1. Literature of Early America The Beginning to 1800
A Gathering of Voices
Literature of Early America
The Beginning to 1800

2. The First Americans
No one knows when Native Americans first came to the U.S.
Spanish first settled St. Augustine, FL in 1565
British and other European settlers arrived in Jamestown, VA in 1607

3. Puritans
Religious reformers known as Pilgrims landed in Plymouth, MA in 1620
Try to create a “city on a hill” – a perfect new community
Puritanism declined, but in 1720 there was a spiritual revival called The Great Awakening

4. South vs. New England Differences in climate
Large farms in the south – small farms in New England
Different crops
Social organization

5. The Age of Reason and Birth of a Nation
Began in Europe in the mid 1700s
Focus was to reform society using reason, challenge ideas grounded in tradition and faith, and advance knowledge through the scientific method
Influenced the Founding Fathers
The colonists rebellion led to the American Revolution
We Won – The world was changed forever!

6. What is the relationship between place and literature?
Nature was wild, vast, and different than Europe
It was awe inspiring
Natives believed the people belonged to the land
Colonists believed the land belonged to the people
Colonists dreamed of a perfect country; the reality was that it was hard to stay alive.
Taming the wilderness left Americans with the idea of independence and self-reliance

7. Attitude Toward Nature in Literature
Natives revered it; saw it as the source of life
Colonists saw the wilderness as wild, dark, scary and evil
2nd generation immigrants saw it as a land of plenty.
Different and better than Europe

8. What makes American Lit. American?
Early American themes
Wilderness
Community
Individualism
What makes these themes uniquely American?
Place – a new wonderful, horrible continent
Past – New country with only a short history of sermons, pamphlets, and newspapers
Vision – Americans were a new breed of people
self-reliant, youthful, optimistic

9. Social and Political Influences
Puritanism - Importance of family, religion, education, and the idea that America was special
The Enlightenment – The power of reason
Treatment of Native Americans and Africans