Question

Now that you have finished reading the works in this unit, consider the ideals, values, and themes that early American writers considered to be important and worthy of inclusion in their journals, sermons, and poems. In your response, answer the questions below and number your answers (1-4).

1. What are these ideals and values?


2. Why were they important?


3. How do different writers incorporate them into their works?


4. Did certain values or ideals seem to become more or less important over time? If so, why? Cite specific examples from the writings of Bradford, Winthrop, Bradstreet, and Edwards in your response.

Answer 1

Early American Writers

The ideals, values, and themes of their essays:

1. The ideals and values are:

divine grace, salvation, focus on God, and purity of thoughts and actions.

2. These ideals and values were important. They revealed man's relationship with the creator and the place of eternity. They emphasized that man's ultimate purpose was not to acquire all the material things on earth. Man was created for a purpose, to gain the salvation of his or her soul.

3. The different writers incorporated these ideals in their works. They reminded their readers of the reasons for leaving England. The pilgrims were in search of religious freedom in New England. Having found this freedom, the writers urged them not to pursue materialistic possessions at the detriment of their souls.

4. Yes. Most of the values and ideals became less important to the Christians over time because they lost their focus on God. Following the age of Enlightenment, Americans became too secular. They woefully neglected their relationships with their Creator-God. Instead, they focused their attention on the gains brought about by science and technology.

Step-by-step explanation:

William Bradford (1589 – 1657) is best known for his "Of Plymouth Plantation," which documented events that emerged from the New England colony.

John Winthrop (588 – 1649) was a lawyer that accompanied the Puritans from England in 1630 in search of religious freedom. He was very active in setting the Puritan principles in New England. He wrote "The Puritans and the Yankees and others."

Anne Bradstreet (1612 – 672) was one of the most prominent early American poets and famous for "The Tenth Muse." She was a Puritan, who condemned materialism and exhorted man's salvific end.

Jonathan Edwards (1703 – 1758) was the founder of the Great Awakening, through which he aroused the people of the colonies to focus on God as their creator and benefactor.