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The Literature of Colonial America 1620-1776

They truly believed in the equality of all living things and held a very spiritual view of the natural world. The Puritans on the contrary believed that it was their divine right to take possession of all lands in his name and any resistance by the natives was God testing their mettle. Although there were limited attempts at anthropology and translations of their languages, overall the intolerance of the colonists set them at odds with the Native Americans.
             Women.
             For the most part women in the Puritan colonies where negated to their traditional roles as the homemakers. The ideal Puritan housewife was based on the biblical figure Bathsheba who displayed skills at house work and was a charitable soul. Women were responsible for spinning weaving, making soap, preserving food, overseeing cooking and laundering. Three women stood out from the crowd at this time. Anne Hutchinson challenged the Puritan status quo by claiming her own interpretation of the bible but that was considered heresy by Puritan law and she was banished from the Bay Colony. Also significant was Mary Rowlandson. She was acclaimed because she used her skills as a housewife proved so formidable that despite capture by the Natives she was kept alive for that purpose. Finally there was Hannah Dustin who took a slightly different approach than that followed by Mary. Upon being captured by Native Americans she slew "10" of them and returned with their scalps. She was praised and compared to the warrior Jael from the scriptures.
             A "Vale of Plenty": The South.
             The Southern colonists came to America with a distinctly different approach to the American Dream. Unlike the cold and rockiness of New England the South was an agricultural paradise that the Europeans could not wait to cultivate. The early southern writers were farmers merchants and ministers. All described their new home as a "vale" meaning a valley of plenty.


Essays Related to The Literature of Colonial America 1620-1776

1. Medicine in Colonial America

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  • Word Count: 1341
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2. Colonial Herbal Remedies and Medicine

This is true for the 18th century Colonial Americans, as they did not have many of the scientific theories that we Americans have today. For example, Colonial Americans were only knowledgeable of 7 planets, they had not yet discovered Pluto or Neptune. ... This information plays a huge role in the type of knowledge Colonial Americans had, especially regarding the field of medicine. ... In Colonial America, it was detrimental for a family to not have an herb garden. ... "Medical practitioners of the colonial period in America most commonly held the theories of Hermann Boerhaave (1668-1738)...

  • Word Count: 1337
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3. American Literature

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  • Word Count: 270
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4. Crime in colonial america

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  • Word Count: 1162
  • Approx Pages: 5
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5. Religion in Colonial Literature

Early American literature reflects the religious beliefs and ideals of those settlers. ... This sermon not only embodies the Puritan belief system; it demonstrates the major role religion played in colonial American literature. ... Religious Influence on Colonial Literary Style Colonial literary style was simple, unadorned, and unpretentious. ... Conclusion The works of William Bradford, John Winthrop, and Cotton Mather are all examples of Puritan literature written in the Colonial period. ... The role of religion in Colonial writing is central in purpose and subject matter in every possible...

  • Word Count: 1267
  • Approx Pages: 5
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6. Colonial Virginia and Colonial Maryland

Colonial women in Maryland and Virginia were very similar. ... Thus, women were just a much needed in the development of Colonial Virginia and Colonial Maryland as other people. ... Thus, the rivalries and the friendships formed were a very large portion to the development of Colonial Maryland and Colonial Virginia. Lastly, Colonial Maryland and Colonial Virginia were very similar in the concept of slavery and indentured servants. ... All of these statements that have been listed are some of the reasons that have helped the development and formation of Colonial Maryland and Colonial Virgin...

  • Word Count: 1211
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7. American Literature

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  • Word Count: 774
  • Approx Pages: 3
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8. Research Essay on Colonial Clothing

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  • Word Count: 1297
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9. American Literature

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  • Word Count: 735
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