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(1) Characteristics of Early American Writing
- Reflects the growing pains of a new nation.
- Reveals trends occurring elsewhere in the world.
- The connection between literature, history, and culture.
- Like to express stories, ideas, dreams, etc. through writing.
- Religion was important so focused on Bible some.
- Mostly nonfiction and poetry, but some important novels were being written somewhere else.
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(1) *** Early American Literature ***
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(1) Anne Bradstreet
Known as the first notable American poet. During that time, Puritan women were not encouraged to write or express their ideas and thoughts, so this is important. Anne came to America with her husband Simon and here they faced hard living conditions. She turned to her religious faith and poetry to cope with her problems. Once her house burned down and that was what caused her to write "Upon the Burning of Our House...". -
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(1) Beliefs - Puritanism
Puritans were English Protestants who wanted to "purify" the Church of England and return to their simpler ways of worshipping.
Beliefs and Values:
- They believed they were chosen by God to create a new order in America.
- They saw the human struggle with sin as a daily mission and thought that the Bible would help them through the hard times of human weakness.
- Believed the "elect" were spared from eternal punishment by God's grace.
- Hard work, thrift and responsibility are morally good. -
(1) the Mayflower returned to England
Bradford and his wife left their four-year-old son to embark on a journey with nearly 40 other Separatists on the Mayflower. When they landed, not a single colonist left Plymouth Colony because of Bradford's great leadership. -
(2) Beliefs - Witchcraft
- Anyone practicing witchcraft was sentenced to death.
- The testimony of a church member who claimed to see someone performing witchcraft was enough to be sentenced to death.
- Some people performed witchcraft sometimes using voodoo dolls.
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(2) The Crucible
Set in Salem, Massachusetts. The play talks about the real events and people who were involved in the Salem Witchcraft Trials. -
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(2) ***The Crucible***
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(2) Salem Witch Trials
Witch trials which occurred in a Puritan community in Salen, Massachusets. People who were accused of practicing witchcraft would be sentenced to death after doing some tests. Some turned against each other and many lies were told. In the end, many innocent people died. This is a true story and was turned into a novel called "The Crucible". -
(2) John Proctor accused of witchcraft
Both John Proctor and his wife on this day were convicted of witchcraft. They both eventually died. -
(1) Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
Written by Jonathan Edwards. His fiery sermon was written in hopes to draw people back to God and the church. We are told that God loves all people and that he is constantly looking out for us, however, this sermon has an opposing outlook. Edwards argues throughout the text that it is up to God whether or not we go to Heaven or Hell and it is his decision whether we live or die. The moral is that we are all sinners in God’s hands until we decide to act on and change our ways. -
(1) the French and Indian War
(1759-1763) Britain, in response to protect its territory, sent soldiers to fight during the French and Indian war where France allied with Native American groups to drive the British out of North America. England eventually brought in the powerful Iroquois. Great Britain eventually claimed all land east of the Mississippi River. -
(2) Characteristics of Romanticism
- Romantics believed in the interest in common man and childhood.
- Strong senses, emotions, and feelings.
- Awe of nature
- Celebration of the individual
- Importance of imagination
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(3) Beliefs of American Romantics
Focused on...
- individualism
- freedom from rules
- solitary life instead of life in society
- think imagination is superior to reason and devotion to beauty -
(3) Characteristics of American Romanticism
- Its more about feeling and intuition rather than reason.
- Puts faith in inner experience and the power of the imagination.
- Shuns those who are artificiality of civilization and looks for unspoiled nature.
- Prefers youthful innocence to educated sophistication.
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(3) *** American Romanticism***
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(3) US declares war on GB
When the United States declares war on Great Britain, America's industry booms. This is good because that means Americans are making money. -
(3) Devil and Tom Walker
Washington Irving published "Tales of a Traveller" and inside was the piece "Devil and Tom Walker". -
(3) First US Railroad Built
In the late 1820s construction begins and the first US railroad is being built. This is a good thing because now we can travel faster move good more efficiently. -
(3) "Nature" & "Self Reliance" by Emerson
Emerson is trying to express his thoughts through these poems. He believes that God is always near and he always reveals Himself. He tells us through his line in Nature, "In the woods, is perpetual youth," meaning were always young while in nature. Self-Reliance tells us that everyone should place complete trust in themselves. -
(4) "Narrative of Frederick Douglas" by Frederick Douglass
Throughout the story, Douglas faced problems with individual rights. Douglass had no individual rights as a slave. His only options were to be beaten or to die and neither of those options was appealing to anyone. -
(4) Characteristics of Realism
- Focuses on reality
- More about characters than action and plot
- Characters have real human qualities
- Social class is important
- Focuses on the unsentimental, honest, and harsh/ugly things in life.
- Grew to include work of writers countrywide
- Developed to include the work of naturalists.
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(4) Beliefs/Values
- Though you should focus more on reality and characters rather than plot and action.
- They also thought your social class was important.
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(4) ***Romanticism to Realism***
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(4) "Much Madness" by Emily Dickinson
I think the message she was trying to get out there with this poem is that when you are the maddest, you are the sanest. This was written to make us think and to confuse us. There isn't one interpretation as Dickinson's writing is hard to understand. -
(4) Abraham Lincoln signs the Emancipation Proclamation
Lincoln was against slavery so, in turn, he created the Emancipation Proclamation that said if the Southern states did not cease their rebellion, then then the Proclamation would be used. -
(4) Lincoln gives the Gettysburg Address speech
In this speech, Lincoln stresses the importance that the nation all come together at that time. During his speech, he announced that he is dedicating a cemetery for Union soldiers killed in combat during the Battle of Gettysburg. This was during the time of the American Civil War. -
(5) Beliefs/Values
- Jazz
- Imagists believed that poetry should e expressed through the "rendering of concrete objects."
- Literature and culture during this time was important. Poetry and art also grew during this time.
- Women were finally getting the recognition they deserve.
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(5) Characteristics of Moderism
- intentional break with tradition.
- The break includes strong reactions against established religion, politics, and social views.
- A belief that the world is created in the act of perceiving it. The world is what we say it is.
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(5) ***Of Mice & Men***
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(5) The Great Depression
The Great Depression was a time in history where our economy started to weaken and fall. It started with the crash of the stock market which then sent Wall Street into panic and wiped out millions of investors. -
(5) The Dust Bowl
It got its name from the Southern Plains region which suffered from drought. Winds picked up and blew severe dust storms around. This caused people and livestock to die and crops failed across the entire region. -
(5) "Of Mice & Men" by John Steinbeck
This book is about two friends name, George and Lennie. Both have a dream own owning their own land one day, but there are obstacles that get in the way. The story teaches us that sometimes we don't get our dream no matter how hard we work for it. Of Mice and Men focuses on themes of human interaction, dependence, and the damaging effects of isolation. -
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