The Influence of Puritanism on American Literature

The Puritans and PuritanismMost of the early settlers were Puritans, a group of serious, religious people who advocated strict religious and moral principles. * They wanted to purify the English Church and to restore church worship to the pure and unspotted condition of its earlier days. * They opposed the elaborate rituals of the English Church. * They believed that the Bible was the revealed word of God, therefore, people should guide their daily behavior with the Bible.The Puritans brought with them a philosophy of life, which is popularly known as American Puritanism. A dominant factor in American life, Puritanism was one of the most enduring and shaping influences in American thought and American literature. Without true†¦show more content†¦No wonder there appeared a mood of frustration or despair in later periods, because as the old saying goes, always at the latter end of weal stands woe. When the dream did not materialize, when a Gilded Age came instead of the Golden one they dreamed of, how could anyone feel? * The Puritans metaphorical mode of perception brought American literary symbolism into being. To the pious Puritans, the physical world was spiritual, nothing but a symbol of God. The world, therefore, was one of multiple meanings. This idea was distinguishable in the works of such early writers as William Bradford, Cotton Mather, Jonathan Edwards and Emerson. In the works of Hawthorne, Melville and Poe, this developed itself into symbolism. * The Puritan style of writing is characterized by simplicity. The Puritans have been abhorred for their austerity and rigidity in matters of taste. They formed a distaste for art and for any manifestations of sensual beauty, therefore, the style of their writing was fresh, simple and direst, the rhetoric plain and honest, words simple and spare (not fancy). The use of metaphors was only to explain their opinions rather than to decorate. They wrote non-fictional prose instead of novels. Th ey were good at writing history, too, and biography was once a popular form of literature. Literary SceneAlmost all literatures come from humble origins ¡Ã‚ ªdiaries, journals, letters, sermons, travel books, etc. So did AmericanShow MoreRelatedPuritanism in American Literature Essay1149 Words   |  5 PagesPuritanism in American Literature The Puritans had a large influence in American literature and still influence moral judgment and religious beliefs in the United States to this day. Puritan writing was used to glorify God and to relate God more directly to our world. Puritan literature was commonly a realistic approach to life. â€Å"Puritanism as a historical phenomenon and as a living presence in American life has enriched American literature in ways far too numerous to detail here.† (GRead MoreJemimah Ejikeme,. Professor Clack. 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