Precolonial and colonial Precolonial and colonial AmericaAmerica

Exploration to 1752Exploration to 1752

Exploration and SettlementExploration and Settlement

The earliest “American” literature was not The earliest “American” literature was not written down.written down. The native American people had an oral traditionThe native American people had an oral tradition Their “literature” was an integral part of their Their “literature” was an integral part of their

religious practicereligious practice They used the elements of nature as metaphor to They used the elements of nature as metaphor to

explain the origin of the world and the natural explain the origin of the world and the natural phenomena in their lives.phenomena in their lives.

Types of MythsTypes of Myths

CreationCreation

OriginOrigin

Myth is…Myth is…

The traditional stories of a people The traditional stories of a people which collectively constitute their which collectively constitute their folk history and that of their gods folk history and that of their gods and heroes. The mythology of a and heroes. The mythology of a people is a record of its beliefs people is a record of its beliefs and cultureand culture..

Oral tradition isOral tradition is

The stories and songs of the people are handed The stories and songs of the people are handed down by the elders of the tribe to the younger down by the elders of the tribe to the younger generation. In this way the traditions and generation. In this way the traditions and rituals of the tribe are preserved.rituals of the tribe are preserved.

Few of the Native American tribes deveoped a Few of the Native American tribes deveoped a written language. The oral tradition makes the written language. The oral tradition makes the literature a product of the whole people rather literature a product of the whole people rather than one author.than one author.

In the oral tradition, certain devices are a In the oral tradition, certain devices are a part of the structure or formula for part of the structure or formula for preserving the literature: repetition, preserving the literature: repetition, specific rhythmic patterns, using certain specific rhythmic patterns, using certain words as stock images to appeal to the words as stock images to appeal to the listeners imagination.listeners imagination.

We also see in these legends the use of We also see in these legends the use of anthropomorphismanthropomorphism

Colonial LiteratureColonial Literature

There are 3 groups of writers identified with There are 3 groups of writers identified with this period of American literature:this period of American literature: The explorers and soldiers who first landed in the The explorers and soldiers who first landed in the

new worldnew world The soldiers and adventurers who settled Virginia The soldiers and adventurers who settled Virginia

as a part of a commercial ventureas a part of a commercial venture The PuritansThe Puritans

The ExplorersThe Explorers

It consists mainly of letters, journals, accounts of It consists mainly of letters, journals, accounts of their adventures and discoveriestheir adventures and discoveries

Much of the original writing is not in EnglishMuch of the original writing is not in English These works reflect the experiences and inspiration These works reflect the experiences and inspiration

which shaped the American character and its which shaped the American character and its institutions. Much of the writing expresses the institutions. Much of the writing expresses the central conflict of all American literature: central conflict of all American literature: anticipation of the ideal of freedom versus the reality anticipation of the ideal of freedom versus the reality of life in America.of life in America.

La RelacionLa Relacion

Literary elements:Literary elements: Narrator tells the storyNarrator tells the story Point of view is the attitude or perspective from Point of view is the attitude or perspective from

which the story is toldwhich the story is told First personFirst person Third person limitedThird person limited Third person omniscientThird person omniscient

Bias is the “mental inclination toward an opinion Bias is the “mental inclination toward an opinion or position.”or position.”

The CavaliersThe Cavaliers

The soldiers and adventurers who came to The soldiers and adventurers who came to Virginia in 1607 were part of a commercial Virginia in 1607 were part of a commercial venture. Their goal was to make a profit.venture. Their goal was to make a profit.

The eventual development of the plantation The eventual development of the plantation system and the concept of the “gentleman system and the concept of the “gentleman planter” is characteristic of this group.planter” is characteristic of this group.

Writers tend to present a materialistic and Writers tend to present a materialistic and essentially British point of view.essentially British point of view.

John SmithJohn Smith

““The General History”The General History” The forms of discourseThe forms of discourse Smith’s view of AmericaSmith’s view of America His portrayal of himselfHis portrayal of himself His view of violence as a part of the routine of His view of violence as a part of the routine of

lifelife Powhatan and PocahontasPowhatan and Pocahontas

The PuritansThe Puritans

Called Separatists: they came to America to Called Separatists: they came to America to escape religious persecution.escape religious persecution.

The 3 characteristics of the Puritan way of life The 3 characteristics of the Puritan way of life are: grace, plainness, and divine mission.are: grace, plainness, and divine mission.

There are 3 types of writing associated with There are 3 types of writing associated with these people (who landed at Plymouth in these people (who landed at Plymouth in 1620) : poetry, journals (diaries), and 1620) : poetry, journals (diaries), and spiritual autobiography.spiritual autobiography.

Puritan Influence in AmericaPuritan Influence in America

5 key beliefs:5 key beliefs: That being moral and being religious are the same That being moral and being religious are the same

thingthing That ministers should be well-educatedThat ministers should be well-educated That there is dignity in work and that people who That there is dignity in work and that people who

are poor must be lazyare poor must be lazy That the conscience of the individual is the That the conscience of the individual is the

ultimate judge of right and wrongultimate judge of right and wrong That America has a mission to lead the rest of the That America has a mission to lead the rest of the

worldworld

William BradfordWilliam Bradford

22ndnd governor of Plymouth governor of Plymouth ““Of Plymouth Plantation” is the story of Of Plymouth Plantation” is the story of

the first 25 years in the settling of the the first 25 years in the settling of the colonycolony

Begun about 1630 but not published until Begun about 1630 but not published until 18561856

A providential view of historyA providential view of history Written in the “plain style.”Written in the “plain style.”

Bradford’s book presents a vision of America Bradford’s book presents a vision of America “dedicated to and sustained by God.” “dedicated to and sustained by God.”

At the end of the 270 pages, the tone of the At the end of the 270 pages, the tone of the author changes from hopefulness to author changes from hopefulness to disappointment. After leaving Europe because disappointment. After leaving Europe because of the corruption there, the Pilgrims of the corruption there, the Pilgrims themselves begin to fall into the same immoral themselves begin to fall into the same immoral way of life.way of life.

After surviving hardship, danger, and After surviving hardship, danger, and exploitation many people begin moving away exploitation many people begin moving away from Plymouth.from Plymouth.

““In his disappointment, In his disappointment, Bradford once again proves Bradford once again proves typical. He would not be the typical. He would not be the last American writer to feel that last American writer to feel that the divinely guided nation had the divinely guided nation had fallen short of its promise.”fallen short of its promise.” Adventures in Adventures in

American LiteratureAmerican Literature

The PoetryThe Poetry

Purpose: for Puritans writing poetry was a Purpose: for Puritans writing poetry was a way of expressing their spiritual lives and also way of expressing their spiritual lives and also a means of instruction.a means of instruction.

Subjects: the poetry expressed everyday Subjects: the poetry expressed everyday concerns of the people and the transitory concerns of the people and the transitory nature of their lives and existence.nature of their lives and existence.

Types of poetry: poems of providential mercy Types of poetry: poems of providential mercy or disaster; elegy or epitaph; personal or disaster; elegy or epitaph; personal narrative.narrative.

The PoetsThe Poets

Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672) was born in Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672) was born in England and came with her husband and England and came with her husband and parents to Massachusetts sometime after 1630.parents to Massachusetts sometime after 1630.

Bradstreet’s poetry was a private exercise Bradstreet’s poetry was a private exercise intended to be read only by her familyintended to be read only by her family

She wrote about her love for her husband and She wrote about her love for her husband and family and about her personal relationship family and about her personal relationship with God with God

The 10The 10thth Muse Lately Sprung Up In Muse Lately Sprung Up In AmericaAmerica

Published in1650Published in1650 Poetry is in the Elizabethan literary tradition Poetry is in the Elizabethan literary tradition

that includes Spenser and Sidneythat includes Spenser and Sidney Her early work is imitative and conventional Her early work is imitative and conventional

in both form and content and is largely in both form and content and is largely unremarkable unremarkable

She has, however, won critical acceptance in She has, however, won critical acceptance in the 20th century for her later poetry, which is the 20th century for her later poetry, which is less imitative and often deeply personal. less imitative and often deeply personal.

Edward TaylorEdward Taylor

His poetry expresses the abstract ideas of His poetry expresses the abstract ideas of theology by using familiar symbolstheology by using familiar symbols

With Bradstreet, Taylor is considered one of With Bradstreet, Taylor is considered one of the great poets of American colonial literature.the great poets of American colonial literature.

He borrows from the metaphysical poetry of He borrows from the metaphysical poetry of 1717thth century England. century England.

What is Metaphysical PoetryWhat is Metaphysical Poetry

This is a poetic style identified with John This is a poetic style identified with John Donne, George Herbert and others. In this Donne, George Herbert and others. In this kind of poetry, the author writes about the kind of poetry, the author writes about the contradictions (or problems) of life. The contradictions (or problems) of life. The poetry includes the psychological analysis of poetry includes the psychological analysis of the emotions of love and religion. Sometimes the emotions of love and religion. Sometimes the images used by the poet are unusual. the images used by the poet are unusual. Themes of this poetry include: death, love, Themes of this poetry include: death, love, and religious devotion.and religious devotion.

HuswiferyHuswifery

A metaphysical conceit: it is a comparison A metaphysical conceit: it is a comparison between cloth-making and God’s granting of between cloth-making and God’s granting of grace to the individual. A conceit is an grace to the individual. A conceit is an extended comparison or metaphor between extended comparison or metaphor between two very different things.two very different things.

Taylor’s poetry has an ornate style that uses Taylor’s poetry has an ornate style that uses comparisons of the most intense religious comparisons of the most intense religious experience with very homely and easily experience with very homely and easily identified detail.identified detail.

The Great AwakeningThe Great Awakening

From about 1730-1750, there was a revival of From about 1730-1750, there was a revival of Puritan fervor which was brought on by the Puritan fervor which was brought on by the appearance of great preachers like Jonathan appearance of great preachers like Jonathan Edwards. This revival of spirit lasted about 20 Edwards. This revival of spirit lasted about 20 years and as the preachers influence waned so years and as the preachers influence waned so did the fervor. did the fervor.

Puritanism as a political and social force in Puritanism as a political and social force in America lasted about 100 yearsAmerica lasted about 100 years

Causes of Puritan Decline Causes of Puritan Decline

The deaths of the original Puritan leadersThe deaths of the original Puritan leaders The growth of immigration of groups that The growth of immigration of groups that

were not associated with the Puritan were not associated with the Puritan churchchurch

The scandal of the Salem Witch Trials The scandal of the Salem Witch Trials (1692)(1692)

Jonathan EdwardsJonathan Edwards

Persuasive form of discoursePersuasive form of discourse AuthorityAuthority AudienceAudience Persuasive devicesPersuasive devices

AllusionAllusion RepetitionRepetition Concrete imagesConcrete images Parallel ConstructionParallel Construction

Sinners in the Hands of An Angry Sinners in the Hands of An Angry GodGod

This is a classic statement of the Puritan belief This is a classic statement of the Puritan belief in hell and man’s complete dependence on in hell and man’s complete dependence on GodGod

Since his audience reads the Bible, he Since his audience reads the Bible, he establishes his authority to speak by using establishes his authority to speak by using Scripture to illustrate his pointScripture to illustrate his point