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American Literature Beginnings through 1750

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Puritans continued The Puritan religion began to see a decline in the early 1700 s. However, it was revived by The Great Awakening . – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: American Literature Beginnings through 1750


1
American LiteratureBeginnings through 1750
2
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

3
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.

4
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.

5
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.

6
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)

7
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

8
Puritan Ideals
  • Hardwork
  • Frugality
  • Self-improvement
  • Self-reliance
  • Good is only achieved thorough hard work and
    self discipline.

9
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.

10
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

11
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.

12
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.

13
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.

14
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.

15
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)

16
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.

17
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.

18
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.

19
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.
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