1. Literary Movement: Puritanism 1620-1750

2. Historical Context 1620 Mayflower lands at Plymouth
1630 Puritan migration to New England
1692 Salem witch trials
1721 Smallpox epidemic hits Boston
Great Awakening

3. Worldview The Puritans wanted to “purify” the Church of England.
They wanted to return to a more simple form of worship, modeled directly after the Bible.

4. Worldview The Puritan Credo (statement of beliefs):
Human beings are sinful by nature.
Salvation belongs to the elect, or God’s chosen, who can be identified by their virtue.
Hard work and worldly success are signs of God’s grace.
Education is essential in order to read the Word of God.
A person should be thrifty, modest, and simple.
Society should be ruled by covenants that parallel God’s covenant with his people.

5. Common Elements of the Literature
Puritans modeled their writings after the Bible.
They used their writings to explore God’s workings in their inner and outer lives.
Diaries and histories were the most common forms of expression.
Puritans favored a “plain style” of writing.

6. Famous Authors William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation
Jonathan Edwards, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
Anne Bradstreet
Edward Taylor

7. “Here Follow Some Verses upon the Burning of Our House, July 10, 1666”
About the Author: Anne Bradstreet
An immigrant, teenage bride
Married to a zealous Puritan who
became governor of the Massachusetts
Bay colony

8. “Here Follow Some Verses upon the Burning of Our House, July 10, 1666”
Literary Concept: An allusion is a reference to someone or something that is known from history, literature, religion, politics, sports, science, or some other branch of culture.
Literary Concept: In an inversion, the words of a sentence or phrase are wrenched out of our normal English syntax, or word order.
Example:
“When my friend’s face I see, happy I will be” (inverted)
“When I see my friend’s face, I will be happy” (normal word order)

9. Vocabulary for “Here Follow”
Piteous
(adj): deserving of pity or compassion
Consume
(v): burn away; destroy
Vanity
(n): something valueless
Glory
(n): great beauty; splendor
See EOL p. 95 for vocabulary in context.

10. “Here Follow Some Verses . . .” Assignment (on your own)
Read the poem (EOL page 96-97)
Using Bradstreet’s own words, rewrite lines and without any inversions.
Use your footnotes to identify the allusion in the first half of the poem.
Write each vocabulary word in its own sentence (4).

11. “Here Follow Some Verses
“Here Follow Some Verses . . .” Assignment With a partner, do the following:
EOL page 98
1-4
10-14
Your class notes and textbook will be helpful!
Turn in one paper with both of your names at the top.

12. Paraphrase-off In small groups, paraphrase Bradstreet's poem.
You do not have to paraphrase every line…But, don’t leave out any of the content!
Put it in present day English

13. Homework Assignment
Read the handout about Puritans

14. “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”
About the Author: Jonathan Edwards
A “fire-and-brimstone” Puritan preacher, known for his extremism
Involved in starting the Great Awakening in the 1730s
“The Last Puritan”—Stood
between Puritan America and
modern America
EOL p. 104

15. Vocabulary for “Sinners”
Incensed (adj.) infuriated; angry
prudence (n.) carefulness
inconceivable (adj.) unimaginable; beyond understanding
Loathsome (adj.) arousing hatred
mitigation (n.) moderation; softening

16. Assignment Read “Sinners in the Hands” EOL p. 106-111
Remember, Edwards was trying to persuade his congregation to reaffirm its faith.
Answer 6-8 on page 112 and do the “Writing Focus.” You do not have to write an essay; instead, please write ONE persuasive paragraph.

17. Test Puritan background lecture and highlighted handout
Info on Bradstreet and Edwards
“Sinners” and “Burning” and “Of Plymouth Plantation
Vocabulary from both
Native American Literature Characteristics
“Sky Tree”
“Coyote Finishes his Work”
Multiple Choice
Matching
True False
Short Answer
Short Essay