1. II. Literature of Colonial America (1620-1776)
Puritanism
Captivity Narratives
Benjamin Franklin

2. Puritanism Beliefs William Bradford John Winthrop Salem Witch Trials
The Great Awakening

3. Puritan Beliefs Natural depravity (original sin) Predestination
(no free will)
God acts in the world
Typology

4. Puritanism
Search for God’s grace
Self-examination
History important

5. William Bradford Led Pilgrims for first 30 years
Wrote Of Plymouth Plantation—a history of the Plymouth colony.
-typology (meaning of New England)
-documents community & changes in ideals
-audience = ”backsliders”

6. John Winthrop Led Puritan ”Great Migration” in 1630
Not the same as Pilgrims
Delivered sermon on ship before landing—”A Modell of Christian Charity”
Defines purpose of ”errand into the wilderness”

7. Winthrop
”that men shall say of succeeding plantacions: the lord make it like that of New England: for wee must Consider that wee shall be as a Citty upon a Hill, the eies of all people are uppon us; soe that if wee shall deale falsely with our god in this worke wee have undertaken and soe cause him to withdrawe his present help from us,”

8. Salem Witch Trials – 1692 19 people executed
1 dies during interrogation
Most victims female
Most victims around 40 years old.
Wealthier than in previous witch hunts

9. Causes of witch trials? Anti-women? Crusade against wealth?
Repressive religious environment?
Mass hysteria?
Symptom of decline in Puritanism

10. The Great Awakening Religious revival sweeps colonies 1720s, 30s, 40s
Reaction to ”backsliding”
Helps unify colonies (common experience)
Religious renewal
Democratic tendencies
Salvation now in man’s hands

11. Captivity Narratives
What are they?

12. Captivity Narratives Whites captured by Indians
Tale told as spiritual trial or test
Advocates particular interpretation of Indians (=devils)
New literary genre
”Narrative of Mary Rowlandson”

13. What Captivity Narratives reveal (and conceal)
Not everyone wanted to return
Racial attitudes
Role of women
Reversal of ”Pocahontas” myth

14. Captivity Narratives

15. Legacy of Captivity Narrative
”The Searchers” (1956)
Later used as exploration of racial attitudes

16. Modern Captivity Narrative
Search for a mission
Test of moral strength
Search for home

17. Benjamin Franklin
Born 1706
Died 1790
Famous for?

18. Benjamin Franklin Businessman Printer Inventor Diplomat Writer
Founding Father

19. Printer Published Poor Richard’s Almanck
Introduced sayings into language
”Early to bed, early to rise….”
”A penny saved is a penny earned”
”Time is money”
”Fish and visitors stink after three days”
”There was never a good war or a bad peace”

20. Inventor Experiments with electricity Wood stove Swimming fins
Bifocal glasses
Lightning rod
Folding chair
Daylight savings time?

21. Statesman Signed all major documents creating American state
Declaration of Independence
Alliance with France
Treaty of Paris
Constitution

22. Writer
Satire
Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin

23. Autobiography Concious attempt to give country an ideology
First articulation of American Dream—the self-made man
Self-help manual

24. Autobiography
It was about this time I conceiv'd the bold and arduous project of arriving at moral perfection. I wish'd to live without committing any fault at any time; I would conquer all that either natural inclination, custom, or company might lead me into. As I knew, or thought I knew, what was right and wrong, I did not see why I might not always do the one and avoid the other.

25. Autobiography
1. TEMPERANCE. Eat not to dullness; drink not to elevation.
2. SILENCE. Speak not but what may benefit others or yourself; avoid trifling conversation.
3. ORDER. Let all your things have their places; let each part of your business have its time.
4. RESOLUTION. Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve.
5. FRUGALITY. Make no expense but to do good to others or yourself; i.e., waste nothing.
6. INDUSTRY. Lose no time; be always employ'd in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.
7. SINCERITY. Use no hurtful deceit; think innocently and justly, and, if you speak, speak accordingly.
8. JUSTICE. Wrong none by doing injuries, or omitting the benefits that are your duty.
9. MODERATION. Avoid extreams; forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.
10. CLEANLINESS. Tolerate no uncleanliness in body, cloaths, or habitation.
11. TRANQUILLITY. Be not disturbed at trifles, or at accidents common or unavoidable.
12. CHASTITY. Rarely use venery but for health or offspring, never to dulness, weakness, or the injury of your own or another's peace or reputation.
13. HUMILITY. Imitate Jesus and Socrates

26. Importance Articulation of American Dream Rags-to-riches images
Move from religious to secular
-virtues maintained
-good works
-material reward for virtue
Calling → career

27. Key terms Puritanism ”City upon a Hill” Mary Rowlandson
Franklin’s Autobiography

28. Next week:
Literature of the New Republic
Read ”Rip van Winkle”