American Literature before the Civil War Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

American Literature before the Civil War - Essay Example From the start, however, the New England’s literature was also directed to the learning and instruction of the colonists themselves, planned to direct them in the godly ways (Hodge, 1907). The first work available in the Puritan colonies was the Bay Psalm Book which was done in 1640, and the whole attempt of the divines who wrote heatedly to set forward their views among them was Roger Williams along with Thomas Hooker. This was to defend and encourage visions of the religious state. They set out their dreams in effect the primary formulation of the idea of national fortune in a sequence of emotional histories from Edward Johnsons Wonder-Working Providence to the epic of Cotton Mather Magnalia Christi Americana. Puritan poetry was also offered consistently to the service of God. Michael Wigglesworths Day of Doom (1662) was candidly theological, as well as Anne Bradstreets poems, issued as The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung up in America (1650), reflected her own piety (White and Rowlandson, 2009). The best of the Puritan poets, Edward Taylor, whose effort was not available until two centuries following his death, wrote metaphysical rhyme worthy of contrast with that of the English poet George Herbert. American historical literature, in a sense, is a literary face of the pious optimism of the Puritan request. The Puritans had the vision of living under an ideal order and worked with trust as well as courage to building a fresh Garden of Eden (White and Rowlandson, 2009). They therefore tended to view everything with a big quantity of optimism. The Puritans metaphorical style of insight brought American literary symbolism into form. To the devout Puritans, the material world was spiritual, nothing but a sign of God. The world, consequently, was one of numerous meanings. The Puritan style of writing is typically by simplicity. The Puritans have been detested for their severity and