Literature of colonial America,Table of Contents,Historical Introduction Early American writers and Poets Puritan & Puritanism,Historical Introduction,Christopher Columbus discovered the American continent in 1491. Captain Christopher Newport reached Virginia in 1607. Puritans came the New England area, by Mayflower in 1620. The first settlement was established in Plymouth in 1620.,Types of writing: diaries, letters, histories, travel accounts, religious writings etc. Content: serving either God or colonial expansion or both Form: imitating English literary traditions,American literature of colonial periods,Early American writers and Poets,1. North, Jamestown, Virginia: Captain John Smith-first American writer 8 works 2. South, New England, Puritan Writers William Bradford: first governor of Plymouth,John Winthrop: first governor of Boston, 3. Two Poets: Anne Bradstreet, Edward Taylor,Captain John Smith (15801631),An English soldier, sailor, and author. He is remembered for his role in establishing the first permanent English settlement in North America at Jamestown, Virginia. He led an exploration along the rivers of Virginia and the Chesapeake Bay.,Questions,How did Captain John Smith started to write and publish his works? What are the names of his literary works? Comments on Captain John Smith.Contributions: his description of America were filled with themes, myths, images, scenes, characters and events that were a foundation for the nations literature. He lured the Pilgrims into fleeing here and creating a New land.,William Bradford (1590 1657) 1.A leader of the Separatist settlers of the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts. 2.He was the second signer and primary architect of the Mayflower Compact in Provincetown Harbor. 3. His journal (162047), was published as Of Plymouth Plantation.,Bradfords statue in Plymouth Rock State Park, Plymouth, Massachusetts,John Winthrop (1587/8 1649),He led a group of English Puritans to the New World in 1630, and joined the Massachusetts Bay Company later that year, and then was elected their governor in October 1629.,Questions,What are the names of William Bradford and John Winthrop literary works? What are their different styles? The History of Plymouth Plantation, simplicity, earnestness, direct reporting, readable, moving. The History of New England, candid simplicity, honesty,Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672),Anne Bradstreets Life * She was born and educated in England. * At the age of 18, she came to America in 1630 with her father and husband. * She had 8 children. * She became known as the “Tenth Muse” who appeared in America.,Anne Bradstreets Works,“Some verses on the Burning of Our House” “The Spirit and the Flesh” The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America (the first collection published by English colonists living in America),“The Spirit and the Flesh”,In secret place where once I stood Close by the Banks of Lacrim flood, I heard two sisters reason on Things that are past and things to come. One Flesh was calld, who had her eye On worldly wealth and vanity; The other Spirit, who did rear Her thoughts unto a higher sphere. “Sister,“ quoth Flesh, “what livst thou on Nothing but Meditation?,Edward Taylor (1642-1729),A New England Puritan.Taylor was born in Leicestershire and later left England, He studied divinity at Harvard, and eventually became minister of Westfield, Massachusetts. The first sections of Preparatory Meditations (16821725) and Gods Determinations touching his Elect (c. 1680) were published in 1937.,Features of Colonial Poets,They were servants of God.They faithfully imitated and transplanted English literary traditions.,In English style,Puritan poets,Puritanism in America,They follow the ideas of the Swiss reformer John Calvin. Doctrines: - Predestination - Original sin and total depravity (human beings are basically evil.) - Limited atonement (or the Salvation of a selected few) Puritan values (creeds): Hard work, thrift, piety, sobriety, simple tastes. Puritans are more practical, tougher, and to be ever ready for any misfortune and tragic failure. They are optimistic.,Puritanism in America,Why did Puritans come to America? - to reform the Church of England - to have an entirely new church - to escape religious persecution * Gods chosen people * To seek a new Garden of Eden * To build “City of God on earth”,Puritanism in America,Influence - American Puritanism was one of the most enduring shaping influences in American thought and American literature. - American literature is based on a myth, i.e. the Biblical myth of the Garden of Eden. - Puritanism can be compared with Chinese Confucianism.,The Literature of Reason and Revolution (1765-1800),Revolutionary Period (1776-1783) “The Age of Reason” “American Enlightenment”,Historical Introduction Features of American revolutionary age & major writers: Benjamin Franklin Thomas Paine Thomas Jefferson Philip Freneau,Historical Introduction,Industrial Revolution Independence War Enlightenment Movement,