Colonial Period of American Literature Time Period: Beginnings – 1750 Basics of Literary Time Period

Native Americans were the first settlers in North America

Colonists from Europe did not begin arriving until the late 1500s

Religious reformers called Puritans sailed from England on the Mayflower in 1620

American Literature

Introduction to the Colonial Period

Background on Native Americans

They were here first technically Native American Myths

Explain customs, institutions, or religious rites

Natural landmarks Events beyond people’s control

Background on Puritans Puritans/Pilgrims/Separatists

Pilgrims, or Separatists, wanted to withdraw from the Church of England

Puritans wanted to reform or “purify” the church from within; they wanted to create a theocracy (government through God)

Puritans’ Central Beliefs—Human beings exist for the glory of God and Bible is sole expression of faith

“Puritan Ethic”—thought they could accomplish good only through continual hard work and self-discipline

Theocracy—state under the immediate guidance of God

Puritan Plain Style

Literature produced by Puritans as an extension of their religion

Few literary devices Simple, straightforward style Not intended to entertain Prayers, Psalms, Songs, Diaries,

Journals

Great AwakeningEarly 1700s, Puritanism was in a decline

In 1720, religious revivals, known as The Great Awakening, were led by ministers, such as Jonathan Edwards

This was done in hopes of reviving the puritan ways and beliefs

It did little to revive old-fashioned Puritanism

Southern Planters

Settled Jamestown and South Came to grow crops and make

money Lived on plantations (large farms) Literature was very different from

that produced by New England Puritans

Ornate Style

Literature of Southern Planters Complex pieces using literary

devices Intended to entertain Some of the first plays were

performed in the homes of the wealthiest southerners

Stories, Poems, Plays

Writers and Works of the Period

Native Americans “The Earth on Turtle’s Back “When Grizzlies Walked Upright”

Explorers/Narrative Accounts Christopher Columbus – “Journal of the First

Voyage to America” William Bradford – “Of Plymouth Plantation”

Puritans Edward Taylor – “Huswifery” Anne Bradstreet – “To My Dear and Loving

Husband” Jonathan Edwards – “Sinners in the Hands of

an Angry God” The Crucible (written in the 1950s, but about

Puritans)