chapter 1 American Puritanism

A Brief Introduction to America Literature

Part OneColonial America

Chapter OneColonial America(1607-1775)

The New World● In 1492, Christopher Columbus found the new continent called America. ● There were many immigrants: Spanish (they built the first town on the new continent); Dutch (they built New York city at the beginning stage); French (today still lots of people’s mother tongue is French in North America); English (they first settled in Jamestown and Virginia in 1607)

The Development of America as a Nation American literature is closely related with the development of the America as a nation. The native people in the continent of US are Indians. In the beginning of 17th century, black people were shipped from Africa to America and became slaves of Southern planters. Other immigrants were from different nations of Europe: people of different nationalities live together generation after generation. Gradually a new nation, the nation of America came into being.

The early settlers

Christopher Columbus discovered the American continent in 1492. Captain John Smith reached Jamestown, Virginia in 1607. Puritans came to the New England area, by Mayflower in 1620. The first settlement was established in Plymouth in 1620.

Thanksgiving Day In 1620, the settlers, or Pilgrims, they sailed to America on the May flower, seeking a place where they could have freedom of worship. After a two-month voyage they landed in icy November. During their first winter, over half of the settlers died of starvation or epidemics. Those who survived began sowing in the first spring. All summer long they waited for the harvests with great anxiety, knowing that their lives and the future existence of the colony depended on the coming harvest. Finally the fields produced a yield rich beyond expectations. And therefore it was decided that a day of thanksgiving to the Lord.

Thanksgiving DayIt comes at the fourth Thursday of November in the USA, and the second Monday of October in Canada. a day of thanksgiving to the Lord Family dinner Express gratitude

Puritans Puritans was the name given in the 16th century to the more extreme Protestants(新 教徒) within the Church of England who thought the English Reformation (英国宗教改 革)had not gone far enough in reforming the doctrines and structure of the church. They wanted to purify their national church by eliminating every shred of Catholic influence. In the 17th century many Puritans emigrated to the New World, where they sought to found a holy Commonwealth in New England.

American Puritanism Puritanism was a religious reform movement that arose within the Church of England in the late 16th century. Under siege(包围) from church and crown, it sent an offshoot(分支) in the third and fourth decades of the seventeenth century to the northern English colonies in the New World– a migration that laid the fou

ndation for the religious, intellectual and social order of New England.

Puritanism Puritanism is a highly strict religious doctrine. The Puritans were determined to find a place on the new continent where they could worship God in the way they thought true Christians should. Puritanism also has its practical aspect. The Puritans had to work hard in order to make a living and be ready for any misfortunes and tragic failures that might lie in wait for them.

Puritanism in AmericaWhy did Puritans come to America? - to escape religious persecution - to reform the Church of England - to have an entirely new church - to seek fortune * God’s chosen people * To seek a new Garden of Eden * To build “City of God on earth”

Puritan Thoughts ● Puritans=Calvinists ◆ Puritans believed most doctrines preached by John Calvin, a theologian, so they were also called Calvinists. ◆ Puritans wanted to “purify the church” to its original state, because they thought the church was corrupted and had too many rituals.

Characteristics of American Puritans◆ On the one hand, American Puritans were all idealist as their European brothers. They came to the new continent with the dream that they would built the new land to an Eden on earth. ◆ On the other hand, American Puritans were more practical maybe because of the severe conditions they faced.

Life style of Puritans pious (虔诚的), austere of taste(简朴), diligent and thrift, rigid sense of morality(严格的道德观), self-reliant

Puritanism: Puritan values /Creeds hard work thrift piety sobriety (节制) Puritans are more practical, tougher, and to be ever ready for any misfortune and tragic failure. They are optimistic.

Features of Puritanism1) Predestination: God decided everything before things occurred. 2) Original sin: Human beings were born to be evil, and this original sin can be passed down from generation to generation. 3) Total depravity: Humanity’s utter corruption since the Fall. 4) Limited atonement: Only the “elect” can be saved.

The puritan legacya. b. c. d. e. f. g. Rigid sense of morality Emphasis upon material success Self-reliance Feeling for democracy Enthusiasm for education Fervor for social reform Conflict of conscience arising from an awareness that material success is not adequate as a major goal in life

Influence of Puritanism on American Literaturea. optimism b. Symbolism: The Puritans’ metaphorical mode of perception brought American literary symbolism into being, a literary symbolism which is distinctly American. c. The puritan style of writing is characterized by simplicity. d. It led to the everlasting myth. All literature is based on a myth– garden of Eden. American literature, in a sense, was a literary expression of the pious idealism of the Puritan request. Namely, American literature is based on a myth, that is, the myth of Garden of Eden. (opti

mism/American Dream)

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