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27 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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AMERICAN LIT THEME 1: COLONIAL PERIOD, BEGINNINGS TO 1790 |
To return to more primitive principles, simplicity, sobriety, religious earnestness, personal self-control, a more democratic church organization |
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Describe Calvinism (John Calvin) |
Calvin offered his own version of Augustinianism - Our duty in this world is to see that God's will prevails - Because of Adam's fall, mankind is depraved from birth - Some of us will be saved as an undeserved gift from god (grace) - The damned are damned despite their best efforts |
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What is Augustinianism? |
Theology related to the teachings of Augustine (354-430), one of the early church fathers Doctrines: Depravity of man, sovereignty of God's grace and salvation |
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Describe education in Puritan society |
A religious duty. Puritans founded schools and colleges, and established printing presses. |
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John Smith (1580-1631) |
- Generally regarded as the earliest writer of American literature - First to form personal image from his experiences in the English colonies - Best known book: "The Generall Historie of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles" // compilation of materials drawn from several earlier works and revised - Combining the qualities of practicality and vision, JS is the "archetypal American" - Rescue on the point of execution by Powatan's daughter (Pocahontas), great legend |
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John Smith's voyage to America in 1607 |
He was accused of mutiny, denied a place on the governing council of the first permanent English colony in America, Jamestown.
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John Winthrop (1588-1649) |
- Wrote "The History of New England" in 1630, abord the Arbella, leading 2,000 English emigrants to MA Bay. - Wrote daily entries until his death in 1649--intended as a record of Winthrop's long governorship |
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John Winthrop's writing style & motives |
- Plain and lucid style, neutral and non-judgmental - He sets forth the heresies of Roger Williams and Anne Hutchinson & their expulsion to RI - His acquittal of misfeasance becomes lesson on distinction between natural liberty and liberty under law |
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Jonathan Edwards (1603-58) |
- Theologian/philosopher - His ideas influenced Emerson, Hawthorne, Melville, and Whitman - |
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Jonathan Edwards' discourses |
Scriptural Text, Doctrine, Reasons, and Usage (application to life) - argument is dense-textured, inexorable in its onward thrust, plain in style - Syllogisms - Tight argument; every sentence invites underlining |
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Define: Syllogisms |
Combo of generic statement (major premise), specific statement (minor premise) and conclusion. EXAMPLE: |
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Jonathan Edwards' Ideas |
- By God's grace we may justly be damned - We cannot save ourselves by righteous actions - But we are the object of God's love - "The Nature of True Virtue" is love for all created being - Divine and supernatural light comes immediately from god and is the token of our regeneration & election to the company of saints |
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Anne Bradstreet (1612-72) |
- Puritan poet - Well-born daughter of MA governor and the wife of another |
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Edward Taylor (1644-1729) |
- Greatest poet of the entire American colonial period - Poems weren't published until 20th century; each was private act of devotion |
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Anne Bradstreet's Poetry |
- "In Reference to Her Children, 23 June 1659" - conceit that her 8 children are birds, describing their lives under her care - Employs homely imagery to convey warmth of her mother-love - Poems to husband Simon express sincere love for him, ardent, undivided by any claims of heaven |
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Puritan Poetry (1640-1700) |
- Written to set forth orthodox Calvinist Christianity - Cliches of Biblical and classical lit - Colonial imitations - Genuine American poetry wouldn't emerge for one hundred years |
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Benjamin Franklin (1706-90) |
Became most famous citizen in the Western world - Talent for negotiation - Embodiment of developing America - Helped draft the Dec. of Independence - Scientist- invented lightning rod & franklin stove - wrote The Autobiography (1790) |
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"The Autobiography" by Ben Franklin (1790) |
- Account of ben's life, beginning w/ Boston boyhood - printer's assistant / already involved with repressive authority struggles - Ran away to Philly w/ no money to begin a career as a printer - Begun in 1771 in England, interrupted by affairs of state, resumed in 1788 - Death ended the writings, when he stood before the British parliament arguing for rights of the American Colonies |
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Poor Richard's Almanac (1733-1758) |
Author: Ben Franklin Encouraged thrift, prudence, frugality |
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Ben Franklin's Themes |
Wrote to instruct his fellow citizens The follies of the times, dependence of individual prosperity, frugality, temerance |
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Ben Franklin's inspiration |
Essays of Addison and Steele Three criteria in composition: Clarity, smoothness, and brevity |
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Phillis Wheatley (1753-84) |
- Brought to America as a child, sold as a slave - Poetry was printed in early days of abolitionism - Recognized as the first important black writer and highly regarded pioneer |
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Phillis Wheatley: Background |
- Came to America from Senegal or Gambia as 7 y/o slave - Bought by Boston merchant, John Wheatley - The Wheatleys noticed her talent; taught her the Bible, Milton, Pope, Gray, study of Latin and Horace and Ovid - Encouraged to write at age 13 - First poem published in 1767 - "Poems on Various Subjects" published in 1773 |
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Phillis Wheatley: Poetic methods |
- Milton's influence clear - Heroic couplets of Pope which she emulated - Diction and poetic devices reflect neo-classical British writing |
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Phillis Wheatley: Themes |
- Christian gift of salvation - Divinity - Pride in African-American achievement |
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Phillis Wheatley: Famous poems |
- "On Being Brought from Africa to America" - "On the Death of Rev. Mr. George Whitefield, 1770" - "To S.M. a Young African Painter, on Seeing His Work" - Racial equality, equal claim on heaven, etc |
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THEME 2: THE NEW REPUBLIC (1790-1820) The Age of Reason (1680-1800) |
Intellectual revolution founded on work of Isaac Newton and John Locke |
