PURITANS

ENG III

The Puritans were religious reformers who wanted to ‘purify’ the Church of England

After leaving England, they decided to cross the Atlantic to the New World and start over, in the hopes of

establishing an ideal community founded on moral and religious values, or a “city upon a hill”

The Mayflower landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620

WHO WERE THEY?

Puritanism influenced almost EVERY aspect of colonial life

Predestination: God has already decided who will be saved

Puritan ethic: Hard work and self-discipline were extremely important

Self-examination and spiritual insight were extremely important as well

These aspects of Puritan life are evident in hymns, sermons, histories, journals and autobiographies of the

time

WHO WERE THEY?

Believed in the followings of John Calvin

Original Sin: Man is born corrupt because of Eve’s sin

Limited Atonement: Jesus only died for the elect, not for everyone

Elect: the select few that were saved

God’s grace could save us but only a select few

RELIGIOUS BELIEFS

Were intolerant of other religions

Saw narrow-mindedness as a source of strength

Believed in hard work

Because they expected little of life, they were rarely disappointed

World filled with evil

World was a work house, not a play house

OTHER BELIEFS

Promoted education and reading

Must be able to read in order to read the Bible

Against anything the Bible is against, technology, democracy, pride, sleeping during sermons, divorce

Created first college, first bookstore, first newspaper

Very strict interpretation of the Bible—whatever the Bible said was the final word

OTHER BELIEFS

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UENmCYs4sM

OMNIPOTENT

OMNIPOTENT

Having virtually unlimited authority or influence.

HITHERTO

This

HITHERTO

Up to this or that time

MITIGATION

MITIGATION

To cause to become less harsh or to make less severe or

painful.

SERMON

SERMON

A religious discourse delivered in public usually by a clergyman as a part of a worship service.

INEFFABLE

INEFFABLE

Incapable of being expressed in words.

“SINNERS IN THE HANDS OF AN ANGRY GOD”

Reader’s Notebook-pages 28-32

Role Audience Format Topic

Jonathan Edwards’ Mom

Congregation Letter Son was right with message and why

townspeople must change

Wife of Jonathan Edwards

Mother-in-law OR

Ladies of the Church

Letter Proud of her husband’s message

Adult in the congregation

Jonathan Edwards

Letter Response to the message

Child in the Congregation

Parent OR

Best Friend

Letter Response to the message

RAFT Activity

Ineffable

Sermon

Omnipotent

Mitigation

hitherto

VOCABULARY FOR SECTION 5

From “Sinner”

PURITANS IN AMERICAN LITERATURE

1. What message is Edwards conveying in this sermon? Quote two places where he directly states his purpose.

2. How does Edwards fit your image of a Puritan?

3. What is the main emotion Edwards uses to persuade his audience? Quote an example and explain how this example shows the emotion.

4. Create a bubble chart that has the word “wrath” in the middle. Find all the biblical illusions, stories, characters, and imagery that Edwards uses to describe God’s wrath. The answer this question: “How does each archetype add to the power of Edwards’s message?

QUESTIONS TO ANSWER

The pilgrims values religions devotion, work, and duty of private emotions. Yet, Anne Bradstreet’s poems are filled with her personal feelings. Should writers focus more on a sense of community or on their own individuality? Write a brief paragraph discussing your views.

COMMUNITY OR INDIVIDUALITY?

Quench – satisfy a thirst

Recompense – something given or done in return for something else

Manifold – in many ways

Persevere – continue despite hardships

VOCABULARY

• Arrived in Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 at age 18• 8 children• Multiple illnesses• Writing was considered “unladylike”• She wrote for herself• First poet published in the new world• First female writer of any kind published in the new

world• Some consider her an early feminist• Purpose of her first publication was “to show that a godly

and educated woman could elevate her position as a wife and mother, without necessarily placing her in competition with men.”

ANNE BRADSTREET

Read “To My Dear and Loving Husband” by Anne Bradstreet. Answer the following questions:

1. What is your image of Anne Bradstreet after reading this poem? How does she fit the image of a Puritan?

2. In what ways is Anne Bradstreet and Jonathan Edwards alike? In what ways are they different? How does their literary works (“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” and “To My Dear and Loving Husband) compare? In what ways are they different?

READ: “TO MY DEAR AND…”