PURITANS
ENG III
WHO WERE THEY?
The Puritans were religious reformers who wanted to ‘purify’ the Church
of England
After leaving England, they decided to cross the Atlantic to the New
World and start over, in the hopes of establishing an ideal community
founded on moral and religious values, or a “city upon a hill”
The Mayflower landed at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620
WHO WERE THEY?
Puritanism influenced almost EVERY aspect of colonial life
Predestination: God has already decided who will be saved
Puritan ethic: Hard work and self-discipline were extremely important
Self-examination and spiritual insight were extremely important as well
These aspects of Puritan life are evident in hymns, sermons, histories,
journals and autobiographies of the time
RELIGIOUS BELIEFS
Believed in the followings of John Calvin
Original Sin: Man is born corrupt because of Eve’s sin
Limited Atonement: Jesus only died for the elect, not for everyone
Elect: the select few that were saved
God’s grace could save us but only a select few
OTHER BELIEFS
Were intolerant of other religions
Saw narrow-mindedness as a source of strength
Believed in hard work
Because they expected little of life, they were rarely disappointed
World filled with evil
World was a work house, not a play house
OTHER BELIEFS
Promoted education and reading
Must be able to read in order to read the Bible
Against anything the Bible is against, technology, democracy, pride, sleeping
during sermons, divorce
Created first college, first bookstore, first newspaper
Very strict interpretation of the Bible—whatever the Bible said was the final
word
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4UENmCY
s4sM
OMNIPOTENT
OMNIPOTENT
Having virtually unlimited authority or
influence.
HITHERTO
This
HITHERTO
Up to this or that time
MITIGATION
MITIGATION
To cause to become less harsh or to make
less severe or painful.
SERMON
SERMON
A religious discourse delivered in public
usually by a clergyman as a part of a
worship service.
INEFFABLE
INEFFABLE
Incapable of being expressed in words.
“SINNERS IN THE HANDS OF AN
ANGRY GOD”
Reader’s Notebook-pages 28-32
RAFT Activity
Role
Audience
Format
Topic
Jonathan Edwards’
Mom
Congregation
Letter
Son was right with message and
why townspeople must change
Wife of Jonathan
Edwards
Mother-in-law
OR
Ladies of the
Church
Letter
Proud of her husband’s message
Adult in the
congregation
Jonathan Edwards
Letter
Response to the message
Child in the
Congregation
Parent
OR
Best Friend
Letter
Response to the message
VOCABULARY FOR SECTION 5
Ineffable
Sermon
Omnipotent
Mitigation
hitherto
PURITANS IN AMERICAN
LITERATURE
From “Sinner”
QUESTIONS TO ANSWER
1.
2.
3.
4.
What message is Edwards conveying in this sermon? Quote two places
where he directly states his purpose.
How does Edwards fit your image of a Puritan?
What is the main emotion Edwards uses to persuade his audience? Quote
an example and explain how this example shows the emotion.
Create a bubble chart that has the word “wrath” in the middle. Find all
the biblical illusions, stories, characters, and imagery that Edwards uses to
describe God’s wrath. The answer this question: “How does each
archetype add to the power of Edwards’s message?
COMMUNITY OR INDIVIDUALITY?
The pilgrims values religions devotion, work, and duty of private emotions.
Yet, Anne Bradstreet’s poems are filled with her personal feelings. Should
writers focus more on a sense of community or on their own individuality?
Write a brief paragraph discussing your views.
VOCABULARY
Quench – satisfy a thirst
Recompense – something given or done in return for something else
Manifold – in many ways
Persevere – continue despite hardships
ANNE BRADSTREET
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Arrived in Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 at age 18
8 children
Multiple illnesses
Writing was considered “unladylike”
She wrote for herself
First poet published in the new world
First female writer of any kind published in the new world
Some consider her an early feminist
Purpose of her first publication was “to show that a godly and educated
woman could elevate her position as a wife and mother, without necessarily
placing her in competition with men.”
READ: “TO MY DEAR AND…”
Read “To My Dear and Loving Husband” by Anne Bradstreet. Answer the
following questions:
1. What is your image of Anne Bradstreet after reading this poem? How
does she fit the image of a Puritan?
2. In what ways is Anne Bradstreet and Jonathan Edwards alike? In what
ways are they different? How does their literary works (“Sinners in the
Hands of an Angry God” and “To My Dear and Loving Husband)
compare? In what ways are they different?