Early American Early American LiteratureLiterature

The Puritan MindThe Puritan Mind

THE PURITANSTHE PURITANS 1600-1700 (plus 1730s and 40s “revival”)1600-1700 (plus 1730s and 40s “revival”)

Settled Boston in 1630Settled Boston in 1630 left England to seek religious reformationleft England to seek religious reformation

• ““chosen people”chosen people” established a “city upon a hill”established a “city upon a hill” were basically “middle class” in Europe.were basically “middle class” in Europe.

(Note that the Puritans were slightly different than the Pilgrims. (Note that the Puritans were slightly different than the Pilgrims. Both groups disliked the European version of Christianity. The Both groups disliked the European version of Christianity. The Pilgrims or SEPERATISTS wanted to separate completely from Pilgrims or SEPERATISTS wanted to separate completely from the Church, whereas the Puritans sought to purify it or reform it.) the Church, whereas the Puritans sought to purify it or reform it.)

Puritan Beliefs (Calvanist)Puritan Beliefs (Calvanist)

1. Total Depravity 1. Total Depravity Through Adam and Eve's fall, Through Adam and Eve's fall,

every person is born sinful - every person is born sinful - concept of Original Sin. concept of Original Sin.

2. Unconditional Election 2. Unconditional Election God "saves" those he wishes - God "saves" those he wishes -

only a few are selected for only a few are selected for salvation - concept of salvation - concept of predestination. predestination.

Puritan Beliefs Puritan Beliefs

3. Limited Atonement - 3. Limited Atonement - Jesus died for the chosen only, Jesus died for the chosen only, not for everyone. not for everyone.

4. Irresistible Grace – 4. Irresistible Grace – The elected will come to know The elected will come to know God, they can’t help it.God, they can’t help it.They cannot reject God’s grace.They cannot reject God’s grace.

5. Simplicity5. SimplicityRejection of ornate churches, Rejection of ornate churches, emphasis on plain style clothing emphasis on plain style clothing and conformity. and conformity.

Puritan SimplicityPuritan Simplicity

Puritan ClothingPuritan Clothing

Puritan clothing was not Puritan clothing was not as plain as we imagine, as plain as we imagine, but simplicity and but simplicity and modesty were modesty were emphasized. emphasized.

Remember…Boston of 1630 was Unsettled, Remember…Boston of 1630 was Unsettled, Basically Vast WildernessBasically Vast Wilderness

Harsh Harsh

WildernessWilderness

Puritans believed that they Puritans believed that they were chosen by God to were chosen by God to settle the New World.settle the New World.

The Puritans knew that they The Puritans knew that they needed to work VERY hard needed to work VERY hard in order to survive.in order to survive.

Surviving and prospering Surviving and prospering would prove to England that would prove to England that their way of expressing their their way of expressing their faith was the RIGHT way.faith was the RIGHT way.

Messing up in Puritan Messing up in Puritan Boston was NOT an option = Boston was NOT an option = Puritan work ethic. Puritan work ethic.

1630 Boston - Wilderness1630 Boston - Wilderness

Puritan LiteraturePuritan Literature

The Function of Puritan WritersThe Function of Puritan Writers

To transform a mysterious God - mysterious because he is To transform a mysterious God - mysterious because he is separate from the world. separate from the world.

To make Him more relevant to the universe. To make Him more relevant to the universe.

To glorify God.To glorify God.

NOT to entertain…that would be a sin (literally).NOT to entertain…that would be a sin (literally).

Puritan LiteraturePuritan Literature

The Style of Puritan WritingThe Style of Puritan Writing

Protestant - against ornateness; reverence for the Bible. Protestant - against ornateness; reverence for the Bible.

Purpose-driven. Purpose-driven.

Puritan writing reflected the character and scope of the reading Puritan writing reflected the character and scope of the reading public, which was literate and well-grounded in religion. (These public, which was literate and well-grounded in religion. (These people valued education.)people valued education.)

Puritan LiteraturePuritan Literature

Common Themes in Early Puritan WritingCommon Themes in Early Puritan Writing

Idealism - both religious and political. Idealism - both religious and political.

Pragmatics – writing for a practical purpose Pragmatics – writing for a practical purpose (to teach people or demonstrate beliefs)(to teach people or demonstrate beliefs)

Legacy In Americans TODAYLegacy In Americans TODAYThe Puritans in Modern American Culture:The Puritans in Modern American Culture:

the Puritan work ethic. the Puritan work ethic.

idea that “we are the chosen people” in American exceptionalism today.idea that “we are the chosen people” in American exceptionalism today.

““enlightened selfishness on behalf of the common good”=take care of enlightened selfishness on behalf of the common good”=take care of yourself and you take care of your communityyourself and you take care of your community

Self-denial, saving, and investing will make you prosper. (Well, some of Self-denial, saving, and investing will make you prosper. (Well, some of us may have lost this one.)us may have lost this one.)

““rags to riches” mythrags to riches” myth

Specific PuritansSpecific Puritans Anne BradstreetAnne Bradstreet

Born in England 1612 to Born in England 1612 to wealthy parentswealthy parents

Came over with second Came over with second wave of Puritans due to wave of Puritans due to marriagemarriage

Bradstreet's work was Bradstreet's work was secretly compiled by her secretly compiled by her brother-in-law and brother-in-law and published in England in published in England in 1650 under the title 1650 under the title The The Tenth Muse, Lately Sprung Tenth Muse, Lately Sprung Up in AmericaUp in America. .

Puritan community Puritan community accepted her gift. accepted her gift.

Specific PuritansSpecific Puritans

Jonathan EdwardsJonathan Edwards MinisterMinister 1703-17581703-1758 Great AwakeningGreat Awakening ““Sinners at the Hands Sinners at the Hands

of an Angry Godof an Angry God”” 1741 1741 considered one of the considered one of the best examples of best examples of Puritan literaturePuritan literature

Literature Inspired by PuritansLiterature Inspired by Puritans

The Puritans had their The Puritans had their problems. Those problems, problems. Those problems, such as the Salem Witch such as the Salem Witch Trials, have become the Trials, have become the inspiration for American inspiration for American fiction writers. fiction writers.

Some modern films, novels Some modern films, novels and plays written about the and plays written about the Puritans are Puritans are

• THE CRUCBLE, a play by THE CRUCBLE, a play by Aurthur Miller.Aurthur Miller.

• THE SCARLET LETTER, a THE SCARLET LETTER, a novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne. novel by Nathaniel Hawthorne. (later made into a film.)(later made into a film.)

Trailer for THE SCARLET LETTER

http://youtu.be/NlUetVd4rsw

RECAPRECAP1.1. What were the major Puritan beliefs?What were the major Puritan beliefs?

1.1. What were two reasons that motivated the Puritans to What were two reasons that motivated the Puritans to work so hard?work so hard?

1.1. What was the main purpose of Puritan literature?What was the main purpose of Puritan literature?

1.1. When did Anne Bradstreet live? What did she write When did Anne Bradstreet live? What did she write about? about?

1.1. What was Jonathan EdwardsWhat was Jonathan Edwards’’ famous sermon about? famous sermon about? What was it called? What was it called?

Class ActivityClass Activity

In pairs, come up with 20 adjectives that In pairs, come up with 20 adjectives that describe a Puritan. As a class, we will describe a Puritan. As a class, we will make a list. make a list.