Colonial Period

1
Colonial Period

• Early American Literature

2
Native American Literature

• The earliest American Literature was composed by
  Native Americans.
• Much of Native American Literature was passed
  down orally.
• Native American tales were often mythological
  and/or folktales, such as Trickster tales.

3
Exploration Literature

• Once explorers began to travel to the New World,
  they chronicled their experiences in the form of
  diaries and letters home.
• Often, the diaries and letters were propaganda
  designed to increase settlers interest in the
  land.

4
The Puritans

• The term Puritan was applied to two groups of
  people who believed that
• 1) They should separate themselves from the
  corrupt Church of England or
• 2) The Church of England needed reform

5
Puritan Beliefs

• Predestination
• Covenant of Works
• Covenant of Grace
• Covenant of Redemption

6
Predestination

• G-d has chosen certain few of the elect for
  salvation.
• Unlike other Christians, they believed faith
  alone was not enough.
• Whether or not you were saved could be
  determined by your behaviorif you acted in a
  holy manner, it was assumed you were saved.

7
Covenant of Works

• G-d promised Adam and his progeny eternal life if
  they obeyed moral law.
• Adam broke this covenant.

8
Covenant of Grace

• Once Adam broke the Covenant with G-d, He created
  a new covenant with Abraham.
• Punishment for sins is considered a proper
  response to disobedience.

9
Covenant of Redemption

• Puritans believed that Jesus freely offered
  himself as a sacrifice on behalf of all people.
• G-d must accept Jesuss sacrifice as a
  representative for all people.

10
What the Puritans Did

• Established settlements in Massachusetts,
  including Plymouth and Boston.
• Influenced Americas system of laws and morals.
• Wrote in plain stylewriting unadorned with
  figurative language.

11
Salem Witch Trials

• In 1692, Salem, MA. experienced the witchcraft
  hysteria, which had been plaguing Europe for some
  time.
• Before the Salem Witch Trials ended, 185 people
  would be accused of the sin of witchcraft.
• Of those accused, 20 were executed.
• Arthur Miller wrote an account of the trials
  called The Crucible.
• To learn more about the Witch Trials and The
  Crucible, visit http//www.huffenglish.com/
  crucible/witchhunt.html.

12
Puritan Literature

• Histories William Bradfords Of Plymouth
  Plantation
• Poetry Anne Bradstreet and Edward Taylor
• Sermons Jonathan Edwards
• Biographies Mary Rowlandsons kidnapping account
• Tracts Increase Mather, Cotton Mather

13
The Scarlet Letter

• Written by Nathaniel Hawthorne, published in
  1850.
• Hawthorne descended from Salem Witch Trials judge
  John Hathorne (N. Hawthorne added the w for
  clarification in pronunciation).
• A sense of guilt over the actions of his
  ancestors compelled him to write many times on
  Puritan themes.
• The Scarlet Letter is set in the mid-1600s,
  during the Puritan era in Boston.