Colonial Period1600-1750

Puritans and Planters

Puritans

Social/Political Climate

• Early settlers not searching for wealth

• Wanted to establish new society and church with available resources and freedom of worship

• Religious law = civil law; laws est. according to biblical law

• Bible is model for life and society

• Religion permeates all aspects of life

• Status in society → position in church

• Seriousness, simplicity, hard work important

• Community judged as whole → brother’s keeper

• Close-knit towns

Social/Political (cont.)

• Brought books from England

• Blame Puritans for school—needed literate population so ministry and church could flourish

• 1647 Mass. Bay Colony required school

• 1636 Harvard U. opened—ministry

Social/Political (cont.)

• Plymouth and Boston—two ‘cities’

• Persecuted→ religious freedom

• God’s chosen people• Visible saints• Example to world→

city on hill• Model society

Social/Political (cont.)

• Wilderness encouraged reliance on individual and community; no one else to help

• New world offered improvement, bright future

• Abundance led to waste• Witchcraft trials led to

decline in strength of church over the state

Religion

• sovereignty of God, all powerful; influences every event in Man’s life

• original sin; driven by nature to do evil deeds• the elect are chosen for salvation to escape

eternal damnation• Predestination→ God grants eternal life to

chosen few• cannot earn grace through good works; must

pray and hope;• Grace is achieved through God’s work on soul→

spiritual self examination

Religion (cont.)

• Sloth is deadly sin = idle hands…..

• Wealth is sign of election and grace

• If you challenge community = opposing God

• Dark side• Bible is vital for

salvation

Characteristic of Literature

• To teach, NOT entertain• Poetry→ spirit. enlighten.• Message important• Writing = works of piety

and religious instruction• Plain, simple, rational

expression• Imagery, similes,

metaphor → detract from purpose; mainly used when taken from bible

Char. of Literature (cont.)

• audience = simple, plain people like farmers and

• More info = better style

• Homey examples and expression that appealed to readers’ experience and understanding

• Drama slow to develop; seen as “chapel of Satan,” corrupts playgoers

Literature and Works

• Anne Bradstreet To My Dear and Loving…

• Edward Taylor Huswifery

• Richard Mather Bay Psalm Book

• Jonathan Edwards Sinners in the Hands…

Southern Planters

Social/Political/Religious

• Less religious• Less rigorous climate,

easier farming• Relatively easy life• Relaxed • Less introspective• Less critical of each other• Lack of common purpose,

beliefs of Puritans

• Gentleman = manners important, public service important

• Plantation society• Settlements spread out,

few neighbors• Plantation is center of

commerce• Many slaves

Characteristics of Literature

• Writing seldom used for teaching

• Mostly journals, chronicles, letters

• Drama performed privately, sometimes challenged as immoral

• Practical writings

Writers and Works

• William Byrd History of the Dividing Line

• John Smith The General History of VA

Influence on today

• Puritan beliefs—work ethic, hard work leads to success—shaped Amer. society and culture

• America as model for rest of world

• How to live, important values to live by still in work of Amer. writers

Influence on Today

• “spirit of place” → wonder and diversity of land

• Concern with land—Frost, Steinbeck

• Concern with religion—Hawthorne to Hemingway

Relationship to Amer. Dream

• Hard work• Frugality• Self-improvement• Self-reliance• ?• ?• ?• ?

Changes that led to next period

• Liberal Protestants arrived and attracted followers

• Great Awakening

• Established societies had less harsh environment

• Discontent against conformity

Next Period

• Revolutionary Period