5.3 Impact of the Great Awakening on American Literature

The Great Awakening shook up colonial American literature. This religious revival sparked new writing styles and themes, with authors exploring personal faith and salvation in plain language.

The movement's impact went beyond religion. It helped shape a unique American voice in literature, emphasizing individualism and accessibility. These ideas would influence later movements like American Romanticism.

The Great Awakening and Colonial American Literature

Great Awakening's literary influence

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• Sparked renewed interest in religious themes and ideas in literature
  • Writers explored topics like personal salvation, divine grace, and the role of faith in daily life
• Encouraged more emotional and introspective writing style
  • Authors conveyed intensity of religious experiences and inner struggles of the soul
• Popularized use of plain, accessible language in literature
  • Writers used vernacular speech and avoided complex rhetorical devices to reach wider audience
• Emphasis on individual spirituality led to rise in autobiographical and confessional writing
  • Authors shared personal testimonies and spiritual journeys through memoirs and diaries (Jonathan Edwards' "Personal Narrative", John Woolman's "Journal")

New genres of religious literature

• Conversion narrative became popular genre during Great Awakening
  • Stories chronicled individual's spiritual transformation and acceptance of divine grace
  • Examples: Jonathan Edwards' "Personal Narrative", John Marrant's "A Narrative of the Lord's Wonderful Dealings with John Marrant, a Black"
• Jeremiad, a type of sermon lamenting societal decline and calling for repentance, gained prominence
  • Jeremiads critiqued moral failings of colonies and urged return to religious devotion
  • Famous example: Jonathan Edwards' "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"

Themes in 18th century writing

• Great Awakening encouraged writers to explore themes of redemption, grace, and power of faith
  • Authors aimed to inspire spiritual renewal and convey transformative nature of religious experiences
• Movement influenced more direct and emotional writing style
  • Writers used vivid imagery and passionate language to evoke strong feelings and convictions in readers
• Emphasized importance of personal introspection and self-examination
  • Authors delved into inner workings of human heart and struggles of the soul
• Purpose of many writers shifted towards moral instruction and spiritual edification
  • Literature became tool for promoting religious values and encouraging righteous living (Cotton Mather's "Essays to Do Good", Benjamin Franklin's "Poor Richard's Almanack")

Legacy for American literature

• Helped establish distinctly American literary voice
  • Writers explored uniquely American experiences and perspectives, laying foundation for national literature
• Emphasis on individualism and personal spirituality influenced development of American Romanticism
  • Focus on emotion, introspection, and power of individual resonated with later Romantic writers (Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau)
• Contributed to democratization of American literature
  • Use of plain language and accessible themes made literature more appealing to broader audience
• Religious fervor and moral ideals shaped American cultural identity
  • Movement's values, like personal responsibility and pursuit of righteousness, became ingrained in American ethos

The Great Awakening's Enduring Legacy