COLONIALISM

1492-1770

Unit Objectives

RI 11.1: Cites strong and thorough textual evidence to support analysis of what the text says explicitly and through inference

RI 11.3: Analyze a complex set of ideas or sequence of events and explain how specific individuals, ideas, or events interact and develop over the course of the text.

RI 11.4: Determine meanings of words: connotative and denotative; figurative language; analyze how word choice affects tone

Focus Skills

Use quotes correctly Explain how the author builds an idea Identify bias, subjective and objective

writing Explain how authors use figurative

language to affect tone, mood, and meaning

Bias

Bias - is defined as “a personal and sometimes unreasoned judgment.” Bias can thus be found in content through an examination of the information the writer included or excluded, and it can also be found in tone through an examination of the language used. Identifying bias thus involves reading between the lines and distinguishing between objective and subjective ideas

Voice

Purpose

Purpose - An author’s purpose is the reason an author decides to write about a specific topic. Then, once a topic is selected, the author must decide whether his purpose for writing is to inform, persuade, entertain, or explain his ideas to the reader.

Memoirs

A Memoir is a piece of autobiographical writing, a form of personal narrative. It often tries to capture certain highlights or meaningful moments in one's past, often including a contemplation of the meaning of that event at the time of the writing of the memoir.

Characteristics: Memoirs focus on a brief period of time , have a narrative structure, are emotional, and contain author’s reflection on event.

Memoirs cont.

There is usually an author’s purpose in a memoir or personal narrative. The three main types of purpose are to inform, to persuade, and/or to entertain. The author’s purpose may be indicated through bias.

Writing also contains voice. Voice is the author's way the author makes his or her writing unique and which conveys the author's attitude, personality, and character.

Memoirs cont.

Memoirs can sometimes have bias. Bias is a strong opinion about something.

You can be biased in favor of something or biased against it. In either case, you may have some facts to support your position, but a bias is based more on feelings and opinions than on facts.

Puritans

- Puritans were a Christian sect that believed that worship and the Church could be simplified in order to more closely resemble biblical models.

- Puritans were persecuted in Europe for beliefs and fled to “New World,” settling in what became New England.

Puritans became pilgrims – people who make a long journey for a religious reason. Puritans were pilgrims, but not all pilgrims are Puritans.

Puritan Writings

- Puritans used Bible as a model for writing; there were direct connections between Biblical events and their lives.

- Puritans used writing to explore their inner and outer lives for signs of God

- Diaries and histories were most common forms of Puritan expression and writing – often published as memoirs

Puritan Writings, cont.

- Puritans favored a plain style similar to the Geneva Bible. Plain style – plain way of writing with clarity of expression and no figures of speech

Has archaic writing – words suggestive of an earlier time period

- Writing was for education; education was necessary to understand the Bible

Major Genres of Writing

Journals/Diaries - memoirs Historical documents Sermons Historical poems Bible – most read book

Colonial Beliefs

Freedom of religion (for the Puritans) Adam and Eve’s sin damned most

people for all eternity Puritan beliefs – the “Elect” were a

select few people who were predetermined by God to be saved – good/holy behavior was the result of being saved, or “elected.”

Native Americans polytheistic

Colonial American Dream

The Puritans who fled religious persecution in England became self-made successes throughout New England largely on the strength of their spiritual beliefs that it was preordained. For them, life on earth was a constant battle between the forces of good and the forces of evil, and the only way to battle evil was to be ambitious, work hard, and always strive for success.

Other colonists believed that the American Dream meant a new start, where hard work was enough to ensure success, regardless of background.

Puritan Beliefs

The Puritan lifestyle was a demanding one where there was not much time, nor was it accepted, to be creative.

The Puritans wanted to be controlled by God and everything that happened to them was the fate of God.

Strict Puritan code was far from tolerant.Any show of emotion. Such as excitement,

fear, or anger was discouraged, and disobedience was severely punished.

Puritan Beliefs cont.

Children rarely played, as toys and games were scarce. Puritans saw these activities as sinful distractions.

People were expected to work hard and repress their emotions or opinions.

Individual differences were frowned upon. Even the dark, somber Puritan dress was dictated by the church.

They believed that all sins—from sleeping in church to stealing food—should be punished.

Historical Background

Mayflower compact – Puritans Discovering colonies – creating colonies

– Jamestown settlement (English merchant class) and Massachusetts colony (Puritans)

Types of people who came: Indentured Servants and Slaves Criminals debtors Those looking for a new start or money

Historical Background, cont.

Salem Witch trials

Colonialism ends with American Revolution and the Age of Reason

Elements of Literature, 5th course. Austin: Holt, Rhinehart, and Winston, 2000.

Flowers, Darlene. “The Puritans.” Powerpoint. 2009.

Livaudais, Kimberly. Class Lecture notes. 2008.