CSET Single Subject English American Literature to 1700 and Puritanism

American literature touches on handwriting or literary work brought about in the geographical area of the United States and Colonial America.

At the beginning of its history, America was a lot of Great Britain colonies on the east coast of the present-day United States. Thus, its literary root begins as linked to the panoptic tradition of English literature. Notwithstanding, specific American features and the fullness of its production now cause it to be categorized as a independent path and tradition.

Early American Literature

Two Substantial British Colonies:

Plymouth Colony

Flagship Mayflower comes in 1620
Leader - William Bradford
Settlers acknowledged as Separatists and Pilgrims
Mayflower Compact establishes economic, social, and religious freedom, while keeping ties to Great Britain.

Massachusetts Colony

Flagship Arbella comes in 1630
Leader - John Winthrop
Settlers are generally Congregational Puritans
The Arbella Covenant intelligibly establishes a religious and theocratic settlement, free of ties to Great Britain.

The Puritan Notion

Depravity - through Adam and Eve's fall, every person is sinful - concept of Prototypal Sin.

Categorical Choice - God redeems those He wishes - only a few are picked for salvation - concept of preordination.

Limited Atonement - Jesus died for the selected only, not for the people.

Supine Grace - The Lord's grace is freely given, it cannot be earned. Grace is defined as the delivering and changing power of God.

Reversion - The belief that delivered believers, those with apparent signs of grace, can falter into enticement and turn into sinners. To prevent this from happening, believers were expected not to become self-satisfied, do unfailing narcissism, and prayer. Satan was particularly intent in snaring such church members.

Puritan Authors Functions

To exalt God.

To transform a mysterious Lord - mysterious because He is independent from the world.

To hold Him more applicable to the population.

The Style of Puritan Writing

Puritan literature reflected the persona and scope of the reading populace, which was literate and well-educated in theology.

Protestant - against ornateness; reverence of the Bible.

Some Famous Puritan Writers

William Bradford (March 19, 1590 – May 9, 1657) was the head man of the separatist settlers of the Plymouth Colony in Massachusetts, and was selected thirty times to be the Governor. He was the essential designer of the Mayflower Compact. He is attributed with the first to proclaim what popular American society now deems the first Thanksgiving.

Anne Bradstreet (1612 – September 16, 1672) was the first female American writer to get her works promulgated. Virtually all of her poems are based on observation of the world around her, focusing primarily on housewifely and religious subjects. Once considered mostly of historical interest, she won critical acceptance in the 20th century as a writer of imperishable rhyme, specially for her series of religious poems called "Contemplations", which was written for her family and not published until the mid-19th century.

Captain John Smith (1580 – June 21, 1631), was an English sailor, soldier, and author. John Smith is remembered for his role in building the first permanent English colony in North America at Jamestown, Virginia, and his brief run-in with the Native American girl Pocahontas during an affray with her father Chief Powhatan of the Powhatan Confederacy. Captain John Smith's books are as significant as his actions, for they inspired more English men and women to come to America to colonize the New World. Smith gave the name New England to that region, and inspired people with the famous words, "Here every man may be master and owner of his owne labour and land...If he have nothing but his hands, he may...by industrie quickly grow rich." It was a compelling sentence, which attracted millions of people to America over the next four centuries.

Samuel Sewall (March 28, 1652 - January 1, 1730), was a Massachusetts judge, well-known for his role in the Salem Witch Trials, for which he later apologized, and his denouncement of slavery in "The Selling of Joseph".

Michael Wigglesworth (October 18, 1631 - June 10, 1705) was a Puritan minister and poet whose "The Day of Doom" was a best seller in early New England. Michael thought that he was essentially not holy enough to believe in God because of merely being human. When he experienced a series of nocturnal emissions as a young man, he was then convinced of his damnation. In his diaries, he describes his battle to remain pure and good, despite constantly backsliding into what he viewed as man's natural depravity.

This report is an extract from ACE the CSET English study guide and online course. In the course, we study all 13 authors of the Puritan period and continue on through the late twentieth century postmodernism literary period. The CSET English course has computer generated chronology, fill-in, and matching exercises that enable you to quickly memorize the information you need to ace the American literature section of the CSET English exam.

This valuable free article is provided to students by ACE the CSET. Visit our website for more information and thank you for your continued support.

Article Source: http://articlekarma.com

Peter Lorison is a education guru and critic for ACE the CSET English which is the better way to prepare for the CSET English test.

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