A Gathering of Voices
Literature of Early America
Snapshot of the
Period
What is the relationship
between literature and
place?
How does literature shape
or reflect society?
What makes American
literature American?
Snapshot of the Period
 North America was populated by several hundred Native
American tribes
 There were also enslaved Africans who made the journey
against their will. They wrote accounts of their experiences.
 By 1699, European colonies dotted the entire Eastern
seaboard.
 By 1776 13 of these colonies declared their independence
from England.
 This influx of Europeans had a lasting impact on the Native
Americans.
Historical Background~ Early
America (until 1800)~
THE FIRST AMERICANS:
The rich cultural presence of Native American
tribes spanned the continent, and the Native
American oral literature-myths, legends, songs,
begins our literary heritage.
The first colonists arrived in late 1500s. They learned
woodcraft and agriculture from the Native
Americans.
These men and women were tough and hardy, but
without the help of the Natives, they probably
would not have survived!
Puritans, Pilgrims, and Planters
 In 1620 the Mayflower sailed
into Plymouth.
 The passengers were religious
reformers who tried to purify
the Church of England.
 These Puritans, called Pilgrims,
gave all their energy to build
communities based upon the
Bible.
 The Southern Colonies
differed greatly. They were
based upon climate, crops,
and social organization.
The Age of Reason
 The Enlightenment shocked the Puritan beliefs.
 This age was inspired by brilliant scientists and
philosophers.
 These thinkers valued science, logic, and reason
over faith.
 They believed that people are good by nature
and capable of building a better society.
 They spoke of a social contract that forms the
basis of government. They laid the groundwork
for the American Revolution.
The Birth of a Nation
 Taxes upon taxes imposed by British
beat down American Colonists.
 They met at the First Continental
Congress, and in 1775, Minutemen
fired “the shot heard around the
world.”
 There was 6 long years of battles
and blood shed, and finally the
British surrendered.
 Heroes of the Revolution,
Washington, Adams, and Jefferson,
helped America to firmly establish
its political identity.
Key Historical Themes
 Europeans came to America to create a “city
upon a hill,” an ideal community founded on
moral and religious values.
 Colonists, with the help of Native Americans,
learned to make the Wilderness productive, on
both small farms and large plantations.
 The United States arose from Enlightenment
ideas—that people are basically good and can
use reason to create a better society.
What is the Relationship
Between Literature and Place?
 Places of Wonder- The colonists discovered long
shores and sandy beaches. They found
mountains and fertile valleys. Nature in America
was immense. It was not Europe!
 At One with Place- America was a place apart,
but not so in the eyes of the Native Americans. In
their culture, people belonged to the land.
Nature was not to be feared as an enemy or
obstacle, but rather honored as a source of life.
Nature was celebrated in myths, rituals, and
songs.
What Were the Colonists’ Attitudes Toward the
New World Environment?
 People did not
belong to the land.
The land was owned
by the people and it
was to be claimed,
measured, divided,
bought, sold and
governed by the
Europeans.
The Colonists’ Attitudes
 Dream vs. Reality- The American colonists view toward the
American environment was a blend of dream and reality.
The dream was to create a community governed by religious
principles. The reality was to avoid starving to death or falling
prey to the cold or animals. They saw beauty but felt the
harsh reality of staying alive.
 Independent Place and People- By the 18th century the
Europeans were more secure. Tree by tree, they tamed the
wilderness to build towns, roads, schools, and churches. They
worried less. They realized that they lived in an independent
place, but were not independent people. The effects of the
Enlightenment began to settle. They could belong to
themselves and not a monarch. The same self reliance they
used earlier would be the one they would use to fight kings!
How Did These Attitudes
Towards Nature Show Up in
Literature?
 The Native Americans and
nature showed up in myths
and legends.
 The early explorers wrote
journals, reports, and letters.
 As the colonies developed
technology improved and
agriculture flourished.
 Nature became symbolic
for writers.
What Makes American
Literature American?
 Themes!
 What were the early American themes?
 Wilderness- insights into nature and meaning of the
wilderness through details used to describe it.
 Community- public writing such as pamphlets and
newspapers, conveyed the message that America
was a place of community and independence.
 Individualism- Writers made clear that self reliance
and individualism are fundamental American
values, in everything from laws to lyric poems.
What Social and Political Forces
Affected Early American
Literature?
 Puritanism- In hymns, sermons,
and histories, they aimed for
self examination and spiritual
insight.
 Enlightenment-By the 18th
century the power of reason
influenced society.
Reasoned documents were a
rational argument for
independence.
 Native Americans and
African Americans- These
individuals left deep marks in
American literature. They
often provided heartrending
stories!
What Were the Major Roles of
Early American Writers?
Writer as a Poet
and Historian
Writer as Preacher
and Lawmaker
Writer as
Autobiographer