American Literature Beginnings through 1750

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American LiteratureBeginnings through 1750
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Timeline of Events

• 1492- Native American groups first encounter
  explorers. At this time there are several hundred
  Native American tribes.
• 1492- Christopher Columbus lands in the Bahamas
• 1500s- Exploration of the new land, colonists
  arrive and settle in the late 1500s
• 1607- First permanent English settlement at
  Jamestown, Virginia
• 1619- First black slaves brought to Virginia
• 1620- Pilgrims land at Plymouth, Massachusetts

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Unit One- Beginnings through 1750

• Blend of Native American Literature, Puritan
  Literature, and Southern Plantation Owners
  Writings
• Myths, speeches, nonfiction, poetry
• Some famous authors during this time period are
  Navajo, Iroquois, and Onondaga tribes, Anne
  Bradstreet, Edward Taylor, Jonathan Edwards, John
  Smith, and William Bradford.

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Native Americans

• Tribes are scattered all over
• They differ greatly in language, government,
  social organizations, customs, and housing.
• Example A Southwestern tribe would differ
  greatly from a Northern tribe.

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Native Americans continued

• Not much is known about this time period. What we
  do know is that some Native Americans were
  friendly and helpful to the new settlers.
• Most settlers would not have survived without
  Native American assistance.

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Puritans (Early Settlers)

• Mayflower pilgrims were Puritans
• They were religious reformers that wanted to
  purify the church. They withdrew from the church
  and are commonly called Separatists.
• Most of that sector was encompassed by the
  Massachusetts Bay Colony (they wanted to reform
  the church from within)

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Puritans are Religious Reformers

• They believed that human beings exist for the
  glory of God and the bible is the sole expression
  of Gods will.
• They also believe in predestination (God decides
  who will be saved and who will not be saved)
• They are constantly checking themselves

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Puritan Ideals

• Hardwork
• Frugality
• Self-improvement
• Self-reliance
• Good is only achieved thorough hard work and
  self discipline.

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Puritans continued

• The Puritan religion began to see a decline in
  the early 1700s. However, it was revived by The
  Great Awakening.
• The Great Awakening was a series of religious
  revivals by Jonathan Edwards and George
  Whitefield.
• However, by 1750 the Puritan movement had mostly
  ended.

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Southern Colonies

• These colonies were wealthy and prosperous.
• The climate, crops, social organizations, and
  religion differs greatly from the Puritans.
• Busy social lives
• Plantation owners

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Mixing Pot

• It is the combination of Native American
  folklore and tradition, Puritan preoccupation
  with sin and salvation, and Southern Planters
  busy social lives that form the basis of American
  Literature.

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Native American Tradition

• Native American Literature is mostly folklore.
• The stories were sung as long songs.
• Usually they were about hero tales, migration
  legends, or creation myths.
• Most of the literature was oral. Therefore, there
  are no fixed versions. The story would change
  with every speaker.

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Native American Folklore continued

• Some stories were captured in writing.
• Often the language is poetic and moving.
• Famous orators of Native American stories of this
  time period are Logan and Red Jacket.

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PuritansIn Adams Fall/We Sinned All

• Religion dominated their lives.
• It also dominated the literature.
• Most of the writings were theological studies,
  hymns, histories, biographies, and
  autobiographies.
• By modern standards most of these writings would
  not be considered literary works.

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Puritan Literature

• The purpose of the literature was to provide
  spiritual insight and instruction.
• Neither fiction nor drama was produced. Both were
  considered sinful.
• Poetry was acceptable, but only for spiritual
  enlightenment. (Anne Bradstreet and Edward
  Taylor)

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Puritan Beliefs continued

• There was a strong belief in education for both
  men and women.
• In 1636, Harvard College was founded. Its purpose
  was to create a well educated ministry.
• Two years later, the first printing press was
  established. One of the first books to be
  published was entitled the Bay Psalm Book.
• In 1647, the concept of schools started to emerge.

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Literary Style

• The style of writing is plain.
• The goal is to have a clear statement.
• If the writing was ornate or clever it was
  considered a sign of vanity.

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Southern Voices

• Very few notable Southern writers appeared prior
  to 1750
• Those who were educated produced a substantial
  amount of the writings
• They wrote for practical reasons
• Fiction and drama was enjoyed
• The first theater in America was in Williamsburg,
  Virginia, in 1716.

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Unit One-Beginnings to 1750

• The writers whose work appears in this unit are
  not the great names in American literature. They
  are the founders, the men and women who laid the
  groundwork for the towering achievements that
  followed.