“Do Now” Activity
Power 12 Vocabulary
In your own words, define the Power 12
vocabulary words. Please use a
dictionary to help formulate your
definitions.
For each word, create a sentence that will
help you to understand what the word
means.
Quiz will be Sept. 15
Introduction to
American Literature
English 11
Eras of American literature
KNOW THIS LIST
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Colonialism & Puritanism: 1620-1720
The Revolutionary Period: 1720-1820
Romanticism: 1820-1845
Transcendentalism: 1840-1855
Realism 1865-1895
Naturalism: 1895-1920
Modernism: 1920-1945
Post Modernism: 1945- present
Read pages 2-13 and take notes
using Cornell Notes format
Objectives of Lecture/notesWhat you should know.
• Understand the history of the New
World in the context of other historical
events.
• Historical background of the Native
Americans.
• Characteristics of the Pilgrims/Puritans
and Southern planters.
• History of early American Literature.
Introduction to American
Literature
• Voices in literature developed with the
nation’s history.
• Early works do not feature fiction; rather,
they are primarily non-fiction works.
Why do we need to understand
American history to read
American literature?
• 1607- John Smith and group of
settlers arrive at Jamestown
– more than 100 years after Columbus
– motivated by desires for profit and glory
for England (Gold, God, Glory)
– colony was almost destroyed by
disease and starvation
• First settlers encountered the Native
American population.
• Native American literature was entirely oral.
• Native American oral heritage influences
American literature.
• Native Americans
– between 12,000 and 70,000 years ago.
– usually friendly to early Europeans,
giving them maize, beans, squash,
maple sugar, snowshoes, toboggans,
etc.
– Often helped Europeans to survive
Who else was there?
• There were two groups of early American
settlers. While they had similar purposes,
their motives were often different.
• The two groups were:
– SOUTHERN PLANTERS
– NORTHERN PURITANS
Southern Planters vs. Northern
Puritans
– Climate
– Crops
– social organization,
(ESPECIALLY
SLAVERY)
– religion and religious
beliefs
• The Southern Planters
– prosperous coastal cities, dependent on cash
crop of tobacco and cotton
– plantation system and smaller farmers
– plantation system depended on slavery
(beginning 1619)
– plantation owners often belonged to
Church of England, regarded
themselves as aristocrats and
Renaissance men
Southern Planters
• Only a few notable authors appeared prior
to 1750
• those who were educated wrote, but only
material of a practical nature. This was
with good reason. They were settlers to
make money, not to create art.
• Southerners did not oppose fiction or
drama, and the first theater was in
Williamsburg
Southern Planters
• Many planters spent hours each day writing
letters
• most important figure in literary history of early
south is William Byrd, who wrote “The History of
the Dividing Line”
PURITANS
• Puritans first arrived in 1620 on Mayflower at
Plymouth, Mass.
• Critical of the Church of England
• wanted to break away from the
perceived corruptness of religious
system in England
Also known as Separatists
• Known as Separatists
because of their rejection of
Church of England
• Characterized by their
austere beliefs and lifestyles
• Survived because of the help
of the Native Americans
Mass. Bay Colony
• Massachusetts Bay Colony also founded by
religious reformers.
• MBC did not break away from Church of
England.
• Adopted concept of “City on
a Hill”- community guided in all
aspects by the Bible
Influence of Religion
• Religion affected everything the Pilgrims, and
Puritans did.
• Preached plain, unadorned Christianity.
• Belief system
» human beings exist to glorify God.
» Bible is the expression of God’s will.
» Predestination- some are saved, others are
damned.
» believed in concept of original sin.
Puritan Writing
• Typical Puritan writings include
– theological studies- man’s relationship w/God
– hymns
– histories
– biographies
– and autobiographies
– purpose of all this writing was spiritual insight
and self examination. They felt fiction and
drama were sinful, and produced neither.
Puritan Writing, cont.
• However, Puritans did write poetry, as
vehicle of spiritual expression
– were not interested in poetry’s structure
– only interested in its message of holiness
– several excellent poets, namely Anne
Bradstreet and Edward Taylor
• Puritans were a highly literate community
• founded Harvard in 1636 to train ministers
• started free public education (you can thank
them for being here right now!)
Puritan Plain Style
KNOW THIS!
• Puritans had a clear theory of literary style.
– Plain style of writing
– clear statement is the highest goal
– ornate or clever writing was a sign of vanity
and the devil
– everything had to be in accordance with God’s
will
Three strands that form early
American literature
– Puritan literature- preoccupied with sin,
and salvation
– Southern Planters- recorded
information about their crops
and their busy social lives
– Native American oral tradition, which
is primarily viewed as folklore, but
that had important impact.
Closing Activity
On an index card list the 3 most
important people/places/events
regarding the development of
American literature.
Introducing Oneself Through
Symbols
Signs vs. Symbols
Signs
• Signs are images that
point to something
else
• Little or no intrinsic
meaning
• Images which are
asSIGNed agreed
upon meanings
What is a
A symbol is a person,
a place, an
symbol?
animal, or an object that suggests
a meaning larger than itself.
Choose the Monopoly
marker that you associate
with and explain your
choice in writing.
Choose your symbol