The Pilgrim’s Progress

THE PILGRIM’S PROGRESS

John Bunyan

The Pilgrim’s Progress

Considered the most influential religious book ever written in the English language

John Bunyan (1622-1688)

Learned reading and writing at village school in hometown of Elstow

Drafted into parliamentary army in 1644 Married first wife in 1649

She introduced him to various religious writings: Plain Man’s Pathway to Heaven; Practice of Piety

1653 joined a Nonconformist church

John Bunyan

Became a preacher Married second wife 1659, after first wife

died in 1656 (left with 4 children) Arrested in 1660 for preaching without a

license Spent approximately next 12 years in

Bedford jail

John Bunyan

During first half of this period, wrote 9 books The Holy City (1665) Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners

(1666) A Confession of My Faith, and a Reason of

my Practice (1672)

John Bunyan

Released from jail in 1672 Began preaching again Jail once again

where he probably finished the first part of The Pilgrim’s Progress

Timeline History of The Pilgrim's Progress

1675 (age 47) John Bunyan wrote The Pilgrim's Progress

during six months of incarceration February 1678

The Pilgrim's Progress is published. 1678

Second edition published in the fall

Timeline History ofThe Pilgrim's Progress

1682 Bunyan's eighth edition published with

additional last improvements. 1684

Bunyan's ninth edition published. 1684

John Bunyan published Part Two of The Pilgrim's Progress

1685 Bunyan published tenth edition

Bunyan…

"It came from my own heart, so to my head,And thence into my fingers trickled;Then to my pen, from whence immediatelyOn paper I did dribble it daintily.Matter and manner too was all mine own,Nor was it unto any mortal known,Till I had done it. Nor, did any then,By books, by wits, by tongues, or hand or penAdd five words to it, or write half a lineThereof; the whole and every whit is mine."

The Pilgrim’s Progress

The allegory takes the form of a dream by the author.

Main character: Christian, an everyman character Journey:

City of Destruction

Celestial City

The Pilgrim’s Progress

THE FIRST STAGE Author's Apology for his Book Christian's deplorable condition Evangelist directs him Obstinate and Pliable Slough of Despond Worldly Wiseman Mount Sinai Conversation with Evangelist

The Pilgrim’s Progress

THE SECOND STAGE The Gate Conversation with Good-Will The Interpreter's House Christian entertained The sights there shown him

The Pilgrim’s Progress

THE THIRD STAGE Loses his burden at the Cross Simple, Sloth, Presumption, Formalist, Hypocrisy hill Difficulty the Arbor misses his roll the Palace Beautiful the lions talk with Discretion, Piety, Prudence, and Charity wonders shown to Christian he is armed

The Pilgrim’s Progress

THE FOURTH STAGE Valley of Humiliation conflict with Apollyon Valley of the Shadow of Death Giants Pope and Pagan

The Pilgrim’s Progress

THE FIFTH STAGE Discourse with Faithful Talkative and Faithful Talkative's character

The Pilgrim’s Progress

THE SIXTH STAGE Evangelist overtakes Christian and Faithful Vanity Fair the Pilgrims brought to trial Faithful's martyrdom

The Pilgrim’s Progress

THE SEVENTH STAGE Christian and Hopeful By-ends and his companions plain of Ease Lucre-hill Demas the River of Life Vain Confidence Giant Despair the Pilgrims beaten the Dungeon the Key of Promise

The Pilgrim’s Progress

THE EIGHTH STAGE The Delectable Mountains entertained by the Shepherds a by-way to Hell

The Pilgrim’s Progress

THE NINTH STAGE Christian and Hopeful meet Ignorance Turn-away Little-Faith the Flatterer the net chastised by a Shining One Atheist Enchanted Ground Hopeful's account of his conversion discourse of Christian and Ignorance

The Pilgrim’s Progress

THE TENTH STAGE Talk of Christian and Hopeful Temporary the backslider the land of Beulah Christian and Hopeful pass the River welcome to the Celestial city

Part II

The second part was published in 1684 describes the journey of Christian's wife

and children from the City of Destruction to the Celestial City they travel under the guidance of Mr.

Greatheart, the servant of the Interpreter

Bunyan’s Style

Characteristics his constant use of the phraseology and the

imagery of the Bible the frequent occurrence of provincial and

colloquial expressions

Stylistic features

The vividness of the descriptive passages (they are usually sentences or merely phrases)

Reproduction of scenes from the Bible (as Bunyan

understood them) scenes from provincial and rural England

Theme

The Pilgrim's Progress is primarily a religious allegory

in intention it is an exposition of the Protestant theory of the plan of salvation Example of Puritan theology

No fanaticism