North America

LITERATURE

Baldemor,Jemima Charize
Martinez,Fenny
Bayubay,Mariannre
Bragas, Marc Jule
Teredanio,Jennifer
Delos Santos, Charles
How did North American
Literature began?
Colonial American literature is
generally thought to have begun when
English colonial forces first started to
settle in America. They brought with
them European history and culture,
including the English language and an
already longstanding written literary
tradition.
In Studying American literature, it is important to
understand that although similarities exist between
English and American literary styles, there are also
great divergences.
After having been politically and culturally dominated by
England, it became necessary for Americans to develop a means
of expression which could reflect Americans habits, thoughts
and ambitious. American society demanded a literature
expressed in a new style.

American culture offered characteristics which greatly differed

from those of the old cultures of Europe: democracy, the frontier,
and a new concept of humanity. By its very nature, American
society locked a definite structure about which to write. Search
for identity has always been an outstanding trait in the American
literature.
 It is necessity to remember that the American population
has never been homogenous, since it is comprised of
people of Europea, African, and Asian ancestry. America
has always been a land in which one looked to the future
for fulfillment of his expectation.

The emphasis has been upon individualism, dynamism

and innovation, rather than upon moderation or respect
for an established social hierarchy.

American literature has always reflected the double consciousness of its parents
cultures and its own youthful ambition. Up to the first part of the twentieth century,
there had been a trend to avoid topics such as the imperfection of humanity or the
nation. The literature reflected the process of settlement, the conquering of a
continent, the growth of political, social and spiritual ideas.
Although trends to exist, American literature is by no means statics. Its temperament
changes from decade to decade and it has been subjected to violent shocks through ar,
economic changes and criticism generated by changes in the intellectual climate. The
sentiments of optimism and pessism mix when America ideals find themselves
contradicted by reality.

Gay Literature Survival Literature Jewish Literature

EARLY COLONIAL
LITERATURE
 The early literature was produced by a God centered
world. Literary Englishment believed that was first among
the disciplines of learning and all events were ruled by
Divine Providence. Thus the writings produced in the
early colonial period were fundamentally religious.
American culture and literature were derived from western European
culture, literature and civilization. The first English settlement in America
was fortunate. Thirteen colonies were spread along the Atlantic coast of the
continent and this caused great influence on the American language ways, of
thought and civilization.
 The first literary manifestations in
America tell us the story of New England
and Virginia. Two main things forced the
English toward America: material
improvement and religious freedom.
The First Literary
Work
Puritanism as a School of Thought

01
Briefly
02 03 04
Briefly Briefly Briefly
describe the describe the describe the describe the
concept concept concept concept

05
Briefly
06
Briefly
07
Briefly
08
Briefly
describe the describe the describe the describe the
concept concept concept concept
 Puritanism as a
School of Thought
Religious Prime mover: Universe: God's Man: God's
movement God, all creation, creature, a
powerfull handled by God source of
temptation
Attitude Man's duty: Social Attitude: Man's Destiny:
towards life: faith, the obedience to election or
deterministic, glorification of authority reprobation
everything was God and
predetermined preperation for
by God after life, to read
the bible
Puritan Literature
Puritan Literature was reflection of Puritan life; therefore it
was connected with religious matters. The Puritans literary
writers produced mostly sermons, religious poems,
biographies, diaries and essays. They expressed the
experience of building a new land and the emotional and
spiritual life of the individual. Their works were sober and
realistic and were written in plain style. These writers
produced a more refined type of literature. They made use
of biblical analogies and allusions and of homely
expressions.
Some Writers
of this Period
William Bradford
-Like all puritans historians, wrote with
several guiding principles in mind. No "one"
thing could be more important than the other
because all things were under Divine control.
He was to tell every fact never stressing one
fact or minimizing the other.

Works:
-" The History of the Plymouth PLantation"
and "The Mayflower Compact".
Roger Williams
-He was considered dangerous for those who
thought that uniform beliefs were essential to
an effective government. Because of his
departure from traditional Puritan beliefs he
has a special place in early American
literature.

Works:
-"The Bloody Tenant of Persecution"
Anne Bradstreet
-She wrote poetry and prose, but it was in
poetry that she could show her best style with
simplicity and erudition.

Works:
-"Contemplations", "The Prologue",
"Meditations-For My Dear Son Simon
Bradstreet" and others.
Cotton Mather
-He is often blamed for causing the fury if the
witchcraft scare wich led to the trial and
execution of nineteen citizens of Salem in
1692. He wanted to prove with his work the
existence of devils and witches in New
England.
Jonathan Edwards
-In the middle of the eighteenth century,
when rigid religious doctrines of the Puritans
were beginning to give way to a practical
idealis, Jonathan Edwards attempted to bring
back early American theology. Edward's
religious beliefs were deep-roted in the ideas
of John Calvin, who stressed the
unquestionable majesty of God over all things.
It was Jonathan Edward's concept of a "Divine
Light" flowing from God through various
aspects of nature that built the foundation for
the pilosophy of Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Asserting the presence of sin and evil in the
world, Edwards believed that it was the job of
the preacher to depict for man the horrors of
the world of the evil. Hence, we have the
flaming scenes of hellfire and brimstone, the
grostesque and violent imagery of "Sinners in
the Hands of an Angry God". Sermons of this
type he felt were necessary to encourage his
parishioners to strive forever to recieve the
mystical, wondrous grace of God. We can will
imagine Edwards' words leaping from the
pulpit in Einfield, Connecticut where they
were first delivered, and searing the minds of
their frightened listeners.
 There are Two
Characteristics of North
America Literature
1. Vivid Image
Producing a strong or
clear impression on the
senses : sharp, intense,
specifically : producing
distinct mental images.
 2.Abundant Imagination
The choreographer Alexei Ratmansky is an
unusual mix: an artist of abundant imagination
who also pays loving homage to the past.
THANK YOU!!!