The New England Primer

What is it? first reading primer designed for the American Colonies. It became the most successful educational textbook published in 18th century America and it became the foundation of most schooling before the 1790s

What is it? It taught the alphabet but it also taught Puritan values Sayings in it we still use today Published for over 200 years Wood cuts = pictures

Style The New England Primer clearly contains lettering, spelling and capitalization that are antiquated, or out of date. For example, most of the s’s in the Primer look like f’s. What irregular old-fashioned spellings do you find in The Primer? What is peculiar about the capitalization? Is there any pattern?

Style They capitalize anything that has to do with religion. No v or I in the alphabet Words are capitalized to give emphasis Fav’d = favorite

Meaning Comment on the view of the child evident in The New England Primer. How is a dutiful, good child supposed to behave?

Meaning Fear God Honor the King Pray Love their friends Hate no one Not sin Honor their parents Follow the 10 commandments Read the Bible Learn the catechism Do not play a lot

Metaphor “The Dutiful Child Promises” with a striking metaphor, “For our GOD is a consuming Fire.” What idea of God does this metaphor imply? What effect would this comparison have on a child?

Metaphor God is… Scary Evil Feared All mighty and all power Judges all Burning It would make you think of the Devil A CHILD WOULD FEAR GOD.

Purpose of The Primer What does The Primer teach? How to be a good Puritan The alphabet Lessons from the Bible How to read and write