🛶Latin American Literature – Before 1900 Unit 6 – Colonial American Literature: Puritans & Enlightenment

Historical Context

• Puritanism emerged in England during the 16th and 17th centuries as a religious reform movement within the Church of England
• Puritans sought to purify the Church of England from its perceived corruption and Catholic influences
• Persecution in England led many Puritans to seek religious freedom in the New World, establishing colonies in New England (Massachusetts Bay Colony, Plymouth Colony)
• Puritan society was characterized by a strong emphasis on religious devotion, moral discipline, and a belief in predestination
  • Predestination held that God had already determined who would be saved and who would be damned
• Puritans established theocratic communities governed by religious leaders and strict moral codes
• The Puritan work ethic emphasized hard work, frugality, and the belief that success was a sign of God's favor
• Puritanism had a significant impact on the development of American culture, politics, and literature

Key Puritan Authors and Works

• John Winthrop (1588-1649) was a prominent Puritan leader and the first governor of the Massachusetts Bay Colony
  • His sermon "A Model of Christian Charity" (1630) outlined the Puritan vision of a "city upon a hill" and the concept of a covenant with God
• Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672) was the first published poet in the American colonies
  • Her works, such as "The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America" (1650), explored themes of faith, family, and the challenges of colonial life
• Edward Taylor (1642-1729) was a Puritan minister and poet known for his introspective and metaphysical style
  • His poetry, including "Preparatory Meditations," was not published until the 20th century
• Cotton Mather (1663-1728) was a prominent Puritan minister and author
  • His work "Magnalia Christi Americana" (1702) chronicled the history of the Puritan settlements in New England
• Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) was a Puritan theologian and philosopher
  • His sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" (1741) exemplified the Puritan emphasis on sin, judgment, and salvation

Themes in Puritan Literature

• Puritan literature often focused on religious themes, such as the relationship between God and the individual, sin, redemption, and salvation
• The concept of predestination and the struggle to understand one's spiritual destiny was a central theme
• Puritan writers frequently used biblical allusions and typology to convey spiritual truths and draw parallels between biblical events and contemporary experiences
• The importance of moral discipline, self-examination, and the pursuit of a godly life were recurring themes
• Puritan literature often depicted the challenges and hardships of colonial life, including the struggle for survival in a new land and conflicts with Native Americans
• The idea of a covenant relationship between God and the Puritan community, as well as the individual's covenant with God, was a significant theme
• Puritan writers often employed didactic and instructive tones to convey moral and spiritual lessons to their readers

The Enlightenment's Influence

• The Enlightenment was an intellectual and philosophical movement that emerged in Europe during the 18th century
• Enlightenment thinkers emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism towards traditional authority, including religious institutions
• The Enlightenment's focus on rational inquiry, scientific progress, and individual rights had a significant impact on American thought and literature
• Enlightenment ideas, such as the social contract theory and the concept of natural rights, influenced the American Revolution and the formation of the United States
• Enlightenment thinkers, such as John Locke and Thomas Paine, argued for religious tolerance, freedom of conscience, and the separation of church and state
• The Enlightenment's emphasis on empiricism and scientific observation influenced the development of American science and education
• Enlightenment ideas of progress, optimism, and the perfectibility of human society shaped American attitudes towards social and political reform

Major Enlightenment Writers

• Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) was a prominent Enlightenment figure known for his scientific pursuits, political activism, and literary works
  • His "Autobiography" (1791) exemplified Enlightenment values of self-improvement, practicality, and civic responsibility
• Thomas Paine (1737-1809) was a political activist and writer whose works, such as "Common Sense" (1776) and "The Age of Reason" (1794), advocated for American independence and challenged traditional religious authority
• Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826) was a key Enlightenment thinker and the primary author of the Declaration of Independence (1776)
  • His writings, including "Notes on the State of Virginia" (1785), reflected Enlightenment ideas of natural rights, religious freedom, and the pursuit of knowledge
• Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784) was the first published African American poet
  • Her works, such as "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral" (1773), demonstrated her mastery of classical forms and Enlightenment themes
• Philip Freneau (1752-1832) was a poet and journalist known as the "Poet of the American Revolution"
  • His works, such as "The Rising Glory of America" (1771), celebrated American independence and Enlightenment ideals

Literary Techniques and Styles

• Puritan literature often employed plain, direct language and a didactic tone to convey spiritual and moral messages
• Puritan writers frequently used biblical allusions, typology, and symbolism to draw connections between scriptural events and contemporary experiences
• Sermons, such as those by Jonathan Edwards, used vivid imagery and emotional appeals to convey the urgency of spiritual salvation
• Enlightenment literature often employed satire, irony, and wit to critique social and political institutions
  • Benjamin Franklin's "Poor Richard's Almanack" (1732-1758) used aphorisms and proverbs to convey Enlightenment values of thrift, industry, and common sense
• Enlightenment writers often used essays, pamphlets, and other forms of persuasive writing to argue for political and social reforms
• Poets of the Enlightenment, such as Phillis Wheatley and Philip Freneau, employed classical forms and allusions to demonstrate their mastery of the Western literary tradition
• The Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and empiricism influenced the development of a more straightforward, less ornate prose style

Cultural Impact and Legacy

• Puritanism had a lasting impact on American culture, particularly in terms of its emphasis on hard work, self-discipline, and moral responsibility
• The Puritan legacy can be seen in the American emphasis on individualism, self-reliance, and the pursuit of personal salvation
• Puritan ideas of covenant and community influenced the development of American political thought, particularly the concept of a social contract between the government and the governed
• The Enlightenment's emphasis on reason, individual rights, and democratic principles shaped the American political system and the Constitution
• Enlightenment ideas of religious tolerance and the separation of church and state became enshrined in the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
• The Enlightenment's focus on education and scientific progress influenced the development of American universities and intellectual life
• The literary works of Puritan and Enlightenment writers continue to be studied as foundational texts in American literature and thought

Connections to Latin American Literature

• The influence of Puritanism and the Enlightenment on Latin American literature was less direct than in North America, due to the region's different colonial history and cultural context
• However, Enlightenment ideas of political and social reform did influence Latin American intellectuals and independence movements in the late 18th and early 19th centuries
• Latin American writers, such as Simón Bolívar and Andrés Bello, drew on Enlightenment ideas to argue for independence and the establishment of republican governments
• The Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and scientific progress influenced the development of Latin American intellectual life and the establishment of universities and scientific institutions
• Latin American literature of the colonial period often grappled with similar themes of religious devotion, moral instruction, and the challenges of life in a new world
• Works such as Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz's poetry and prose explored questions of faith, gender, and the pursuit of knowledge in ways that resonated with Puritan and Enlightenment concerns
• The legacy of Puritanism and the Enlightenment can be seen in the ongoing dialogue between Latin American and North American literature, particularly in terms of shared themes of identity, independence, and the search for meaning in a changing world