A-E Puritan Literature

Entry A. William Bradford

1. Thesis: In an excerpt from William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation, although the puritans experience hardship in their voyage to America, in their initial arrival and in their dealings with the Indians, they still maintain their reverence to God and to one another (their initial reason for fleeing England).

2. Passage: But though this had been a day and night of much trouble and danger unto them, yet God gave them a morning of comfort and refreshing (as usually He doth to His children) for the next day was a fair, sunshining day, and they found themselves to be on an island secure from the Indians, where they might dry their stuff, fix their pieces and rest themselves; and gave God thanks for His mercies in their manifold deliverances. And this being the last day of the week, they prepared there to keep the Sabbath.

3. Why it Inspired me: This passage from Of Plymouth Plantation inspired me because it showed that even in times of crisis the Puritans will never lose their faith in God. The Puritans continue believe that every hardship or victory that has happened to them, while in the New World, has happened because it pleased God. Even after all the hardships that the Puritans face during the day at night they continue to say their prayers and worship their God. Inspiration came to me through this passage because it proves how strong the Puritan faith is.

4. Diary Entry:
Dear Diary,
Today appeared to be hardest we have faced our of all. Our food supply is running low and there is no corn to be found anywhere. Yesterday we were attacked by a group of Indians, however, we defeated them and left that night to find a safer place to start our new life. When I awoke today I found myself on an island with the others. So far it appears safe but I have continued to pray for safety. It appears that God is our only hope now as we wait for what will happen tomorrow. My faith in God will always remain for He knows the future and will help all of us to get through it.

Extension: Over the years the political issue of immigration has continued to grow regardless of the changes in government. In the political cartoon there is seen two older men running away from the United States, one of which is saying ‘But…there’s a new law coming soon!.. We’ll be able to stay legally! Why are we running?’ America has always been called a melting pot; however, people have been debating whether or not we can be called that for we will not allow people to come over illegally. The government today has been deciding on passing a law that could grant all immigrants citizenship, the only question is should we allow just anyone to have citizenship? Also seen in this cartoon is another man who is running with the first man yet he is saying ‘Didn’t you hear? They’ll require us to…to pay taxes!’ This shows that other side of the immigration and citizenship argument for some are saying that one of the largest reasons that immigrants sneak into country is because they won’t have to pay taxes. Showing an immigrant running away from America because the America government is going to make them pay taxes shows that immigrants really don’t appreciate what our country stands for but only the freedoms they gain by coming here. Citizenship to our country will always remain an ongoing issue as citizens continue to argue over the true desires of our nations immigrants.

Entry B. Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672)

1. Reflection: After reading the three poems by Anne Bradstreet I believe my favorite poem was "Upon the Burning of Our House." The descriptive writing that Anne Bradstreet used in this poem made me feel like I was standing right next to her. Even though this poem is very deep and touches a lot of depressing emotions I can relate well to this poem for I have experienced many tragedies throughout my life. Unlike the other two poems I felt a certain connection to this poem for I could tell what it was about as soon as I was done reading it, however, the poem did make me think and begin to question the Puritan language after I finished reading it. I began to wonder why it was believed that God wouldn't let you cherish the things you loved on earth but said that you should only really care about what is waiting you in heaven. Back in the Puritan time it was hard to proved a house and food for your family so I think that when successful the family should be able to appreciate the things that they had to work for. Over all I truly enjoyed this poem for not only could I relate to it but it also gave me things to wonder about and connect to real happenings today.

2. Diary Entry:
Dear Diary,
The whole night I laid awake as my mind replayed the images of myself running out of the house. This morning I stood outside of the burnt remains overlooking the place where my house once stood. Remembering every detail, the color of the walls, the coffee table by the window and all the books stacked on the nightstand, I stood there unable to produce any more tears. Now that everything I have ever owned is gone I am beginning to question whether I should even have trust God is protecting me during my stay on God. What am I saying of course God is protecting me. God doesn't want me in that house he doesn't want me to have those things because he knows that I can live without them. I have faith that their is always that perfect new home in heaven... I just hope I'm right.

Extension: Today women are accepted into the government by most people in society, however, there are still those select few who believe that women have no place running the government. In this political cartoon there is seen a young girl who is telling her father 'Wow! It's possible for a little girl like me to grow up to be in the white house.' Growing up today young women have been given the same right as men when it comes to running for any position in the government. This relates to how today young girls or teens are able to make the choice to change the nation that we live in by landing a spot in politics. Likewise this statement extends toward Anne Bradstreet because back in the Puritan era young ladies grew up knowing that their future only held running a household and taking care of a family instead of having a say to what happens to their nation. Also seen in this political cartoon is the girl's father answering the little girl by saying 'I was sorta hoping you'd want to get into an honest line of work.' Throughout history men have always run the government of the U.S. and even though women have now been given the opportunity to state their political opinion some Americans still believe that men should be the only ones to have power over the nation. Similarly in her poems Anne Bradstreet describes a world where women were told what to do and what to believe by their husbands who had no trust in women making important governmental decisions. Even with all the diverse breakthroughs we have had as a country some American men are still seeing that women have no right to be involved in the running of the United States.

Entry C: Edward Taylor (1645-1729)

Thesis: In the poem "Huswitery" through conceit, imagery, and rhyme Edward Taylor portrays the journey of finding God by comparing the journey to the making of a cloth.

Entry D : Jonathan Edwards - 1741
"Sinners at the Hands of an Angry God"

Passage: The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked: his wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire; he is of purer eyes than to bear to have you in his sight; you are ten thousand times more abominable in his eyes, than the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours. You have offended him infinitely more than ever a stubborn rebel did his prince; and yet it is nothing but his hand that holds you from falling into the fire every moment. It is to be ascribed to nothing else, that you did not go to hell the last night; that you was suffered to awake again in this world, after you closed your eyes to sleep. And there is no other reason to be given, why you have not dropped into hell since you arose in the morning, but that God's hand has held you up. There is no other reason to be given why you have not gone to hell, since you have sat here in the house of God, provoking his pure eyes by your sinful wicked manner of attending his solemn worship. Yea, there is nothing else that is to be given as a reason why you do not this very moment drop down into hell.

Our Collage: This collage features three main photos with some smaller black and white photos surrounding them. Jen and I choose these three main photo's because they represented the three main ideas in "sinners at the hand of an angry God." In this sermon Johnathan Edwards talks about how everyone should fear hell because God wants more then anything to send us all there, therefore we chose a picture of an eye which reflected inside of it was fire, making it appear that the person was looking directly into the flames of hell. Also he talks about how God's anger is rising up as we all on earth continue to sin and is waiting to be released upon us all. For this reason Jen and I chose a picture of a rushing wave as one of our three main photos. The last picture that we chose is of a spider. This picture was chosen because in his sermon Edwards compares the grasp of God to that of a spider web. Finally we put in some other little pictures in order to show how the three main pictures stand out, the same way the three ideas stand out is Edwards sermon. Over all I believe that our collage portrays the over all emotions of the Jonathan Edwards sermon.

Entry E: Slave Narrative

Is American Really A Dream?: America was created for freedom from England because the people didn't want to be slaves for the English any more, yet why is it that once arriving in American they went to slavery to make a profit? A true American would want to honor the freedoms this country offers, however, peoples minds seem to change when they are given a chance at power.

Extension: Even though African Americans have been given the right to voice their opinions, when dealing with government decisions, are not considered equal to the opinions of whites. For example this political cartoon shows two separate voting booths, one labeled white and the other labeled blacks, with a ‘vote here’ sign pointing to them. This statement recommends that even though African Americans have been given the same rights as whites they are constantly segregated when it comes to voting on government decisions. Also seen in this political cartoon is a plug coming out of the back of the ‘blacks’ voting booth that has been pulled out. This suggests that whites are deliberately sabotaging the black votes so that their own votes will count higher thus whites will have more control over what is passed in the government. Through history whites have disregarded the opinions of African Americans because they feel that African Americans have no place in deciding how the government should be controlled.