1. Early America: The Puritans

2. Who were the Puritans?
Wrote mostly diaries and histories, which expressed the connections between God and their everyday lives
Sought to “purify” the Church of England by reforming the simpler forms of worship and church organization described in the New Testament
Saw religion as a personal, inner experience
Believed in original sin and “elect” who would be saved; did not know who “elect” were

3. What were the core beliefs?
“We are a society of the damned”
God presented as malevolent: Believed God hated them; FEARED falling from grace
Society of punishment
Believed women were inferior; they were one of Satan’s chief ways to tempt men
Land belonged to the people
Theocracy: Blend of religion and government

4. Puritan Literature Read the Bible as a narrative tale
“Read” their own lives the way a literary critic reads a book
Used writing to explore inner and outer lives for signs of God
Diaries and histories most common

5. Puritan Plain Style (1) Characterized by short words
(2) Direct statements
(3) References to everyday objects and experiences

6. What influences did the Puritans leave?
Work ethic:
Believed material success/self-improvement was good
Individualism and hard work
Performance of “god-given” task:
Implicit intolerance of those who don’t pull their weight
Strong sense of right and wrong
Idea of Sabbath
Sunday is kept a little bit “holier” – no mail, businesses close earlier, etc.

7. Anne Bradstreet Came to America w/ her husband in 1630
She wrote poems for herself, not publication
Poetry reflects the Puritans’ knowledge of the stories and language of the Bible AND the concern for the relationship between earthly and heavenly life
She is the first American poet

8. Jonathan Edwards Sermons of “fire and brimstone”
Religious zealot and believer in science/reason
Grew up in Connecticut in atmosphere of discipline