Elements of Literature Collection I. Mrs. Sadler

Transcription

1 Name Class Elements of Literature Collection I Mrs. Sadler

2 The Puritan Legacy & Beliefs *Central to the development of the American literary tradition have been the writings of the Puritans of New England. *Puritan is a broad term referring to a number of Protestant groups that, beginning about 1560, sought to purify the Church of England. *Like other Protestant reformers on the European continent, English Puritans wished to return to the simpler forms of worship and church organization that are described in the Christian scriptures. *They did not believe that the clergy or the government should or could act as an intermediary between the individual and God. *Many Puritans suffered persecution in England. Some were put in jail and whipped, their noses slit and their ears chopped off. *Puritans actually believed that there were some people who were elected to go to heaven. Others were damned. You would not know if you were elected or not. If you could feel the grace of God in an intensely emotional fashion, then you were elected as being reborn as a member of the community of saints, and you behaved like a saint. *American Puritans came to value self-reliance, industriousness, temperance, and simplicity. Actually, these were the ideal qualities needed to carve out a new society in a strange, new land. Characteristics of Puritan Writing *The Bible provided a model for Puritan writing. The Puritans viewed each individual life as a journey to salvation. Puritans looked for direct connections between biblical events and events in their own lives. *Diaries and histories were the most common forms of literary expression in Puritan society; in them writers described the workings of God. *Puritans favored a plain style of writing. The admired clarity of expression and avoided complicated figures of speech. Self-made Americans *Most of the literature written in the American colonies during the Age of Reason was, understandably, rooted in reality. *The unquestioned masterpiece of the American Age of Reason is The Autobiography by Benjamin Franklin. Fast Facts

3 Define each of these literary terms as you read the selections in your literature book. archetype- allusion- chronological order- inference- autobiography- Literary Terms

4 The Sun Still Rises in the Same Sky What does the title of the passage suggest? What does the emphasis on oral literature tell you about Native American cultures? The Sky Tree How does this myth explain the origin of the earth as we know it today? What aspects of the myth are archetypes? What other stories have used the same archetypes? The Earth Only What profound philosophical comment does The Earth Only make by what it leaves out? In other words, what does not endure? Coyote Finishes His Work What does this myth promise for the future? What does the archetype of the Earthmother in this story reveal about the Nez Perce vision of nature? Native American Literature (p )

5 What conflicting attitudes does Rowlandson feel toward her captors? Do you think her attitude changes as the narrative progresses? Explain. Describe at least two allusions to biblical stories that Rowlandson makes during her captivity. In what ways does each of these stories resemble Rowlandson s experiences? Rowlandson s narrative was popular in England. Why do you suppose the English enjoyed reading her narrative? List in chronological order the main events of Rowlandson s narrative. Mary Rowlandson (p )

6 Complete each of the following snapshots to show imagery from Edwards s speech. You may either draw the snapshots or write a short summary of the image. Whichever you choose, you must be very detailed. Jonathan Edwards (p )

7 Equiano was handled and tossed up by some of the crew as soon as he was taken onboard. Why? What would have happened to him if the crew had found him unsatisfactory? What inferences can you make about Equiano s beliefs? Why do you think Equiano described the flogging of a crew member? What is the basic contradiction between the crew s main goal and their treatment of the captives? How do you account for the depth of human cruelty described in parts of this autobiography? What current events reveal a similar capacity for cruelty in human nature? Olaudah Equiano (p )

8 Describe Franklin s first day in Philadelphia. Describe each of Franklin s virtues in your own words. Temperance Silence Order Resolution Frugality Industry Sincerity Justice Moderation Cleanliness Tranquility Chastity Humility How did he plan on mastering all of these virtues? Describe the advice given in Poor Richard s Almanac. Benjamin Franklin (p )

9 Choose three of the selections from this collection and fill in the Venn diagram with their similarities and differences. Summarize your results in a paragraph. Making Connections