early american literature

A man who was knownas a friend of the Indiansspoke to Red Jacket one dayabout the good treatmentthe Senecas enjoyedfrom their white neighbors.

Red Jacket walked with himbeside the river, then suggestedthey should sit togetheron a log next to the stream.

They both sat down.Then Red Jacket slid closerto the man and said, “Move Over.” 

The man moved over, but when he didRed Jacket again slid closer.“Move Over,” he said.

Three times this happeneduntil the man had reachedthe end of the log near the waterthen, once more, he was told, “Move Over.”

“But if I move furtherI shall fall in the water,”the man pleaded,teetering on the edge.

Red Jacket replied,“And even so you whitestell us to move on whenno place is left to go.”

This period of American literature focuses on a combination of aboriginal literature (the Native Americans) and the literature of the Western explorers like Columbus, La Salle, etc.

After the first landing of Western ships on North American soil, explorers such as Columbus noted the richness, friendliness and generosity of the Native Americans.

Primarily Oral/Songs about N. A. cultures Myths Legends Tales lyrics

Strong use of nature as central images in written and oral literature

Strong use of metaphor ( natural images )

Repetition of key ideas

No written literature from over 500 N.A. tribe Very diverse literature

Variations in the tribes’ oral literature is evident due to a variety of governing systems and religions.

A love and respect of nature—as a spiritual and physical mother

Nature is alive—has spiritual forces Main characters in the stories may be

animals, plants, or totems (A totem is a spirit being, sacred object,

or symbol that serves as an emblem of a group of people, such as a family, clan, lineage, or tribe—Wikipedia)

Emerson’s “over-soul”—closest to the N. A. idea of holiness

Man is "connected" to the land When man demonstrates respect for land,

he also exhibits respect for himself In Nature there is God. The earth and sky

are holy and are to be treated with great respect. To abuse the land is a sacrilege.

Motifs (recurring theme) Nature

Symbols Trees The Sky Water ( rain, lakes and

oceans )

Coyote and the Rolling Rock

Numerous examples include lyrics and chants

Creation stories were very popular The Indian name for America—”Turtle Island” Songs & Poetry

Repetitive and short Poem songs and vision songs

Short and appear in dreamsor visions

Hundreds of Indian words in the English language

When reading these poems, consider the following literary choices: 1. Pronouns 2. Figurative Language (Literary Terms) 3. Main ideas

Pleasant it looked,this newly created world.Along the entire length and breadthof the earth, our grandmother,extended the green reflectionof her coveringand the escaping odorswere pleasant to inhale.

I went to kill the deerDeep in the forest whereThe heart of the mountain beatsFor all who live there.An eagle saw me coming andFlew down to the home of the deerAnd told him thatA hunter came to kill.The deer went with the eagleInto the heart of the mountainSafe from me who did not hearThe heart of the mountain beating.

I have killed the deer,I have crushed the grasshopperAnd the plants he feeds upon.I have cut through the heartOf trees growing old and straight.I have taken fish from waterAnd birds from the sky.In my life I have needed deathSo that my life can be.When I die I must give lifeTo what has nourished me.The earth receives my bodyAnd gives it to the plantsAnd to the caterpillarsTo the birdsAnd to the coyotesEach in its own turn so thatThe circle of life is never broken.

Now I am left on this lonely island to die—No one to hear the sound of my voice.Who will bury me when I die?Who will sing my death-song for me?My false friends leave me here to die alone;Like a wild beast, I am left on this island to die.I wish the wind spirit would carry my cry to my love!My love is as swift as the deer; he would speed through the forest to find me;Now I am left on this lonely island to die.I wish the spirit of air would carry my breath to my love.My love’s canoe, like the sunlight, would shoot through the water to my side,But I am left on this lonely island to die, with no one to pity me but the little birds.My love is brave and strong; but, when he hears my fate, his stout heart will break;And I am on this lonely island to die.Now the night comes on, and all is silent but the owl.He sings a mournful song to his mate, in pity for me.I will try to sleep.I wish the night spirit to hear my song; he will tell my love of my fate; and when I awake, I shall see the one I love.I am on this lonely island to die.

A direct link to Thomas Hariot's famous accounts and illustrations of Roanoke

A Modernization of the Text

• Norsemen—Leif Erickson came 400 years before 1492

• Columbus—his journal tells of drama, terror of men, and fear

• 1st Colonies– 1585 Roanoke on N. C. coast

• Colonists disappeared• Blue-eyed croatan Indians

– 1607 Jamestown

Paints American in “glowing colors” Jamestown’s main records were

writings of John Smith Romantic

embellishments Pocahontas

Diaries, letters, travel journals, ships logs, reports to financial backers

England was still in control

Puritans Self-made & self educated Their writing focused on the importance of

worshiping God and the spiritual dangers the soul faces on earth

In the early 1600s there was a large immigration to "The New Land" by people fleeing religious persecution.

The Puritans, a conservative, superstitious religious group fled England due to heavy persecution at the hands of Charles I and his father, James.

Religious colonies were established near or next to commercial land.

Their writing predominately reflected their religious views, some of which can still be seen today in American culture.

Life is a test Failure leads to eternal damnation and hell

fire Battle between the forces of God and Satan Felt life was an expression of the divine will

The devil is an active enemy of mankind Confession of sin required to be free Adultery is considered one of the worst

sins (lechery- indulgence of sexual desires)

Man vs. Self , Man vs. Environment Idealism - both religious and political. Pragmaticism - practicality and

purposiveness.

1. Total Depravity - through Adam's fall, every human is born sinful - concept of Original Sin.

2. Unconditional Election - God "saves" those he wishes - only a few are selected for salvation - concept of predestination.

3. Limited Atonement - Jesus died for the chosen only, not for everyone.

4. Irresistible Grace - God's grace is freely given, it cannot be earned or denied. Grace is defined as the saving and transfiguring power of God.

5. Perseverance of the "saints" - those elected by God have full power to interpret the will of God, and to live uprightly. If anyone rejects grace after feeling its power in his life, he will be going against the will of God - something impossible in Puritanism.

•  The Bible provided a model for Puritan writing– a conception of each individual life as a journey to salvation– saw direct connections between Biblical events and their

own lives.

•  Used writing to explore their inner and outer lives for signs of the workings of God.

•  Diaries and histories were the most common forms of expression because they directly expressed the workings of God.

•  Favored a plain style, similar to that of the Geneva Bible– Stressed clarity of expression and avoided complicated

figures of speech.

Pedagogical Strong use of personification, alliteration,

repetition and simile/metaphor (conceits) Biblical allusions Concerned with the presence of the devil

and sin The existence of diametrically opposed

absolutes (God vs. devil, good vs. evil)

1. To transform a mysterious God - mysterious because he is separate from the world.

2. To make him more relevant to the universe.

3. To glorify God.

1. Protestant - against ornateness; reverence for the Bible.

2. Purposiveness - there was a purpose to Puritan writing - described in Part II above.

3. Puritan writing reflected the character and scope of the reading public, which was literate and well-grounded in religion.

1. Puritans were basically middle class and fairly well-educated.

2. Virginians were tradesmen and separated from English writing.

3. Puritans were children of the covenant; gave them a drive and a purpose to write.

• The Plymouth Colony*Flagship Mayflower arrives - 1620*Leader - William Bradford*Settlers known as Pilgrim Fathers*The Mayflower Compact provides for

social, religious, and economic freedom,while still maintaining ties to Great Britain.

*The Separatists - Pilgrims

The Massachusetts Bay ColonyFlagship Arbella arrives - 1630Leader - John WinthropSettlers are mostly PuritansThe Arbella Covenant clearly

establishesa religious and theocratic settlement,free of ties to Great Britain.

The Congregational Puritans

Puritans wanted to remain as part of the English establishment, working for biblical reform from within.

Even as they emigrated to New England, they affirmed their “Englishness” and saw the main purpose of their new colony as being that of a biblical witness, a “city on a hill” which would set an example of biblical righteousness in church and state for Old England and the entire world to see.

As deeply committed covenant theologians, they emphasized especially strongly the corporate righteousness of their entire community before God.

Pilgrims wanted to achieve “reformation without tarrying,” even if it meant separating from their church and their nation.

While they continued to think of themselves ad English, their emphasis was on their new political identity and spiritual identity.

Because of their passionate commitment to the necessity of reformation immediate and without compromise, they emphasized especially strongly individual righteousness before God.

What united Massachusetts Bay and Plymouth, what united both Puritans and Pilgrims was far more significant than what distinguished them.

All children of the Reformation, they knew that salvation was by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone.

And they knew this because they took, as their authority, Scripture alone.

They all believed that to God alone must be the glory and, in their different ways, they sought to bring every though and every action--religious, political, social--captive to the Lordship of Jesus.

First Puritan colonists Interpreted the bible literally

Mary Rowlandson,A Narrative of the Captivity, Sufferings and Removes of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson...

Boston: John Boyle, 1773.

If ever two were one, then surely we. If ever man were loved by wife, then thee; If ever wife was happy in a man,

Compare with me, ye women, if you can. I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold Or all the riches that the East doth hold. My love is such that rivers cannot quench,Nor ought but love from thee, give recompense. Thy love is such I can no way repay, The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray. Then while we live, in love let's so persevereThat when we live no more, we may live ever.

Here followes some verses upon the burning of our house, July 10th, 1666.Copyed out of a loose Paper.

In silent night when rest I took, For sorrow neer I did not look, I waken'd was with thundring nois And Piteous shreiks of dreadfull voice.That fearfull sound of fire and fire, Let no man know is my Desire. I, starting up, the light did spye, And to my God my heart did cry To strengthen me in my Distresse And not to leave me succourlesse. Then coming out beheld a space, The flame consume my dwelling place.

And, when I could no longer look, I blest his Name that gave and took, That layd my goods now in the dust: Yea so it was, and so 'twas just. It was his own: it was not mine; Far be it that I should repine. He might of All justly bereft, But yet sufficient for us left. When by the Ruines oft I past, My sorrowing eyes aside did cast, And here and there the places spye Where oft I sate, and long did lye. Here stood that Trunk, and there that chest There lay that store I counted best: My pleasant things in ashes lye, And them behold no more shall I.

Under thy roof no guest shall sitt, Nor at thy Table eat a bitt.No pleasant tale shall 'ere be told, Nor things recounted done of old. No Candle 'ere shall shine in Thee, Nor bridegroom's voice ere heard shall bee. In silence ever shalt thou lye; Adieu, Adeiu; All's vanity.Then streight I gin my heart to chide, And didst thy wealth on earth abide? Didst fix thy hope on mouldring dust, The arm of flesh didst make thy trust? Raise up thy thoughts above the skye That dunghill mists away may flie.

Thou hast an house on high erect Fram'd by that mighty Architect, With glory richly furnished, Stands permanent tho' this bee fled. It's purchased, and paid for too By him who hath enough to doe.A Prise so vast as is unknown, Yet, by his Gift, is made thine own. Ther's wealth enough, I need no more; Farewell my Pelf, farewell my Store. The world no longer let me Love, My hope and Treasure lyes Above.

Artist’s depictions ofAnne Bradstreet

The literature of the pioneers and settlers served at least two functions, entertainment and advertisement. The literature used the popular writing style of the time, the journal, made popular by British writers like Samuel Pepys, Daniel Defoe, and Jonathan Swift to examine the heroic and dangerous adventures of travelers to "The New Land." The literature also served a key interest of business-- to make money. It was desirable for the companies and governments of this period to urge emigration and produced what were essentially advertisements to entice potential colonists.

Strong use of rhetorical questions Exploitation of hardships

(entertainment) Suppression of hardships (persuasive

techniques)

Man must endure physical and mental hardships in order to survive

Man has a desire to improve his economic, and mental/spiritual condition