Chapter 2: The Birth of a Nation PDF

Chapter 2 The Birth of a Nation From An Outline of American Literature by Peter B. High  Represents the Revolutionary Period Why? Writers valued reason over faith. Focus was on:...

Chapter 2 The Birth of a Nation From An Outline of American Literature by Peter B. High  Represents the Revolutionary Period Why? Writers valued reason over faith. Focus was on: short notes mentioning 4 types that was focused on This was a major change from the Puritan period and the belief in God for salvation.  Political Writing The belief in the power of science to further human development surfaced. (nonfiction) Authors:  Autobiography  Benjamin Franklin  Speeches  Thomas Paine  Pamphlets  Thomas Jefferson  Almanac  Patrick Henry  Declarations  Poems  short notes question possibly Quest for Independence  By 1776, the population of the colonies had reached 2.5 million people. This was about one third the population of Britain.  There were now many roads connecting the individual colonies, and newspapers kept them informed about each other.  The colonies were beginning to think of themselves as Americans, not as separate colonies.  Many colonists were split over the issue of independence. There were both rich and poor colonists on both sides of the independence issue.  short notes possibly Quest for Independence why newspaper were they resented and hated the british control  Large landowners like George Washington, and wealthy businessmen like John Hancock were in favor of independence.  They resented British control over their lives, and British interference in their business.  On the other hand, some rich colonists were afraid they would lose their wealth if the revolution succeeded. Their wealth was heavily connected to British trade and the British government.  Some poor colonists didn't want to be controlled by the wealthy colonists. They either believed the King of England treated them well, or just didn't want to cause trouble.  Over time, these different views became more inclined towards supporting independence by the local population.  Founding Fathers Men who led the Revolution of 1775-1783 and wrote constitution of 1789 (p.15) 1. They were influenced by the European “Age of Reason” or “Enlightenment” – human intelligence could understand both nature and man 2. The belief in Man’s abilities : Man could improve himself, so new ideas no longer considered man as a sinful failure like Puritan’s beliefs. 3. They wanted to create a society/nation based on justice and freedom  Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) His writings show the Enlightment spirit in America 1. A non-fiction writer, printer of books and newspapers, inventor. 2. Although he was against Puritan opinions his writings did follow their “plain style”. 3. He was anti-literary and felt that writing should always have a practical purpose 4. Poor Richard’s Almanac (1732-1757) – series of short pieces that are full of humor and with moral advice. Franklin made the stories interesting by creating this character “Poor Richard” and his experiences which included his family as well. 5. The Almanac contains useful information for farmers and sailors. This was the reading material in the colonial household along with the Bible and the newspaper. Designed by Franklin: The panel is entitled “The Colonies Reduced” and depicts Great Britain (the Mother figure) in the guise of the Roman General Belisarius (great military commander of the Byzantine Empire), dismembered and contemplating her lost limbs designated Virginia, Pennsylvania, New York and New England. Nearby her shield and spear are grounded, and her naval vessels are laid up without spars or rigging. A banner draped across her figure reads “Date Obolum Bellisario” (“Give a penny for Bellisarius”) a reference to the General’s ruin at the end of his famous career.  Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) 6. He invented many sayings about “saving money” and “working hard” (p.16-17) 7. He invented one type of short prose, “hoax” or the “tall tale” (a funny lie) which greatly influenced the development of a story-telling form in America 8. Autobiography (1771, 1784) is his only real book, the first part is an entertaining description of his life up to early manhood, the second part was written in more serious style. 9. He wrote about himself for the improvement of others  Thomas Paine (1737-1809) He is the greatest pamphlet-writer of the American Revolution 1. Common Sense (1776) –the most important pamphlet in American History. It helped unite the feelings against England, “There is something absurd in supposing a continent (America) to be perpetually governed by an island (Britain)” – p.18 ^ you can say it in the shortnotes by your own understanding and not quote what he says. American Revolution was influenced by the ideas that emerged from the French Revolution 2. The Rights of Man (1791-92) –by Thomas Paine is a famous defense of French Revolution.  On January 10, 1776, Thomas Thomas Paine Paine published a pamphlet called Common Sense.  In the pamphlet, he spoke openly of independence from Britain and urged a government in which the people ruled through their elected representatives.  The booklet was widely circulated and was very influential.  Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) 1. Declaration of Independence – the most important document of the United States (p.19) 2. The Style – it is free from emotional appeals, a clear and logical statement of why America wanted its independence 3. It was signed on July 4, 1776. 4. Notes on the State of Virginia (1784-85) – attacked the slavery system, “Nothing is more certainly written in the book of fate than that these people are to be free”  Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) 5. He was an Enlightenment thinker, who believed all humanity is naturally good and men can do the improving by themselves. 6. He was afraid that the commercial pressure of city life could destroy this goodness. 7. Another threat to American democracy was in the thoughts of the Federalists who wanted a strong central government for the new American republic. Jefferson felt that people should be able to change the form of their society whenever they thought it necessary.  Poetry in Revolutionary America  Both prose and poetry in revolutionary America had a political or “practical” purpose.  Poetry, generally, imitated the “neoclassical” style and themes of the English poets, who were influenced by ancient Greek and Roman Writers.  Poets:  Philip Freneau  Poetry Circle “The Connecticut Wits”  how many phases or how many poems did he follow or what style 1- patortic and more poems 2- poems about nature PHASES ^ Philip Freneau (1752-1832)  After the war, he turned to poetry  He wrote in the cause for American about nature. Critics consider this independence with patriotic feelings. his last and best phase of writing  The poem “Pictures of Columbus” poetry. mixes gloomy descriptions of nature  In his poem “The Wild Honey with sharp attacks on British tyranny. Suckle” the flower becomes a  During the war he wrote about symbol for unnoticed beauty that American patriots killed in battle in the quickly withers away. He says in poem “To the Memory of The Brave the last lines: Americans,”: They saw their injured country’s woe; For when you die you are the same; The flaming town, the wasted field; The space between, is but an hour, Then rushed to meet the insulting foe; The frail duration of a flower. They took the spear—but left the shield …….. The comparison between the None distant viewed the fatal plain, shortness of human life and a flower None grieved, in such a cause to die” are expressed in these lines.  Connecticut Wits  Considered as the first American poetic circle  They were more conservative in their style & politics  Although they were supporters of the American revolution, they hated the democratic philosophy of Paine & Jefferson.  Most of them were Federalists in politics and Calvinists in their religion.  Their poems style combined the use of satire and wit you didnt write in the midterm, it’s important Members:  John Trumbull  Timothy Dwight  Joe Barlow See page22  Connecticut Wits  John Trumbull  Timothy Dwight  Joe Barlow  Best writer of satire  He wrote in the  He was different from the among the three neoclassical style of others.  His most famous poem Alexander Pope.  He hoped to make a living by was a criticism of  Some of his themes are his poetry but realized it was American education, “The Puritan. impossible in America. Progress of Dulness”  He wrote a long patriotic Some of his poems: poem: “Vision of Columbus”  It is a long poem about  “The Triumph of  The poem compare the Tom Brainless, who enters Infidelity” Incas with the English university, becomes a  “Greenfield Hill” Colonies. school teacher and, “tries  His best-loved poem isa with ease and unconcern / To mock-heroic poem that is teach ne’er himself could learn.” humorous and realistic: “Hasty Pudding”  Drama why drama was slow in growing? because puritans rejected it and considered it an invention of the devil.  In the years after the Revolution there were some beginnings in drama.  Drama developed slowly as the New England Puritans were against theatre, and believed “it was an invention of the Devil” bad for the morals of people.  The first theatre was in Virginia.  Thomas Godfrey’s Prince of Parthia (written in1757 and produced in 1767)is probably the first American play to be produced. However after Independence American Theatre became interesting  William Dunlap was the most active playwright. His works:  The Father  Andre (tells the story of the life of a British spy is probably his best play)