1. Lecture: The decline of Puritanism & Rise of the Age of Reason
AP Language & Composition
SMIC

2. Time Period Dates for Puritan Literature –
Dates for Revolutionary Literature-
1780
This time period is also called the Age of Reason

3. What ended the Puritan period?
Life became easier, so people didn’t want such a strict religion.
Witch trials broke religion’s hold on civil laws.
Influence came from other immigrants.
Religious scientific reasoning lead to Age of Reason (neoclassicism).
Revolutionary ideas began.

4. Purpose of 18th Century Literature:
Rational Enlightenment - illustrates
common values of humanity & rational
laws of human existence
Persuasion - for political and social
reform
News/Information - Broadsides take
the place of Town Criers

5. Popular forms of literature:
Diaries/Journals
Essays (take on persuasive form)
Pamphlets & Political Flyers
Broadsides -early forms of newspapers
Speeches
Indian captive narratives
Slave narratives/poetry
** Literature takes more of a public stance than the private use of Puritan Literature. **

6. Benjamin Franklin ( )
Leading proponent of scientific reasoning and experimentation in American Colonies
Famous for his Autobiography.
For what else is he known?

7. Colonial literature reflected the growing differences of the colonies.
Northern Puritans differed from the literature of Southern Gentleman Writers:
Southern writers (SWs) wrote less about religion.
Puritans wrote for instruction (usually religious) while SWs wrote for amusement.
SWs embraced fictional accounts & plays.
SWs included humor in lessons; Puritans included mainly Scripture & references to God.