Chapter 1 Colonial Beginnings from An Outline of American Literature by Peter B. High

Chapter 1

Colonial Beginnings

from An Outline of American Literature by Peter B. High

American Literature –

Begins in the early 1600s

Earliest Writers – Englishmen describing exploration and colonization of the “New World” (p.5)

Briefe and True Report of the New-Found Land of Virginia (1588) by Thomas Hariot

mixed facts with fantasy read the book as a travel guide read these “true reports” as tales of adventure

and excitement

Settlement in the New World

A 17th century map of the Virginia territory

Captain John Smith (1580-1631) fought the Turks in Hungary was sold as a slave and escaped by killing his mast

er helped found Jamestown (1607), the first English c

olony in America True Relation of Virginia (1608) and Description o

f New England (1616), persuaded his readers to settle in the New World

General Historie of Virginia, New England, and the Summer Isles (1624) contains the story of his rescue by a beautiful Indian princess “Pocahontas”

Captain John Smith (1580-1631)

“Chief Powhatan of the Algonquin Nation, ruled a confederacy of Powhatan Indian tribes in eastern Virginia. He was the supreme ruler of the Indians in the Chesapeake area. Captain John Smith wrote of Chief Powhatan: "He is of parsonage a tall well proportioned man... his head somwhat gray.... His age neare 60; of a very able and hardybody to endure any labour. What he commandeth they dare not disobey in the least thing. It is strange to see with what great feare and adoration all these people doe obay this Powhatan. For at his feet, they present whatsoever he commandeth, and at the least frowne of his browe, their greatest spirits will tremble with feare: and no marvell, for he is very terrible and tryannous in punishing such as offend him.”

From:http://www.co.henrico.va.us/manager/pokeypix.htm

Captain Smith being saved by Pocahontas

Two great stones were brought before Powhattan (the Indian “King”): then as many as could dragged him (Smith) to them and thereon laid his head, and being ready with their clubs, to beat out his brains, Pocahontas, th King’s dearest daughter, got his head in her arms, and laid down her own (head) upon his to save him from death: whereat the King was contended he should live. (p.6)

Pocahontas

English portrait of Pocahontas

4 faces of Pocahontas

http://www.co.henrico.va.us/manager/pokeypix.htm

Differences Between the Southern and the New England Colonies

In the South, black slaves were used to grow tobacco

rich plantation owners were slow to develop a literature of their own

preferred books imported from England

In New England

The Puritan formed a society based on strict Christian beliefs, the laws of God

had a stronger sense of unity and of a “shared purpose”

culture and literature developed much faster than in the South

Harvard was founded near Boston in 1636 to train new ministers

In 1638 The first printing press started there In 1704 America’s first newspaper began in

Boston

New England Puritan Literature –

most of them were histories History -- developed according to God’s plan;

God directs everything that happens New England – the Promised Land of the

Bible Central Drama – the struggle between Christ

and Satan

William Bradford (1590-1675)

Of Plymouth Plantation describing the Puritans’ difficult relations

with the Indians their difficulties during the first winter written in plain style, accessible to

uneducated readers used examples drawn from the Bible and

the everyday life of farmers and fisherman

William Bradford (1590-1675)

Thanksgiving

John Winthrop (1588-1649)

The History of New England the first governor of

Massachusetts Bay Colony, minister all his life

described scenes of sadness and unhappiness

believed most events could be seen as a sign from God (p.8)

First Puritans – Not Very Democratic

Edward Johnson (1598-1672) The Wonder-Working Providence of Sion’s Savio

ur in New England (1650) Male Puritan leaders defined harsh church laws Puritan society – theocracy-A government ruled b

y or subject to religious authority non-believers were called “snakes” and were puni

shed severely laws of society = laws of religion

Examples:

A Survey of the Summer of Church Discipline (1648) by Thomas Hooker (1586-1647) -- the most famous statement of Puritan laws.

Way of the Churches of Christ in New England (1645) by John Cotton --less severe

Newer Puritans-- the Beginning of the 1700s Roger Williams (1603-1683)

desired a freer religious environment Williams established his colony in Rhode Island and

his Bloudy Tenent (1644) became a famous statement for religious freedom

“Freedom” is necessary condition for “the growth and development of the soul”

became important to the development of democracy Puritan strictness began to relax and tradition grew

weaker and weaker as farmland and more comfortable settlements had grown up

Roger Williams(1603-1683)

The Mather Family in New England

Richard Mather (1596-1669) – p.9

The founder of his family in America

Increase Mather (1639-1723)

Leader of the New England theocracy Minister at North Church in Boston, the

most powerful church in New England

Remarkable Providences (1684) – reveals the psychological environment of the time and Puritan’s strange beliefs

Salem Witchcraft

1690s – witchcraft panic – the town of Salem, Massachusetts, young girls and old women were arrested and put on trial as witches, charged of “selling their souls” to the Devil

Witchcraft and other form of evil were real part of everyday life

Salem Witch Trial

Cotton Mather (1663-1728)

“An insane genius for advertising himself,” wrote more than 450 works

Magnalia Christi Americana (1702) – description of the Salem witch trials

Admitted the witch trial was a mistake, an assault from hell

Poems on Religious Themes

Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672) Tenth Muse Lately

Sprung Up in America (1650) – p.11

the first New World poems published in England

Edward Taylor (1645-1729)

hoped for a “rebirth” of the “Puritan Way – p.12 concerned with the inner spiritual life of Puritan b

elievers created rich unusual images to help his reader “se

e, taste and feel religious doctrine” “religious people” are rare “as Black Swans that i

n milkwhite rivers are”

Great Awakening – began about 1730s

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God (1733) Freedom of Will (1754) Developed the puritan’s idea of science as “the study

of God’s material creation” – there was a close relation between knowledge of the physical world and of the spiritual world.

created a bridge between the old strict Puritan society and the new, free culture (p.12-13)

Robert Beverley (1673-1722)

History and Present State of Virginia (1705) strong defender of black slavery free of race hatred on the section of the Indians

of Virginia

Wiliam Byrd (1674-1744)

History of the Dividing Line writing for London audiences ssed humor and realism to describe life along th

e frontier between Virginia’s settled areas and the deep forest

held liberal view of blacks and the Indians supported mixed marriage