Handout 1

1.  History, Poetry and Religion in Early Colonial Literature

(17th–early 18th c.)

South / North
Geography / Virginia and Southwards / New England
Economy / Plantation / Industry
Society / Conservative, royalist / Petty burgeois
Ideology / Anglican / Puritans, separatists
Calvin’s theology – few are predestined to eternal life
1. total depravity
2. unconditional election
3. limited atonement
4. Irresistible grace
5. perseverance of the saints
Records of events / John Smith
The True relation of…Virginia (1608) [Jamestown was founded in 1608)];
A Description of New England (1616);
The Generall Historie of Virginia, New England and the Summer Isles (1624). / William Bradford
John Winthrop

The major genres of Puritan literature:

Historical narratives (accounts of the founding)

William Bradford: Of Plymouth Plantation (written between 1630-1646);

John Winthrop: The History of New England from 1630 to 1649;

Puritan religious texts (discourse and debate on belief):

Based on Calvin’s theology: man is saved to virtue rather than by virtue.

Increase Mather “What Sinners can do towards their own Conversion”

Thomas Shepard “Covenant of Grace”

Roger Williams (founder of Rhode Island)

Jonathan Edwards “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God;”

Diaries and Journals – the diaries and journals of mainly Puritan gentlemen (and women)

Diaries (inward, subjective):

Michael Wigglesworth; Cotton Mather; Samuel Sewall;

Journals (meant for the public):

John Winthrop; Mary Rowlandson; Sarah Kemble Knight;

Poetry: the only traditional imaginative genre

Anne Bradstreet (The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America, 1650, Several Poems 1678)

Michael Wigglesworth (The Day of Doom)

Edward Taylor (Preparatory Meditations 1882-1725)

Ebenezer Cooke (The Sot-Weed Factor) – from the South (not a New England Puritan)

Captivity narratives

Mary Rowlandson

Jeremiad

A rhetorical structure employed in Puritan writing applied to Puritan biographies, historical narratives, sermons and letters which were written at the time.

It usually has a tripartite structure:

praising the piety and courageousness of the founders

lamenting and detailing the reason for the present troubles

offering a solution: returning to the original pious conduct of the founders.

King Philip's War (1675-1676) - Metacomet (King Philip) leader of the allied Indian tribes who fought against the New England settlers. 300 Indians, 600 colonists were killed by the end of the war.

captivity narrative--a narrative (17th, 18th, 19th century) usually written by a woman in which the captured victim represents the whole of Christian colonial society and patiently awaits her fate. The captive is ultimately redeemed by the grace of Christ and is released. A promise of similar salvation could be offered to devout readers.

Mary Rowlandson (1737-1711) – A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mary Rowlandson pays homage to the jeremiad form. The first captivity narrative is the longest piece of prose written by a woman in the 17th century. Captured on Feb 10, 1676. A party of Wampanoags attacked Lancaster killing a dozen citizens and taking 24 persons as hostages. Released in May 1676 for ransome.

Samuel Sewall (1652-1730) – The Selling of Joseph (1700). The first anti-slavery tract. He is best known for his diary which reflects the life of a devout Puritan who was at the same time a leading figure of his community. Publicly apologized for his role in the witchcraft trials.

William Byrd (1674-1744) – A southern landowner. The Secret Diary of William Byrd of Westover reflects the life and thoughts of a southern gentleman. Different from Puritan lifestyle and

convictions, much more worldly. Published only in the 20th century after the text was decoded.

Cotton Mather (1663-1728) – the most famous Puritan. Author of 444 works. Best remembered as author of Wonders of the Invisible World (1693), which relates the Salem witchcraft trials of 1692, and Magnalia Christi Americana (1702), the ecclesiastical history of New England. A jeremiad in structure. Defended the purpose of the Salem witch trials throughout his life.

The Great Awakening – a religious revival in the 1730s and 40s in New England focusing on the importance of conversion, and personal religious experience. Jonathan Edwards was the most famous representative.

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) - Minister for 24 years in Northampton Mass. Combined the rational and intuitive faculties in his writing “A Divine and Supernatural Light” (1734); “A Narrative of the Surprising Conversions”(1736); “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” (174 1). Wrote very passionate sermons that were in a great deal responsible for the wave of conversions in his congregation, launching the “Great Awakening.” 20th century poet Robert Lowell wrote poems on Edwards: “Mr. Edwards and the Spider”, “After the Surprising Conversions.”