Puritan literature delves into sin, , and . These themes shaped early American writing, emphasizing humanity's fallen nature and the need for salvation through faith. Puritans believed in God's absolute control over all events.
Their influence extended to later literary movements. Transcendentalism focused on personal spirituality, while explored the human psyche's darker aspects. and depicted life's harsh realities, echoing Puritan concerns with human struggles and moral consequences.
Puritan Literature: Themes
Themes in Puritan literature
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Sin
Inherent sinfulness of humanity due to the fall of Adam and Eve ()
Individual responsibility to confess and repent for personal transgressions
Earthly suffering and eternal damnation as consequences of unrepented sin
Attainment of salvation solely through faith in Jesus Christ as savior
Divine grace freely bestowed by God, unearned by human merit
Necessity of genuine conversion experience and lifelong spiritual development
Absolute power and control of God over all creation and events
Manifestation of God's will in all circumstances, including trials and hardships
Predetermined plan of God for each person's life path and ultimate destiny
Puritan influence on American literature
Transcendentalism
Focus on cultivating personal spirituality and self-reliance ()
Celebration of the purity and divinity within nature and human soul
Departure from rigid religious doctrines in favor of intuitive spiritual experiences
Dark Romanticism
Probing the sinister depths of human psyche and supernatural forces ()
Preoccupation with guilt, moral transgressions, and their dire repercussions
Utilization of symbols and allegorical elements to impart profound truths
Realism and Naturalism
Unflinching depiction of life's grim realities and common people's hardships ()
Analysis of societal, financial, and natural forces shaping individual lives
Incorporation of precise, impartial details to establish credibility and authenticity
Puritan Literature: Literary Devices
Typology and biblical allusions
Interpreting Old Testament figures and events as foreshadowing Christ and the Gospel
Casting contemporary persons and occurrences as reflections of biblical archetypes
Highlighting the unfolding of God's redemptive plan across the ages
Biblical Allusions
Incorporating references to scriptural passages, personalities, or narratives
Employing the diction and imagery of the Bible to articulate spiritual realities
Presuming readers' familiarity with and reverence for the sacred text
Metaphors in Puritan writing
Drawing implicit comparisons between dissimilar entities (the soul and a garden)
Concretizing intangible spiritual notions through metaphorical language
Evoking God's attributes with vivid metaphors (a consuming fire)
Comparing distinct objects or concepts using "like" or "as" (the world and a stage)
Crafting descriptive similes to accentuate resemblances and paint mental pictures
Conveying intensity of emotion through simile (love and a red, red rose)
Fashioning elaborate metaphorical narratives with symbolic characters and events (The Pilgrim's Progress)
Embedding spiritual messages and moral instruction within allegorical tales
Personifying abstract virtues and vices as archetypal figures (The Four Elements)