American Literature – Before 1800 Unit 10 Review: The Early American Novel

Key Themes and Concepts

• Exploration of the American identity and the concept of individualism in the face of societal expectations and norms
• Examination of the role of religion, particularly Puritanism, in shaping early American society and literature
• Portrayal of the struggle between civilization and wilderness, often symbolizing the conflict between order and chaos
• Depiction of the American Dream and the pursuit of personal freedom, wealth, and happiness
• Representation of the American frontier as a space for adventure, self-discovery, and the testing of moral and physical boundaries
  • The frontier serves as a metaphor for the unknown and the untamed aspects of human nature
• Exploration of the complexities of race relations, particularly the treatment of Native Americans and the institution of slavery
• Themes of sin, guilt, and redemption, often reflecting the influence of Puritan ideology on early American literature
• Investigation of the role of women in early American society and their struggle for agency and self-expression

Historical Context

• Early American literature emerged during the Colonial Period (1607-1776) and the Early National Period (1776-1828)
• The literature of this era was heavily influenced by the political, social, and religious upheavals of the time, such as the American Revolution and the Second Great Awakening
• Puritanism played a significant role in shaping the literary landscape, with its emphasis on moral righteousness, predestination, and the importance of spiritual introspection
• The Enlightenment, with its focus on reason, individualism, and scientific inquiry, also had a profound impact on early American literature
  • Authors began to question traditional authority and advocate for personal liberty and democratic ideals
• The American frontier and the concept of Manifest Destiny influenced the themes and settings of many early American works
• The institution of slavery and the treatment of Native Americans were major social and political issues that found expression in the literature of the time
• The early American literary canon was dominated by white, male authors, reflecting the power structures and social hierarchies of the period
• The oral traditions of Native American and African American communities, while often overlooked, also contributed to the richness and diversity of early American literature

Notable Authors and Works

• Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672): Considered the first published poet in the American colonies, known for her religious and personal poetry in works such as "The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America" (1650)
• Edward Taylor (c. 1642-1729): Puritan minister and poet, known for his introspective and metaphysical poetry, most notably "Preparatory Meditations" (published posthumously in 1939)
• Cotton Mather (1663-1728): Puritan minister, author, and pamphleteer, best known for his involvement in the Salem Witch Trials and his work "Magnalia Christi Americana" (1702), a history of the Puritan settlement in New England
• Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758): Theologian, philosopher, and Congregationalist clergyman, known for his sermons, particularly "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" (1741), and his treatise "A Faithful Narrative of the Surprising Work of God" (1737)
• Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790): Statesman, scientist, and author, known for his autobiographical writings, such as "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin" (1791), and his satirical essays, including "The Way to Wealth" (1758)
  • Franklin's works often emphasize the values of self-reliance, practicality, and moral virtue
• Phillis Wheatley (c. 1753-1784): The first published African American poet, known for her collection "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral" (1773), which challenged prevailing notions about race and intellectual capacity
• Charles Brockden Brown (1771-1810): Considered the first professional American novelist, known for his Gothic and psychological novels, such as "Wieland" (1798) and "Edgar Huntly" (1799)

Literary Techniques and Styles

• Puritan plain style: A simple, direct, and unadorned style of writing that emphasized clarity and moral instruction over artistic embellishment
  • Characterized by short sentences, minimal figurative language, and a focus on religious themes and imagery
• Captivity narratives: A popular genre that recounted the experiences of individuals, often women, who were captured by Native Americans and later returned to colonial society
  • These narratives often served as a form of religious propaganda, emphasizing the strength of the captive's faith in the face of adversity
• Sermons: A central form of religious and moral instruction in early American literature, often employing rhetorical techniques such as repetition, biblical allusions, and vivid imagery to persuade and inspire audiences
• Diaries and journals: Personal accounts that provided insight into the daily lives, religious experiences, and inner thoughts of early Americans
  • These writings often served as a form of spiritual self-examination and a means of recording historical events
• Epistolary novel: A novel written in the form of letters exchanged between characters, allowing for multiple perspectives and a sense of immediacy and intimacy
• Gothic fiction: A genre that emerged in the late 18th century, characterized by elements of horror, mystery, and the supernatural
  • Gothic novels often explored themes of guilt, sin, and the dark side of human nature, reflecting the anxieties and uncertainties of the early American psyche
• Satire: A literary technique that uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to criticize social, political, or religious institutions and practices
  • Satirical works often aimed to expose hypocrisy, corruption, and moral failings in early American society
• Allegory: A narrative technique in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract ideas or moral qualities
  • Allegorical works often conveyed religious or political messages, using symbolism and metaphor to engage readers on multiple levels

Cultural Significance

• Early American literature played a crucial role in shaping the nation's identity and cultural values, reflecting the hopes, fears, and aspirations of the colonists and early citizens
• The emphasis on individualism, self-reliance, and moral virtue in early American literature contributed to the development of the American Dream and the idea of the self-made man
• The portrayal of the American frontier as a space for adventure and self-discovery helped to mythologize the western expansion and justify the doctrine of Manifest Destiny
• The representation of Native Americans and African Americans in early American literature, while often stereotypical and problematic, laid the groundwork for later debates about race, equality, and social justice
  • Works by authors such as Samson Occom and Phillis Wheatley challenged prevailing notions of racial inferiority and asserted the humanity and intellectual capacity of marginalized groups
• The influence of Puritanism on early American literature contributed to the development of a distinctly American form of Protestantism, emphasizing personal salvation, moral righteousness, and the importance of hard work
• The political writings of the Revolutionary era, such as Thomas Paine's "Common Sense" (1776) and the Federalist Papers (1787-1788), helped to articulate the ideals of democracy, liberty, and self-governance that would shape American political culture
• The popularity of captivity narratives and Gothic fiction in early American literature reflected the anxieties and uncertainties of life in the New World, as well as the fascination with the exotic and the unknown
• The emergence of a distinctly American literary voice in the works of authors such as Charles Brockden Brown and Washington Irving signaled the beginning of a national literary tradition that would continue to evolve and expand in the 19th century

Critical Reception and Analysis

• Early American literature has been the subject of extensive scholarly analysis and debate, with critics examining the works through various lenses, including historical, cultural, and literary perspectives
• The Puritan influence on early American literature has been a major focus of critical inquiry, with scholars exploring the ways in which religious ideology shaped the form and content of colonial writings
  • Critics have also examined the tensions and contradictions within Puritan thought, such as the conflict between predestination and individual agency
• The representation of race and gender in early American literature has been a significant area of critical analysis, with scholars investigating the ways in which these works reflected and reinforced the social hierarchies and power structures of the time
  • Feminist critics have explored the marginalization of women's voices in early American literature and the strategies that female authors used to assert their agency and subvert patriarchal norms
• The role of early American literature in shaping national identity and cultural values has been a central concern of literary scholars, who have examined the ways in which these works contributed to the construction of an American mythos and the idea of American exceptionalism
• The influence of European literary traditions on early American literature has also been a subject of critical inquiry, with scholars tracing the ways in which colonial authors adapted and transformed genres such as the epic, the romance, and the picaresque novel
• Postcolonial critics have examined early American literature through the lens of empire and colonialism, exploring the ways in which these works both reflected and challenged the power dynamics of the colonial system
• The aesthetic and formal qualities of early American literature have also been a focus of critical analysis, with scholars investigating the ways in which authors experimented with language, style, and narrative structure to create new forms of literary expression
• Recent scholarship has also emphasized the importance of recovering and reexamining marginalized voices in early American literature, such as those of Native American and African American authors, in order to create a more inclusive and diverse literary canon

Influence on Later Literature

• Early American literature laid the foundation for the development of a distinctly American literary tradition, influencing the themes, styles, and concerns of later authors
• The emphasis on individualism, self-reliance, and the American Dream in early American literature would continue to be central themes in the works of 19th-century authors such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, and Walt Whitman
  • These authors would expand upon the ideas of personal freedom and spiritual self-discovery, creating a new form of American Romanticism
• The Gothic tradition in early American literature, exemplified by the works of Charles Brockden Brown and Edgar Allan Poe, would continue to evolve and influence later generations of horror and mystery writers
• The portrayal of the American frontier as a space for adventure and self-discovery in early American literature would inspire the development of the Western genre in the late 19th and early 20th centuries
  • Authors such as James Fenimore Cooper and Owen Wister would build upon the mythic qualities of the frontier, creating iconic characters and narratives that would shape American popular culture
• The political and social critiques embedded in early American literature, such as the anti-slavery writings of Phillis Wheatley and the satirical works of Benjamin Franklin, would pave the way for later generations of activist authors and reformers
• The use of allegory, symbolism, and metaphor in early American literature would continue to be important literary techniques in the works of later authors such as Nathaniel Hawthorne, Herman Melville, and Mark Twain
• The exploration of religious themes and moral dilemmas in early American literature would find new expression in the works of 20th-century authors such as Flannery O'Connor and John Updike
• The formal experimentation and linguistic innovation of early American authors such as Edward Taylor and Anne Bradstreet would inspire later generations of poets and writers to push the boundaries of literary expression
• The recovery and reexamination of marginalized voices in early American literature, begun by scholars in the late 20th century, would continue to shape the study and teaching of American literature in the 21st century, leading to a more diverse and inclusive literary canon

Further Reading and Resources

• "The Cambridge History of American Literature, Volume 1: 1590-1820" (1994) edited by Sacvan Bercovitch: A comprehensive overview of early American literature, covering major authors, genres, and themes
• "The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Volume A: Beginnings to 1820" (2017) edited by Robert S. Levine: A collection of key texts from the colonial and early national periods, with scholarly introductions and annotations
• "The Puritan Origins of the American Self" (1975) by Sacvan Bercovitch: An influential study of the ways in which Puritan ideology shaped the development of American identity and literature
• "Revolution and the Word: The Rise of the Novel in America" (1986) by Cathy N. Davidson: An examination of the emergence of the novel as a popular genre in early American literature, with a focus on the social and political contexts of the time
• "Sensational Designs: The Cultural Work of American Fiction, 1790-1860" (1985) by Jane Tompkins: A groundbreaking study of the ways in which early American novels, particularly those written by women, engaged with and challenged the dominant cultural values of the time
• "The Sovereignty and Goodness of God" (1682) by Mary Rowlandson: A classic captivity narrative that recounts the author's experiences as a prisoner of Native Americans during King Philip's War
• "The Coquette" (1797) by Hannah Webster Foster: One of the first American novels, a cautionary tale about the dangers of female desire and the importance of moral virtue
• "The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano" (1789) by Olaudah Equiano: An influential slave narrative that helped to galvanize the abolitionist movement in the late 18th century
• "The Power of Sympathy" (1789) by William Hill Brown: Considered the first American novel, a sentimental tale of love, seduction, and betrayal that reflects the moral and social concerns of the early national period
• "The Early American Novel" (2022) by Lilace Hatayama: A comprehensive study guide that provides an overview of the key themes, authors, and works of early American literature, designed to help students prepare for exams and deepen their understanding of the period