History of American literature:

 Historical happenings are recorded in literature in films, novels, short stories, essays,

articles, letters etc. Literature often time influences historical happenings.

 We will study American Literature by focusing on chronological time periods.

 The first time period is colonialism or purinitism.

 This period take place roughly from 1607 to 1750 from the James town settlement to just

before the American Revolution.

 In 1620 the pilgrims landed in Massachusetts.

 The pilgrims who were a highly developed group of religions dissenters from England

were also called Separatists because of their desire to separate completely from the

Church of England.

 Many pilgrims fled to Holland to avoid persecution by the group mayflower.

 Mayflower landed in 1920 at Plymouth, Massachusetts.

 Many of them were well educated and planned to put grow folks crops for the winter.

 They suffered greatly over a harsh winter losing many people.

 Many of the early settlements were pilgrims. Some pilgrims were known as Puritans.

 They were religiously strict and sought to purify the Church of England and not to

separate completely.

 They planned to build city on a Hill.

 Puritans rejected ornate style for plain living and display of wealth.

 They incorporated religion in their daily lives.

 They focused on main three doctrines:

 Bible only source of God, Law, Original Sin, and Predestination.

 For many puritans the highest person asked them to believe there is no other law other

than Bible.

 God created man and women together and put them in a garden. They committed sin

known as original sin by eating the fruit of three. They broke God Law.

 Good fortune according to the Puritans often indicated is being chosen by God.

 They thought they were the chosen people.

 They were forbidden not to take part in dancing, theater, gambling, reading, fiction,

poetry, drama etc.

 They were close-knit community’s hard working and they care for each other.

 They were well-educated.

 Family centered daily lives/God-centered activities.

 There was importance of literacy and education.

 Their faith relied in large parts on ability to read and interpret the Bible.

 Puritans were great supporters of all the people in a society receiving an education

especially for women allowing them to read.

 First university-Harvard

 Believed in education for ALL-even women-UNLIKE European standards.

 God is regarded as the sole sovereign and the laws of the realm are seen as divine

commands. By extension, a theocracy is a country in which control is in the hands of the

clergy.

 Puritan literature needed to be plain and practical.

 Acceptable literature included factual or devotional or practical.

 Aimed at personal salvation and condition of soul.

 Literature was way to serve to God and the community. It would include the Bible,

prayer books, Farmers almanacs, travel logs, etc.

 The first book published in North America was ‘The Bay Psalm’ was preceded on press

only by a one sheet ‘Oath of a Free Man’ and an Almanac.

 It actually combines religion and education.

 1700 copies made for first edition.

 It was direct translation of Hebrew Bible WITHOUT an attempt to make the verses

poetic in an English manner.

 It was eventually used in large parts of England and Scotland.

 It was used over 100 years in churches all through New England.

 Only 10 copies currently exist- one of which is in the Harvard College Library.

 A few years earlier and further Jamestown settlement to the South of pilgrim

Massachusetts.

 These settlers landed in 1607 and had a very different motive for settling.

 The Puritans may come here for religious freedom but the first British settlers were

interested in making money.

 Some folks were heavenly tied to the Church of England and they had no desire to split.

 Strong ties with Church of England and English government.

 The Southern colonies had lots of farmland and plantations.

 They enjoyed social gathering, they were not afraid to dance, drink and make marry.

 They were plantations owners, farmers, slaves, servants.

 Northern and Southern colonies both documented lives in forms of journals, diaries and

travel logs and was religious/devotional.

Writers of the Time were:

 John Smith: The General History of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles.

 William Byrd

 William Bradford: Of Plymouth Plantation.

 Anne Bradstreet: “Upon the Burning of My House” and many other poems.