Early American and Colonial Period
Up ] Introduction to Early American Literature ] Lecture Notes on Puritan Culture ] William Bradford's Works ] Mary Rowlandson ] Oladuah Equiano ] Bradstreet & Taylor ] Jonathan Edwards ]


Unit Outline: Early American and Colonial Period

I. Informational Article: "Introduction to Early American and Colonial Period"

II. Lecture Notes on Puritan Theology, Literature & Culture

III. First Hand Accounts

A. William Bradford's Plymouth Plantation "Chapter 9", Mayflower Compact & Study Guide Questions

B. Mary Rowlandson's "The Captivity and Restoration of Mary Rowlandson," & Study Guide Questions

C. Excerpts from "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa the African" and Study Activity

IV. Puritan Verse

A. Selected Poems by Anne Bradstreet and Study Guide Questions

B. Selected Poems by Edward Taylor and Study Guide Questions

V. Puritan Sermons

A. Articles: "Sermon Structure: A Brief Outline" and "Forms of Puritan Rhetoric"

B. Jonathan Edward's "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" & Study Guide Questions

VI. Important Terms and Concepts of Early American Literature


Important Terms and Concepts of Early American Literature

Genres

  • narratives
  • exploration narratives
  • slave narratives
  • narratives of captivity
  • Puritan verse
  • Puritan rhetoric
  • sermons
  • jeremiads

Puritan Theology & Culture

Quaker Culture

Southern Culture

Related Literary Terms

  • plain style
  • inversion
  • archaisms
  • satire
  • conceit
  • extended metaphor