COLONIALISM
1492-1770
Unit Objectives
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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.
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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
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- 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
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- 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.
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- 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
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Journals/Diaries - memoirs
Historical documents
Sermons
Historical poems
Bible – most read book
Colonial Beliefs
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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
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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
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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.
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Salem Witch trials
Colonialism ends with American Revolution and the
Age of Reason
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Elements of Literature, 5th course. Austin: Holt,
Rhinehart, and Winston, 2000.
Flowers, Darlene. “The Puritans.” Powerpoint.
2009.
Livaudais, Kimberly. Class Lecture notes. 2008.