1. Or the Revolutionary Period in American literature (mid 1700’s-1800’s)
The Age of Reason
Or the Revolutionary Period in American literature (mid 1700’s-1800’s)

2. Out with the Old, in with the New
• New ideas had been arising in Europe and were challenging the faith of the Puritans.
• By the end of the 1700s, the Puritan influence on America began to wane (decrease).
• The Revolutionary Period began with philosophers and scientists. They called themselves Rationalists.

3. Definition of Rationalism
Definition for the Age of Reason as a Literary Period
Definition of Rationalism
Rationalism: The belief that human
beings can arrive at
truth by using reason,
rather than by relying
on the authority of the
past, on religious
faith, or on intuition.
Rev. Period: A movement that was marked by an emphasis on rationality rather than tradition, scientific inquiry instead of unquestioning religious dogma, and representative government in place of monarchy.

4. Puritanism vs. Rationalism
“God [is] actively and
mysteriously involved
in the workings of the
universe.”
Rationalism
God is a
“clockmaker”.
God’s special gift to
humanity was
reason – “the
ability to think in an
ordered, logical
manner”

5. Puritanism and Rationalism
Before
Church/religion=truth
Theocracies
Church and state united
After
science/logic/reason=truth
Democracy
Separation of church and state

6. Beliefs During the Age of Reason: View of God
Deism
Clock Maker
remote
impersonal
God rewards the good and punishes the wicked.

7. Beliefs During the Age of Reason: View of Man
Man is self-sufficient, independent, self-reliant, and capable of self-improvement.

8. Beliefs During the Age of Reason: View of Society
has the capability of taking care of itself
View of Nature
life’s clues are found in nature

9. Rationalism Logic, Reason Deism: God as a clockmaker
Key Words
God
Man
Nature
Society
Writers
Logic, Reason
Deism: God as a clockmaker
Basically good, given the gift of reason
Laws of nature explain rational thought, contains life’s clues
Democracy, Political literature
Patrick Henry, Thomas Paine, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin

10. Review of Rationalist Philosophies
Deism- God created the universe but does not interfere in its workings.
The world operates according to God’s rules, and through the use of reason, we can discover those rules.
People are basically good and perfectible.
People worship God best by helping others.
God’s special gift to humanity is reason -the ability to think in an ordered, logical manner.

11. Literary Forms of the Age of Reason
Biographies/Autobiographies
Government Documents
Newspapers/Pamphlets
Speeches
No Fiction

12. Major Authors Benjamin Franklin Patrick Henry Thomas Paine
Thomas Jefferson

13. Rhetorical Strategies in Speech Appeal to Emotions - Pathos
Definition: seeks out the reader’s emotions or tries to lure their sense of personal biases and prejudices.
“I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”
Tip off: the exclamation point shows excitement!
Uses emotionally charged words, focuses on the physical, psychological, and social needs of human beings

14. Rhetorical Strategies in Speech Appeal to Logic - Logos
Definition: Use rational strategies to appeal to intelligence, reason, and common sense; make claims and then support them with evidence (statistics, reports, etc.)
“To put in the terms of St. Thomas Aquinas: Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust. All segregation statutes are unjust because segregation distorts the soul and damages the personality.”
Uses facts, research, logical metaphors or analogies, cause and effect explanations

15. Rhetorical Strategies in Speech Appeal to Ethics - Ethos
Definition: Uses language and strategies that reveal good character(of the author)
“I think I should indicate why I am here in Birmingham, since you have been influenced by the view which argues against ‘outsiders coming.’”
Acknowledges opposing views
The writer/speaker associates self with relevant authorities

16. Rhetorical Strategies in the Speech Allusion
Definition: a brief or indirect reference to a person, place, event, or well-known passage (Bible)
Example from speech:
“We are apt to shut our eyes against a painful truth, and listen to the song of the siren till she transforms us into beasts.” – referencing Greek mythology
“betray us with a kiss” – Judas from the Bible, betrays Jesus with a kiss

17. Rhetorical Strategies in Speech Rhetorical Question
Definition: A question asked for rhetorical effect to emphasize a point; no answer is expected, in fact only one answer is possible.
“Are fleets and armies necessary to a work of love and reconciliation?”
Answer: NO!
Can be given in a series; many of them together for effect

18. Rhetorical Strategies in Speech Repetition and Restatement
Repetition – restating an idea using the same words. Example: “The war is inevitable – and let it come! I repeat it, sir, let it come!” (Patrick Henry)
Restatement – expressing the same ideas using different words. Example: “…we can not dedicate – we can not consecrate – we can not hallow – this ground.” (Abraham Lincoln)

19. Rhetorical Strategies in Speech Parallelism
Definition: Similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses; a form of repetition used to emphasize a point OR written in the same grammatical pattern for effect – sound nice!
“We have petitioned; we have remonstrated; we have supplicated; we have prostrated ourselves before the throne.”
All begin with “we have” and verb after it

20. Rhetorical Strategies in Speech Anaphora
Repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences, clauses, or phrases.
Example: “We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans…” (Winston Churchill)
Can be given in a series; many of them together for effect

21. Rev. Period Journal Entry
Think of something that you would like for the school to change (scheduling, dress code, better food in the cafeteria, etc.)
Imagine that you have the opportunity to speak to the board of education on one or more issues that you want changed/implemented.
In your journal, write down exactly what you would say to persuade them. (1-page in length)