The Age of Reason in American Literature
Characteristics of the Age of Reason: 1750-1800
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
Empirical (vs. metaphysics of the colonial Period)
Logic/intelligence
Mathematics/scientific reasoning
Balance and order
Emphasis on the individual
Emphasis on national freedom, personal liberties
The Watchmaker Theory
Master Mechanic
God as “a detached observer” (vs. the wrathful God of the Colonial Period)
Revival of Greek Classicism
Literary Terms: Define and cite an example with author.
a) Autobiography
b) Almanac
c) Aphorism/adage/proverb/maxim
d) Epitaph
e) Literary letter
f) Personification
g) Point of view
h) Aphoristic style
i) Classicism
j) Neo-classicism
k) Be able to identify/recognize as a persuasion techniques used in the A of R:
Simile
Metaphor
Rhetoric
Rhetorical question
Allusion
Argument by analogy
Parallelism
Authors/writers of the Age of Reason (Study the 20’s for each author/list the names
of the literary pieces written by each author)
Thomas Paine:
Patrick Henry:
Benjamin Franklin:
Quote Identification/Significance: Be able to cite/identify specific examples and/or
lines from the readings as support. Review the significance of each.
Respond to these questions/statements:
1. List seven or eight specific genres representative of the Age of Reason literature.
2. What was the War of Words? Give specific examples from at least two writers who
fought the War of Words. How did their writing help move the colonists into or
influence them during the A of R?
3. How did the writing in the A and R lead into the development of Nationalism?
Define/explain Nationalism.
4. Give three reasons why the arts? Flourished in the colonies during the A of R. Be able
to cite two or three “firsts” in the colonies during the A of R- for example, the first
play, the first painting.
5. What led people into the Age of Reason? Why and how would someone like John
Proctor from the Crucible have helped lead people philosophically into the A of R?
6. When and why did the A of R end? What was the general attitude, philosophy at the
end of the 18th century?
7. Why did Ben Franklin fail in his experiment to reach moral perfection? What was his
attitude when he failed his experiment? How did he use an anecdote to explain his
attitude?
8. Create a list of characteristic of the Colonial/Puritan Era. Be able to distinguish
between characteristic and genre of the colonial Era and those of the Age of Reason.
9. What was the role of Religion in the lives of the people during the A of R? What
differences can be seen when contrasted to the Colonial Period?
10. What did the colonists feel they could accomplish by using logic, balance, and order?
How did they influence government, religious philosophy? And literature?
11. Why did the Great Awakening fail? What was happening socially, politically,
economically- in the colonies at the time Jonathan Edwards and others were trying to
reestablish Puritanism in the colonies?
12. Explain and illustrate the “Watchmaker Theory”. What/who is the Master Mechanic”.
What is Deism? How did these theories/philosophies affect the writing, political
activities and general lifestyle of the colonists during the A of R?
13. Draw the pictorial representation of the Colonial Unit (include major themes & ideas
found within the unit/ define/explain those ideas) Draw the pictorial representation of
the Age of Reason Unit (include major themes & ideas found within the unit/
define/explain those ideas).