Puritan Literature
Summaries.
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
Jonathan Edwards use of strong language and imagery to paint a fiery hell in the minds of his congregation to prevent them from sin. He uses this hell to attempt to keep them from sinning, as is the wont at the time. Because of this fiery hell, they are more easily frightened into listening and converting. He also uses abstract concepts of wrath, with analogies to the Israelites “foot slipping” as a way to show that when you walk on dangerous ground (defying Jesus) then you risk a lot (falling). He also compares people who have sinned [and the unconverted] to serpents and spiders, which are typically used to show evil as humans despise them, so God despises the sinning humans. After scaring the congregation into not committing any kind of sin, due to eternal torment and God hating them forever, he paints a picture of Heaven, where there is hope, as long as someone can walk a sin free path.
Of Plymouth Plantation
Bradford wrote this book about the early experiences of Puritans. He wrote it from the standpoint of someone who set up the government completely based around their religion, and how it was created. He talks about the purpose of their migration to the New World, where they would not encounter religious persecution, and could set up their ideal society in peace. He did not like the Catholic Church, and criticized them for not following what he believed was the proper view of the bible. They were originally tortured, murdered, and imprisoned for their beliefs. He then describes that it was extremely hard to live in Plymouth, and a lot of people did not survive, but they came through.
A Narrative of Captivity
The book is written completely from the perspective of a lady imprisoned by the Native Americans during King Phillips War. Rowlandson, the captive, is an extremely religious lady, and she basically says everything is done through God’s will. She says that literally everything happens is because they are either unworthy of God’s mercy, worthy of his mercy, or in some favor with his wrath. She claims that she is not worthy of Gods mercy, yet as she is freed, she says it is because God willed it to be so.
The Crucible
In a small Massachusetts village of Salem, a group of girls fell ill. In 1692 in extremely religious Puritan New, England strange occurrences were often attributed to the devil. The crucible is set in a theocratic society. In the crucible the state and church are one and religion is strict. Due to that the crucible is set in a theocratic society the status and sins of an individual souls are matters of public concern. In Salem where the story takes place everyone and everything either belongs to the devil or god.
The Scarlet Letter
This book was written by a man named Nathaniel Hawthorne who was born in Salem, Massachusetts. In this book the Scarlet letter is meant to be a symbol of shame but later becomes a powerful symbol to identify Hester. The letter is originally intended to mark Hester as an adulterer. The Native Americans believe that the scarlet letter resembles a person that has great importance and status.
Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God
Jonathan Edwards use of strong language and imagery to paint a fiery hell in the minds of his congregation to prevent them from sin. He uses this hell to attempt to keep them from sinning, as is the wont at the time. Because of this fiery hell, they are more easily frightened into listening and converting. He also uses abstract concepts of wrath, with analogies to the Israelites “foot slipping” as a way to show that when you walk on dangerous ground (defying Jesus) then you risk a lot (falling). He also compares people who have sinned [and the unconverted] to serpents and spiders, which are typically used to show evil as humans despise them, so God despises the sinning humans. After scaring the congregation into not committing any kind of sin, due to eternal torment and God hating them forever, he paints a picture of Heaven, where there is hope, as long as someone can walk a sin free path.
Of Plymouth Plantation
Bradford wrote this book about the early experiences of Puritans. He wrote it from the standpoint of someone who set up the government completely based around their religion, and how it was created. He talks about the purpose of their migration to the New World, where they would not encounter religious persecution, and could set up their ideal society in peace. He did not like the Catholic Church, and criticized them for not following what he believed was the proper view of the bible. They were originally tortured, murdered, and imprisoned for their beliefs. He then describes that it was extremely hard to live in Plymouth, and a lot of people did not survive, but they came through.
A Narrative of Captivity
The book is written completely from the perspective of a lady imprisoned by the Native Americans during King Phillips War. Rowlandson, the captive, is an extremely religious lady, and she basically says everything is done through God’s will. She says that literally everything happens is because they are either unworthy of God’s mercy, worthy of his mercy, or in some favor with his wrath. She claims that she is not worthy of Gods mercy, yet as she is freed, she says it is because God willed it to be so.
The Crucible
In a small Massachusetts village of Salem, a group of girls fell ill. In 1692 in extremely religious Puritan New, England strange occurrences were often attributed to the devil. The crucible is set in a theocratic society. In the crucible the state and church are one and religion is strict. Due to that the crucible is set in a theocratic society the status and sins of an individual souls are matters of public concern. In Salem where the story takes place everyone and everything either belongs to the devil or god.
The Scarlet Letter
This book was written by a man named Nathaniel Hawthorne who was born in Salem, Massachusetts. In this book the Scarlet letter is meant to be a symbol of shame but later becomes a powerful symbol to identify Hester. The letter is originally intended to mark Hester as an adulterer. The Native Americans believe that the scarlet letter resembles a person that has great importance and status.