American Literature – Before 1800 Unit 4 Review: Colonial Wit and Satire

Historical Context

• Colonial period in American history spans from early 17th century to late 18th century, marked by European settlement and establishment of colonies
• Characterized by political, social, and cultural tensions between colonists and British authorities, leading to growing desire for independence
• Influenced by Enlightenment ideas emphasizing reason, individualism, and skepticism towards traditional authority
• Saw rise of printing press and increased circulation of newspapers, pamphlets, and other written works, facilitating spread of ideas and public discourse
• Marked by religious diversity and tensions, including Puritanism in New England colonies and Anglican Church in southern colonies
• Witnessed significant events such as French and Indian War (1754-1763), which increased tensions between colonists and British government
• Culminated in American Revolution (1765-1783) and Declaration of Independence (1776), establishing United States as independent nation

Key Authors and Works

• Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790) - polymath, inventor, and statesman, known for works such as "Poor Richard's Almanack" and "The Way to Wealth"
  • "Poor Richard's Almanack" (1732-1758) - annual publication featuring weather forecasts, practical advice, and humorous aphorisms
  • "The Way to Wealth" (1758) - collection of proverbs and advice on frugality, industry, and financial success
• Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758) - Puritan theologian and philosopher, known for sermons such as "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God"
• Thomas Paine (1737-1809) - political activist and philosopher, known for works such as "Common Sense" and "The American Crisis"
  • "Common Sense" (1776) - pamphlet advocating for American independence and criticizing British monarchy
  • "The American Crisis" (1776-1783) - series of pamphlets encouraging American colonists to continue fighting for independence
• John Adams (1735-1826) - Founding Father and second U.S. President, known for political writings and correspondence with wife Abigail Adams
• Phillis Wheatley (c. 1753-1784) - first published African American poet, known for works such as "Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral"

Literary Techniques and Styles

• Satire - use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize human vices, follies, or shortcomings
  • Often targets political figures, social norms, or cultural practices
  • Examples include Franklin's "The Speech of Miss Polly Baker" and Adams' "A Dissertation on the Canon and Feudal Law"
• Irony - expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect
  • Can be verbal (saying one thing but meaning another), situational (contrast between expectations and reality), or dramatic (audience knows more than characters)
• Parody - imitation of the style or content of another work, often for comic effect or to criticize the original
  • Examples include Franklin's "The Drinker's Dictionary" and Paine's "The Forester's Letters"
• Allegory - narrative that uses symbolic figures, objects, or actions to convey a hidden or deeper meaning, often moral or political
• Wit - intellectual humor based on clever wordplay, puns, or unexpected associations of ideas
  • Often used to demonstrate author's intelligence, creativity, and mastery of language
• Plain style - clear, concise, and direct language aimed at broad audience, often used in political writings and speeches
  • Emphasizes clarity, simplicity, and persuasive power over ornate or complex language

Themes and Motifs

• Liberty and independence - central theme in many works, reflecting colonists' desire for political and personal freedom from British rule
  • Examples include Paine's "Common Sense" and Jefferson's Declaration of Independence
• Reason and enlightenment - emphasis on rational thinking, scientific inquiry, and individual rights, influenced by Enlightenment philosophy
  • Reflected in works such as Franklin's "Experiments and Observations on Electricity" and Adams' "Thoughts on Government"
• Religion and morality - ongoing debates about role of religion in public life, relationship between faith and reason, and nature of moral behavior
  • Addressed in works such as Edwards' "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" and Wheatley's "On Being Brought from Africa to America"
• Social and political critique - use of satire, irony, and parody to expose and criticize social injustices, political corruption, or cultural hypocrisies
  • Examples include Franklin's "Rules by Which a Great Empire May Be Reduced to a Small One" and Paine's "The American Crisis"
• Nature and the natural world - celebration of America's vast landscapes, resources, and opportunities, often contrasted with corruption or decay of European societies
  • Reflected in works such as Crevecoeur's "Letters from an American Farmer" and Jefferson's Notes on the State of Virginia
• American identity and exceptionalism - emerging sense of national pride, uniqueness, and destiny, often linked to ideas of liberty, equality, and self-reliance
  • Expressed in works such as Wheatley's "To His Excellency General Washington" and Freneau's "The Rising Glory of America"

Social and Political Commentary

• Critiques of British monarchy and colonial rule - many works attack perceived tyranny, corruption, or incompetence of British government and its representatives
  • Examples include Paine's "Common Sense" and Franklin's "Rules by Which a Great Empire May Be Reduced to a Small One"
• Advocacy for American independence and self-governance - arguments for colonists' right to political autonomy, often based on Enlightenment principles of natural rights and social contract theory
  • Reflected in works such as Jefferson's Declaration of Independence and Adams' "Thoughts on Government"
• Debates over slavery and racial inequality - some authors condemn slavery as violation of human rights, while others defend it as necessary evil or natural order
  • Addressed in works such as Wheatley's "On Being Brought from Africa to America" and Woolman's "Some Considerations on the Keeping of Negroes"
• Discussions of religious tolerance and freedom of conscience - arguments for separation of church and state, respect for religious diversity, and individual liberty of belief
  • Examples include Jefferson's "Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom" and Madison's "Memorial and Remonstrance Against Religious Assessments"
• Commentaries on social norms and cultural practices - satirical or critical portrayals of contemporary manners, fashions, or customs, often to expose their absurdity or hypocrisy
  • Reflected in works such as Franklin's "The Way to Wealth" and Byrd's "The History of the Dividing Line"
• Reflections on American character and values - attempts to define or celebrate distinctive qualities of American people, such as industriousness, frugality, or love of liberty
  • Examples include Crevecoeur's "Letters from an American Farmer" and Freneau's "The American Village"

Influence on American Identity

• Helped shape emerging sense of national pride and exceptionalism, emphasizing America's unique qualities and potential as new nation
  • Works such as Freneau's "The Rising Glory of America" and Wheatley's "To His Excellency General Washington" celebrate America's achievements and destiny
• Contributed to development of distinctively American literary voice and style, often characterized by plain language, democratic spirit, and emphasis on individual experience
  • Examples include Franklin's autobiographical writings and Crevecoeur's "Letters from an American Farmer"
• Reflected and reinforced key American values such as self-reliance, equality, and pursuit of happiness, which became central to national identity and mythology
  • Works such as Jefferson's Declaration of Independence and Paine's "Common Sense" articulate these ideals as fundamental American principles
• Helped establish enduring archetypes and symbols of American character, such as the self-made man, the frontier hero, or the honest farmer
  • Figures such as Franklin's Poor Richard and Crevecoeur's American farmer embody these idealized traits and roles
• Provided foundation for later American literary movements and genres, such as transcendentalism, realism, or political satire, which continued to explore and critique American identity and experience
  • Authors such as Emerson, Thoreau, Twain, and Mencken build on earlier traditions of wit, social commentary, and individualism

Legacy and Modern Relevance

• Many works remain widely read and studied as classics of American literature, offering insights into colonial history, culture, and values
  • Examples include Franklin's Autobiography, Paine's "Common Sense," and Jefferson's Declaration of Independence
• Techniques of satire, irony, and parody continue to be used by modern authors and comedians to critique contemporary politics, media, or society
  • Figures such as Mark Twain, H.L. Mencken, Jon Stewart, and Stephen Colbert employ similar strategies of wit and humor to expose absurdities or hypocrisies
• Themes of liberty, equality, and pursuit of happiness remain central to American political discourse and national identity, even as their meanings and applications continue to be debated
  • Controversies over issues such as civil rights, economic inequality, or religious freedom often invoke founding principles and documents
• Critiques of social injustice, political corruption, or abuse of power continue to resonate with modern audiences, as similar issues and challenges persist in contemporary society
  • Works such as Paine's "The American Crisis" or Franklin's "An Edict by the King of Prussia" offer enduring lessons about dangers of tyranny or importance of vigilance
• Celebrations of American diversity, opportunity, and innovation continue to shape national self-image and aspirations, even as realities of American life may fall short of ideals
  • Narratives of the American Dream, self-made success, or e pluribus unum remain powerful cultural myths and motivators
• Ongoing debates over role of religion, morality, and conscience in public life echo earlier discussions by colonial authors, as Americans continue to negotiate boundaries between faith and reason, church and state
  • Questions raised by works such as Edwards' "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" or Jefferson's "Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom" remain relevant to contemporary controversies

Further Reading and Resources

• "The Cambridge History of American Literature: Volume 1, 1590-1820" (1994) - comprehensive scholarly overview of colonial and early national literature, with chapters on major authors, genres, and themes
• "The Norton Anthology of American Literature: Volume A, Beginnings to 1820" (2017) - widely used textbook featuring key works and authors from colonial period, with historical and critical introductions
• "The American Enlightenment, 1750-1820" (1997) by Robert A. Ferguson - study of how Enlightenment ideas shaped American thought, culture, and politics in late colonial and early national periods
• "The Ideological Origins of the American Revolution" (1967) by Bernard Bailyn - influential analysis of how colonial political writings reflected and reinforced revolutionary ideals and arguments
• "The Puritan Origins of the American Self" (1975) by Sacvan Bercovitch - examination of how Puritan religious and cultural values shaped American identity and literature, from colonial period to present
• "The American Jeremiad" (1978) by Sacvan Bercovitch - study of how prophetic rhetoric of Puritan sermons influenced later American political and social commentary, including works of wit and satire
• "The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin" (1791) - classic memoir by one of most influential and iconic figures of colonial period, offering insights into his life, thought, and times
• "The Life and Writings of Thomas Paine" (1908) by Moncure Daniel Conway - biography and collection of works by key political thinker and satirist of American Revolution, with historical and critical context
• "The Poems of Phillis Wheatley" (1773) - groundbreaking collection by first published African American poet, reflecting themes of religion, identity, and freedom in colonial America
• Digital archives and databases such as Early American Imprints, Founders Online, or American Memory (Library of Congress) - online resources providing access to primary sources, documents, and images related to colonial literature and history