American Literature: Beginnings 1800 PDF

AMERICAN LITERATURE: BEGINNINGS - 1800 © Julie Faulkner  What is American Literature? Written or Literary work produced in the area of the United States and Colonial America. Begins long before US existence Some of the earliest works of American literature go ba...

AMERICAN LITERATURE: BEGINNINGS - 1800 © Julie Faulkner  What is American Literature? Written or Literary work produced in the area of the United States and Colonial America. Begins long before US existence Some of the earliest works of American literature go back to the seventeenth century, when America still consisted of colonies of British subjects – literary tradition closely linked to British traditions – time progresses literary traditions takes on new characteristics The history of American literature is intertwined with the history of the United States itself © Julie Faulkner  KEY EVENTS Rush to the new world after Columbus’s discovery in 1492 Spanish colonizers introduced African slavery to America as early as 1501 Cabeza de Vaca lands in Florida, 1582 Plymouth Plantation in 1620 English Puritans established a settlement in Boston in 1630 and shared a wish to purify Christian belief and practice 20 people executed in Salem Witch Trials - 1692 © Julie Faulkner  LITERATURE CHARACTERISTICS Printed documents lushly describing the “new world,” and offering propaganda to stir Europeans’ individual imaginations and national ambition Centered around Religion, Spiritual matters Native American Oral Literature Focus more on contemporary style Diversity and political and cultural complexity © Julie Faulkner  Native American Literature The first people to arrive on the continent were the ancestors of contemporary Native American groups 10 million natives living in North America – 500 different languages spoken Religion and government – different gods, plants, animals – systems such as democracies and theocracies Diversity was the oral literature of tribes © Julie Faulkner  Native American Literature Characteristics The first native American literary texts were offered orally They link the earth-surface people with the plants and animals, the rivers and rocks, and all things believed significant in the life of America’s first people Awide variety of types of oral tradition present in Native American cultures – including eyewitness accounts, poems, songs, choreography, speeches, and instances of spoken word that have contributed to the development of rituals and ceremonies. – Each type of oral tradition varies a bit from the next, although all contribute to the collective identity of a particular tribe. Most of these cultures did not develop writing systems before the colonial period, which is by no means uncommon on a worldwide scale Not written down until the 1800s Storytelling is the most famous and most often studied form of Native oral tradition. Native oral tradition in all its forms is a way of remembering a people’s past © Julie Faulkner  Native American Oral Literature Characteristics Hero Initiation – young man who undergoes ritual initiation and eventually accomplishes an heroic act – In the end, the hero often dies tragically and becomes revered by those of his tribe. Trickster – common in oral storytelling – One of the most common trickster characters is Coyote, who sometimes experiences bad luck. Other tricksters include Iktomi (spider), Veeho, Rabbit, Skeleton Man, and Raven. – Trickster stories are often used to teach moral lessons to children, such as portraying a situation in which being a trickster is being deceitful, but does not achieve their objective, proving that dishonesty doesn’t pay Teachings about Nature – Native Americans, like many other cultures, used storytelling to help make sense of the natural world. Use of Repetition – Repetition is often used to create expectation and to jog a storyteller’s memory Roles of Animals – the Native perspective on animals is often elevated and highly respected. – In many myths and folktales, animals and humans are interchangeable and considered equals. – Origin stories may even feature animals as taking part in creation and animals often offer insight and impart wisdom to human beings. © Julie Faulkner  Literary Terms Myth: – legendary or a traditional story that usually concerns an event or a hero, with or without using factual or real explanation. Point of view: – Narrators vantage point. – 1st person – 2nd person – 3rd person Theme: – central idea,concept, or message the reader takes away from the work. © Julie Faulkner  Creation Myths Creation Myth: – is a story that explains how the world and humankind were made. The story can be constructed of simple elements or complicated interactions among divine beings, people, and ancestral animals. Native American creation stories share the belief that something or someone was responsible for the creation of the world and its inhabitants These stories vary from tribe to tribe, but there are several common themes that can be found in most versions. © Julie Faulkner  VIDEO RECAP More on Puritans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCN0a 3wK-Gc More on Native Americans: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TTYO Q05oDOI © Julie Faulkner  Explorer Literature United States was being colonized When European explorers first reached the New World, it appeared to be a paradise – caused great casualties for Native Americans – They manipulated the Native Americans, killed their people, and took many as slaves. Europeans move to the new world – spread catholicism – financial gain – find new unexplored lands The literature of the early explorers was mostly narratives and letters These writings describe the New World and the explorers’ travels and experiences – Europeans fight for land and riches in America Writing produced in the American colonies during this early period is focused on how to navigate the “New World.” © Julie Faulkner  Explorer Literature The Spanish – most prevalent force to exploit America “New World” – attempt to eradicate native practices – wanted natives to accept Spanish culture – others tried to protect natives and their way of life Much literature of this time was to “sell” this new world back home © Julie Faulkner  American Settler/Colonist Literature With the arrival of European settlers, the first period of English language literature began Migration of Pilgrims – traveling on the Mayflower Sept. 16th 1620 from Plymouth UK to America – founded the colony at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620 – were united by their strong religious beliefs and the desire to live in a community free of the religious persecution they would have suffered in England for their beliefs. – group represented a mix of goals, as some colonists wanted to build a religion separate from the Church of England—known as the Separatists—and some had commercial interests in the new world. In “Of Plymouth Plantation” William Bradford writes about his experience traveling to the new world and early colonial life in America. His commentary shares views of the separatists’ religious beliefs © Julie Faulkner  Colonial Literature Puritans – one of many groups settling the English colonies, they were the one with the most cultural power – were groups who felt that the Church of England,retained too much of the doctrine and culture of the Catholic Church after the Protestant reformation There were non-separatist and separatist – Non-separatist believed that the Puritans should remain within the Anglican Church and correct it from within the system – Separatist felt the Church of England was a lost cause from which the Puritans should separate themselves aligned with Bradford (Plymouth) John Winthrop – non-separatist – came to the new world with the goal of building a community constructed around religious principles that could stand as a model—a “city upon a hill” © Julie Faulkner  Literary Terms Conceit: – figure of speech in which two vastly different objects are likened together with the help of similes or metaphors – EX: My life is like a free online game, people seem to be playing with it.” Extended Metaphor: – have long descriptions with small similes and metaphors at work – unlike ideas being compared – It is often comprised of more than one sentence and sometimes consists of a full paragraph. Irony: – situation or use of language that produces and outcome of what is expected – dramatic irony, verbal irony, and situational irony Mood: – the emotional response that the writer wishes to evoke Rhyme Scheme: – any pattern of rhyme in a poem or stanza © Julie Faulkner  WHY IT MATTERS TO YOU The US is a land of immigrants – a melting pot of languages and cultures. Most likely you, your relatives, or some of your classmates immigrated to this country. This is where it all started – this is America’s roots. © Julie Faulkner  The Enlightenment Period The Enlightenment (Age of Reason) an intellectual and cultural movement in the eighteenth century that emphasized: a. reason over superstition b. science over blind faith c. representative government in place of monarch d. United States gradually drifted away from Europe and started to build its own identity Enlightenment thinkers and writers were devoted to the ideals of justice, liberty, and equality as the natural rights of man Many consider the Enlightenment a major turning point in Western civilization, an age of light replacing an age of darkness. © Julie Faulkner  LITERATURE CHARACTERISTICS National mission and American characters Use of reason Political pamphlets Travel writing Rationalism – humans are capable of using their faculty of reason to gain knowledge Empiricism – knowledge comes from experience and observation of the world Progressivism – belief that through their powers of reason and observation, humans can make unlimited, linear progress over time © Julie Faulkner  KEY EVENTS Smallpox epidemic in 1721 The Great Awakening Boston Tea Party, 1773 American Revolution 1775-1781 George Washington, First President 1789 Washington, DC named capital Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1776 Bill of Rights added to Constitution, 1791 Eli Whitney’s Cotton Gin, 1794 © Julie Faulkner  Writing Writing was less private and religiously based Writing came away from the Plain Style and became full of flourish and colorful language Writing was influenced by the Revolutionary War and the growing American spirit of individualism and self-reliance. © Julie Faulkner  IMPORTANT PEOPLE Benjamin Franklin Thomas Paine Thomas Jefferson George Washington Patrick Henry “The American Dream” © Julie Faulkner  AUTHORS AND WORKS Jonathan Edwards, Puritan Minister “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano © Julie Faulkner  WHY IT MATTERS TO YOU In this time period, our country’s founding documents were written. The freedoms that we enjoy today were developed by the great thinkers of the Enlightenment Period. © Julie Faulkner  VIDEO RECAP https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0B28_ gwj0M – Age of Reason © Julie Faulkner