Southern Literature and Gilded Age Themes

Puritan Beginnings of American Literature

• Puritans migrated to the New World for economic reasons (to establish a colony) and idealistic reasons (seeking religious freedom)
• Jamestown, Virginia was the first permanent English settlement in 1607
• Captain John Smith's writings documented the early Virginia colony
• Pocahontas was a notable figure in early Virginia history
• Puritans believed God had entrusted them with a mission
• Plymouth, Massachusetts was settled in 1630
• William Bradford's narrative of Plymouth Plantation provided valuable insights into Puritan life
• Puritans believed in predestination and that human nature was inherently evil, requiring grace from God to be saved

Pilgrims and Puritans

• Puritans were a general term for English Protestants who wanted to purify the Church of England
• They objected to rituals, decorations, and organizational aspects of the Church of England
• Puritans followed the principle of forming churches through voluntary compacts or covenants
• The idea of forming churches through voluntary compacts or covenants was central to Puritan social, political, and religious organizations

Puritan Beliefs

• Puritans believed human nature was inherently evil and sinful
• Predestination meant God pre-ordained who would be saved
• God's grace was irresistible, only a select few would be saved
• Success in worldly endeavors reflected God's grace
• Literacy was essential; everyone needed to know how to read the Bible

The Puritan Dilemma

• Puritanism required devotion to seeking salvation, but individuals felt powerless to affect their fate
• Faith in Christ was paramount, but salvation was pre-ordained
• Individuals felt conflicted between their devout nature and the uncertainty of God's will

Mayflower Compact

• The earliest document of democracy in America which laid the foundation for direct popular government
• It was drawn up by the majority of the people for the general good by mutual agreement

Puritan Literature

• Puritans read the Bible, religious essays, and philosophical books
• Their writing style emphasized clarity and theological purpose
• They avoided drama and fiction
• They wrote histories, chronicles, auto-biographies, diaries, and meditations
• William Bradford's "Of Plymouth Plantation" offers significant insights into the Puritans

American Enlightenment

• 18th-century period in America inspired by British and French Enlightenment thought
• Inspired skeptical and optimistic views on religion, human nature, and politics
• Influenced by leading thinkers such as Isaac Newton and John Locke
• Puritan/Calvinist beliefs gave way to new ideas about religious experience, shifts in religious views, human experience, individual reason, and nature being superior to religion
• Deism - Belief in God as the creator but not necessarily intervening in the world.

Jonathan Edwards

• He was a prominent figure in The Great Awakening, a religious revival movement in 18th-century America
• Edwards’s fiery sermons emphasized sin, God’s wrath, and the importance of salvation.
• He preached the doctrine of predestination.
• He was a skillful writer and theologian

Thomas Jefferson

• Author of the Declaration of Independence
• Inspired by John Locke and the Enlightenment’s emphasis on natural rights (life, liberty, and property)
• Believed that governmental authority stems from the consent of the governed

Enlightenment Writing in America

• Political journalism was a predominant form of writing
• Pamphlets and newspaper articles provided important political commentaries
• Benjamin Franklin's "Poor Richard's Almanack" featured practical advice and observations
• This writing style aimed to serve a purpose to convey a certain political view

Poor Richard's Almanack

• Written and edited by Benjamin Franklin.
• It featured calendars, weather predictions, and aphorisms (short, pithy sayings)
• Offered practical wisdom and ethical advice

Washington Irving

• Widely considered the father of American literature for his writing of the first stories.
• Focused on folklore, history, and creating narrative of the American character
• His stories such as "Rip Van Winkle" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" used American folklore

James Fenimore Cooper

• Established as the first major American novelist
• Credited with creating the American ideal of the “noble savage”
• His Leatherstocking Tales introduced Natty Bumppo, a frontiersman character, who embodied the virtue, courage, and connection with nature

Washington Irving, and James Fenimore Cooper

• They were significant figures in the development of American national identity
• Their writings reflected the nascent American identity while drawing on the American past
• They were important pioneers of the American short story

Transcendentalism

• Emphasized intuition, self-reliance, and the importance of nature
• Leaders like Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Margaret Fuller influenced American thought and literature.
• These writers explored the individual’s relationship to nature and society

Dark Romanticism

• Authors such as Edgar Allan Poe, Nathaniel Hawthorne, and Herman Melville questioned the optimistic views of Transcendentalism
• Focused on darker themes like sin, guilt, despair, and the human capacity for evil
• Their works often explored deeply psychological aspects of the human condition

Individualism

• It was an important aspect of Transcendentalist writings, focusing on the ability of each person to cultivate their unique character and spirituality without being influenced by society
• A reaction to the restrictive social norms of the past generations

Nature

• Represents natural world as a source of inspiration, truth, and deeper understanding
• Writers viewed it as integral to the spiritual experience and individual connection with God

Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick

• Moby-Dick became highly regarded by many in later centuries as an exemplary work
• The book was a deep exploration of human nature, good vs evil, and the search for knowledge

Realism

• Authors like Mark Twain and Kate Chopin reflected a new approach to American literature
• Focused on portraying life realistically, often addressing social issues and challenges

Modernism

• A reaction to the societal changes of the time, authors like F. Scott Fitzgerald and T.S. Eliot explored the challenges of modern life
• Modern writers often used a stream-of-consciousness technique to mimic flow of thought and feelings to readers

The Harlem Renaissance

• A cultural movement centered in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City.
• It encompassed a period (1920-1930) of literary and artistic flourishing in the African-American community
• Celebrated African Americans’ histories, experiences, and artistic achievements