Literature of Early America

Beginnings to 1800

Unit 1: A Gathering of Voices

“I come again to greet and thank the League;I come again to greet and thank the kindered;I come again to great and thank the warriors;I come again to greet and thank the women.My forefathers – what they established – My forefathers – hearken to them!”

-Iroquois Hymn

The First AmericansAs a best guess, the first Americans, Indians,

arrived 12,000-70,000 years ago. The Native Americans had oral literature –

myths, legends, and songs.European colonists reached America in the late

1500s.Early settlers (St. Augustine, Florida, 1565 and

Jamestown, Virginia, 1607) relied heavily on lessons learned from Native Americans for survival.

Historical Background

Puritans, PilgrimsThe Mayflower reaches Plymouth,

Massachusetts in 1620.Puritans, now called Pilgrims, wanted to

escape the Church of England by building their own “city upon a hill.”

Puritans took pride in hard work, self-discipline, and predetermination - Created theocratic societies.

Puritanism slowly declined before the Great Awakening in 1720.

Historical Background (cont.)

PlantersA division sets in between the northern

settlements and the southern settlements.The southern colonists are called planters

because of their climate, crops, social organization, and religion.

Historical Background (cont.)

The Age of ReasonThe Enlightenment – time period of new

scientific development by philosophers in Europe

The ideas of the enlightenment leads to the American Revolution.

“Social Contract” forms basis of government.Push away from religion

Historical Background (cont.)

The Birth of a NationTaxes imposed by Britain cause Americans to

consider succesion.1775 – the First Continental Congress sends

“the shot heard ‘round the world.”6 years of war followed leading to Britain

surrendering at Yorktown in 1781.Constitution and Bill of Rights unites the

states.

Historical Background (cont.)

What is the relationship between literature and place?

What makes American literature American?How does literature shape or reflect society?

Essential Questions

What was the New World’s natural environment?Place of wonder

Nature of the Americas was vastly different from anything Europeans have experienced.

It was not Europe.At one with the place

Native Americans thought people belonged to the land – land and water gave life.

Nature was not to be feared or overcome, but honored as the source of life.

What is the relationship between literature and place?

What were the colonists’ attitudes toward the New World environment?Land belonged to peopleDream vs. Reality

Dream = TheocracyReality = Avoid harsh death

Independent Place and People“We live in an independent place, so why aren’t we

an independent people?”Place taught Americans how to be Americans

What is the relationship between literature and place? (cont.)

How did attitudes toward nature show up in literature?“Errand into the Wilderness”

Religious p.o.v. – combat evil in an “uncivilized” place.

Forest = wildPlace and Nation

“In Europe they were as many useless plants… they withered and were mowed down by want, hunger, and war; but now by the power of transplantation, like all other plants they have taken root and flourished.” – Jean de Crevecoeur

What is the relationship between literature and place? (cont.)

What is a theme, and how does it find expression in literature?Theme – the central idea, message, or insight

that a literary work reveals.What were early American themes?

WildernessCommunityIndividualism

What makes American literature American?

What is uniquely American about those themes?The Place

New World = Garden of Eden/EnemyThe Past

America did not have a history of literature like Europe did.

The VisionNew, new, newNew kind of nation

What makes American literature American? (cont.)

What social and political forces affected early American literature?Puritanism

Self examination and spiritual insightThe Enlightenment

Debate and clear thinkingThe Declaration of Independence = rational

argument for independence.Native Americans/African Americans

How does literature shape or reflect society?

What were the major roles of early American writers?Writer as Oral Poet and HistorianWriter as Preacher and LawmakerWriter as Autobiographer

“Why should you be interested in my life? What did I learn from it? What can you learn from it?”

How does literature shape or reflect society? (cont.)

1492 – Columbus lands in the Bahamas 1499 – 20,000 die in London Plague 1508 – Michelangelo begins painting ceiling of Sistine Chapel 1519 – Chocolate introduced to Europe 1565 – First permanent U.S. settlement founded; St. Augustine 1588 – The Spanish Armada is defeated by England 1595 - Shakespeare completes A Midsummer Night’s Dream 1609 – Galileo builds first telescope 1620 – Pilgrims land at Plymouth 1642 – Civil War begins in England 1692 – Salem With Trials 1755 – Dictionary of the English Language 1773 – Boston Tea Party 1776 – Declaration of Independence 1789 – George Washington elected first President of the United States

Put Time in Perspective

Part 1: Meeting of CulturesThe Earth on Turtle’s Back, When Grizzlies Walked

Upright, and The Navajo Origin LegendOf Plymouth Plantation (The Iroquois Constitution)

Part 2: The Puritan InfluenceTo My Dear and Loving HusbandHuswiferySinners in the Hands of an Angry God

Part 3: A Nation is BornThe Declaration of Independence and The American CrisisThe Autobiography and Poor Richard’s Almanack (Speech in the Virginia Convention) (To His Excellency, General Washington)

Text Sets