same way, they would usually use poetry with a moralistic purpose rather than for the intrinsic art of the genre. However there are two poets who stand above the rest and are obligatorily mentioned when talking about the poetry of the period.

Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672) Poet. Born in England to a Puritan family. She moved in 1630 with her parents and husband Simon Bradstreet to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. By the age of thirty she had composed most of her poetry. When her brother-in-law, John Woodbridge, returned to England in 1623, he took with him the manuscript of Bradstreet's poems. Without her knowledge, he published them, entitling the collection The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America. The volume met with immediate success in London. Six years after her death in 1672,her revised poems, along with a number of new pieces, were published under the title “Several Poems Compiled with Great Variety of Wit and Learning, Full of Delight”.

Edward Taylor (1645–1729) Protestant clergyman and poet. He emigrated to Massachusetts in 1668, graduated from Harvard three years later, and became a physician and pastor in Westfield, Mass, where he remained to the end of his life. At his death, he left a manuscript of his “Poetical Works”. His poems, many on religious themes, were not published until the late 1930s, at which time he was recognized as the finest American poet of the 17th century. A comprehensive edition, The Poems of Edward Taylor, appeared in 1960.

“The Wonders of the Invisible World”

“Several Poems Compiled...”