1. Puritans and their Literature

2. Puritans  Group of early settlers (1620- 1740)  Religious reformers of the Church of England  Belief in a divine mission  God chose Puritans to bring true Christianity to America  Group of early settlers (1620- 1740)  Religious reformers of the Church of England  Belief in a divine mission  God chose Puritans to bring true Christianity to America

3. Puritans  Wanted to purify the church  Purge church of Roman Catholic ritual  Services were simple, stark, and long (6.5 hours!)  Clergy explained passages from the Bible  Membership was limited to the “visibly godly”  Wanted to purify the church  Purge church of Roman Catholic ritual  Services were simple, stark, and long (6.5 hours!)  Clergy explained passages from the Bible  Membership was limited to the “visibly godly”

4. Puritans  Called themselves “separatists” or “Pilgrims”  Believed their community was guided in all aspects by God  Government was a theocracy  Man’s purpose was to serve God’s will through hard work and devotion  Called themselves “separatists” or “Pilgrims”  Believed their community was guided in all aspects by God  Government was a theocracy  Man’s purpose was to serve God’s will through hard work and devotion

5. Puritans  Wanted to cleanse culture of corrupt, sinful practices.  Plainness in all things  No parties, dancing, or singing (except for psalms or hymns)  Believed the gov’t should enforce morality  Drunkeness, gambling, swearing, and Sabbath breaking were all illegal  Wanted to cleanse culture of corrupt, sinful practices.  Plainness in all things  No parties, dancing, or singing (except for psalms or hymns)  Believed the gov’t should enforce morality  Drunkeness, gambling, swearing, and Sabbath breaking were all illegal

6. Predestination  All human beings are innately sinful  God would spare a small number of “elect” individuals  God decides who is blessed and who is damned  Decision is not affected by how human beings behave.  All human beings are innately sinful  God would spare a small number of “elect” individuals  God decides who is blessed and who is damned  Decision is not affected by how human beings behave.

7. The Great Awakening  Puritanism began to fade out by 1630.  Jonathan Edwards tried to rekindle Puritan beliefs through revivals and sermons.  But Puritan beliefs had faded away by the time of the Revolutionary War.  Puritanism began to fade out by 1630.  Jonathan Edwards tried to rekindle Puritan beliefs through revivals and sermons.  But Puritan beliefs had faded away by the time of the Revolutionary War.

8. Types of Puritan Literature  Sermons  Diaries  Journals  Narratives  Poetry  Religious Essays  Sermons  Diaries  Journals  Narratives  Poetry  Religious Essays

9. Types of Puritan Literature  NO fiction  NO drama  They were forbidden!  NO fiction  NO drama  They were forbidden!

10. Puritan Plain Style  Simple and direct  No ornate or flowery language  Short, powerful words  Reference to ordinary people  Use of metaphor to teach  Simple and direct  No ornate or flowery language  Short, powerful words  Reference to ordinary people  Use of metaphor to teach