The Literary Periods: A Closer Look

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The Literary PeriodsA Closer Look

• Puritanism

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The Colonial Period 1620-1770

• Motivation to move from Europe
• Land availability
• Religious unrest
• Puritan Influence
• 1630-1640 Great Puritan migration
• Wanted to purify the church
• Wanted to go back to the Bible
• Seen as traitors

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Philosophical data

• Attitude toward God
• God is wrathful and angry
• God directly inspires the Bible
• Bible is basis of religious authority and moral
  judgment
• Goals are to simplify and purify the church

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Attitude toward man

• Man is depraved because of original sin
• Believed in predestination
• Limited number elected for salvation all else
  were damned
• Impossible to determine who was selected
• Spent lives trying to get closer to God

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Attitude toward society

• Theocracychurch is supreme political body, God
  governs
• Poor were frowned upon because they lacked the
  virtues of industry, thrift, diligence, humility,
  modest
• Frowned upon excess
• Believed in education for all
• Communities helped each other

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Attitude toward nature

• Hostile forces surrounded them
• Force to be reckoned with

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Literary data

• Typespromotional tracts, journals, diaries,
  letters, sermons, poetry
• Impact of literature strengthened connections
  between here and abroad and depicted the emotions
  and conditions at the time

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Impact on the American character

• Concern with hard work and its rewards
• Intolerant of poor
• Should help the underprivileged through
  conversion to our way of thinking
• Public education should be available to all
• Intolerance of others views
• Enjoyment of fruits of labors just dont abuse!