American American LiteratureLiterature

Beginnings – 1750Beginnings – 1750

““A most interesting aspect of the earliest period of American A most interesting aspect of the earliest period of American literature is that, for the most part, the writers were not really literature is that, for the most part, the writers were not really Americans.”Americans.”

Native AmericansNative Americans

300+ groups, 200+ languages300+ groups, 200+ languages Oral tradition, so no written historyOral tradition, so no written history Song lyrics, hero tales, migration Song lyrics, hero tales, migration

legends, creation stories - originally legends, creation stories - originally studied for content (not literary studied for content (not literary quality)quality)

**common characteristic: deep respect **common characteristic: deep respect for naturefor nature

ExplorersExplorers Age of Exploration – late 15Age of Exploration – late 15thth century century Columbus: Columbus: Journal of the First Voyage to Journal of the First Voyage to

AmericaAmerica

Also written accounts by de Vaca, de Also written accounts by de Vaca, de Cardenas, de CoronadoCardenas, de Coronado

**Interesting and valuable as these are, they’re not central to the **Interesting and valuable as these are, they’re not central to the development of American literature in the way that other early development of American literature in the way that other early

writings are.writings are.

Slave NarrativesSlave Narratives The Interesting The Interesting

Narrative of the Life Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano, of Olaudah Equiano, an African Slavean African Slave

Equiano – purchased Equiano – purchased his freedom & moved his freedom & moved to England to write his to England to write his autobiography, an autobiography, an account of slaves account of slaves journeying journeying to to America America

Pilgrims vs. PuritansPilgrims vs. Puritans

PilgrimsPilgrims – (Mayflower 1620) – critical of – (Mayflower 1620) – critical of Church of England, so they withdrew. Church of England, so they withdrew.

*AKA “Separatists”*AKA “Separatists”

*Plymouth Colony*Plymouth Colony

PuritansPuritans

--Intended to purify the Church from withinIntended to purify the Church from within

*Massachusetts Bay Colony*Massachusetts Bay Colony

*“City on a hill” philosophy*“City on a hill” philosophy - model community - model community guided by the Bibleguided by the Bible

““For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill, the eyes of all people are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have are upon us. So that if we shall deal falsely with our God in this work we have undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall undertaken, and so cause Him to withdraw His present help from us, we shall be made a story and a byword throughout the world…”be made a story and a byword throughout the world…”

~John Winthrop (Gov. of colony), from a~John Winthrop (Gov. of colony), from a

sermon about the sermon about the ArabellaArabella, on the way to , on the way to New England, spring 1630New England, spring 1630

Beliefs:Beliefs:

-humans exist for the glory of God-humans exist for the glory of God

-the Bible is the sole expression of God’s will-the Bible is the sole expression of God’s will

-predestination-predestination

-Puritan ethic (constant hard work and self--Puritan ethic (constant hard work and self-discipline)discipline)

-humans are inherently evil and must struggle to -humans are inherently evil and must struggle to

overcome sinful naturesovercome sinful natures

**religion is a personal, inner experience. Clergy and/or **religion is a personal, inner experience. Clergy and/or government should not and cannot act as an government should not and cannot act as an intermediary between the individual and God.intermediary between the individual and God.

Puritanism declined during the early Puritanism declined during the early 1700’s, but revived briefly in 1720: 1700’s, but revived briefly in 1720: the Great Awakeningthe Great Awakening

Literature:Literature: theological studies, hymns, theological studies, hymns, histories, diaries, biographies & histories, diaries, biographies & autobiographiesautobiographies

Purpose = to provide spiritual instruction & Purpose = to provide spiritual instruction & insightinsight

(more concerned w/ content(more concerned w/ content

than craft)than craft)

Education Education – important for males and females– important for males and females

- founded Harvard College 1636- founded Harvard College 1636

- set up 1- set up 1stst printing press 1639 printing press 1639

- free public schools in Mass. 1647- free public schools in Mass. 1647

The New England PrimerThe New England Primer – spelling/reading & – spelling/reading & moralismmoralism

Bay Psalm BookBay Psalm Book – standard hymnal of the time – standard hymnal of the time

Literary Style: Literary Style: the more info the better; plain, clear the more info the better; plain, clear statementstatement

Southern PlantersSouthern Planters

Connected closely to slavery (1Connected closely to slavery (1stst slaves slaves 1619 – 1 year before Pilgrims)1619 – 1 year before Pilgrims)

Not much literature prior to 1750 – mostly Not much literature prior to 1750 – mostly of a practical nature (John Smith’s of a practical nature (John Smith’s The The General History of VirginiaGeneral History of Virginia))

Unlike Puritans, this group was not Unlike Puritans, this group was not opposed to fiction or dramaopposed to fiction or drama

To wrap it all up….To wrap it all up….

The authors from this unit are not the The authors from this unit are not the great names in American literature, great names in American literature, but they are the but they are the foundersfounders – they set – they set the stage for all who have followed.the stage for all who have followed.