Chapter one
Literature is the study of man, the relationship between man and nature
                                                    Society
                                                    Man
                                                    Self
American literature is the youngest literature, because America was not discovered until the end of 16th C, and it is believed that American literature didn’t begin until the 19th C.
 Our first lecture will be brief about American literature of the Colonial Period, which is from the early 17th C through the end of the 18th C, that is, from the settlement of America through American Revolution.
  The settlement of the North American Continent by the English began in the early part of the 17thC. In Nov, 1620, May Flower, with more than 100 immigrants from England arrived in America. They became the founding fathers of the American nation. The New England emerged, thus began the history of America.
  Many of these immigrants were puritans. The puritans were so suppressed in England that they sought escape. They carried Puritanism with them to America and  hoped that they could build a kingdom of freedom here.
  Puritanism was one of the most enduring shaping influence in American thought and literature. The beliefs can be summarized as the following:
1. Original sin(total depravity) God created the first man-Adam, but Adam sinned by eating forbidden fruit. In Adam’s fall, we sinned all. As a result, much emphasis was placed on “original sin”.
2. Predestination. God has decided in advance that certain souls will be saved and others will not. When one is born, God has already determined whether he will be saved or not. He and no one else can decide who is to be saved and who is to go to hell.
In this period, most of the American literature was personal literature, such as diaries, journals, letters, travel books, sermons. The most popular genre was poetry, most of which were religious. In form, English literature were imitated and transplanted.
  The first book published in North America was
  The Bay Psalm Book.
Writers worth to be mentioned:
Anne Bradstreet(1617-1672): a puritan poet.
At 18, she came to America with her husband and settled in the Masachusetts Bay Colony. Both her husband and husband were once governor of it. She received better education than most women of her day. Her poem made such a stir in England that she became known as the “tenth Muse” who appeared in America.
  Her famous poems:
1. “The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung up in America”( Her first volume published in London)
2. Contemplations (convey her personal feelings for New England and family life)
3. Upon theBurning ofOour House.
Besides, she wrote in support of women, defending women’s ability, and also conveyed her love for her husband.
Edward Taylor (puritan poet, regarded as a major figure in Colonial America)
  He liked using metaphors and imagery, and was concerned about how his images speak for god.
In Huswifery, he saw religious significance in a simply daily incident like a housewife spinning. p23.
However, Colonial America did not always write the way Anne and Edward wrote. Some people wrote for civil and religious freedom, some called for independence from Britain.
Roger Williams (1603-1683)
Came to America in 1630 and began to preach for civil and religious liberty. He calls for democratic government opposes the eviction of the Indians.
 In 1644, he published “The Bloody Tenet of Persecution for the Cause of Conscience”, upheld the spiritual freedom of the individual. He will go down in American history as a staunch fighter for freedom and democracy.
John Woolman.(1720-1772 successor of democratic idea of Roger Williams)
1. “Some considerations on the Keeping of Negroes”
2. “A Plea for the Poor”
He tried to plea for the rights of all men., for the abolition of the slavery system.

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)
Born into a very religious New England family. His father was a powerful minister. He learned Latin at 6. Being bright and intelligent, he entered Yale University at 13. In 1723, he returned to Yale and took his M>A and became a tutor(assistant lecturer). Later, he became a minister. He was well-known as a powerful and strong preacher. His sermons taught the power of God and the depravity of man.
He was one of the most influential writer of the Colonial America, the greatest theologist and the most profound philosopher in America.
1. The Freedom of the Will
2. The Great Doctrine of Original Sin Defended
3. Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God  (He spoke with great eagerness which humbled his people and made them trembled before an angry God. It was reported that his listeners screamed in pain as he spoke.
Chapter Two  American Revolution
I. Social Background
1． Natural Science
In the 17th C， Europe experienced a scientific revolution owing to many scientific discoveries. E.g, physics of Newton, and his laws of universal gravitation. The revolution revealed the absurdity of the thought in the Middle Age, and lessened the authority of region. People began to believe that God indeed creates the universe, but he has left it to operate according to natural law, and natural law can be studied by reason of man. People changed from relying on religion to exploring on nature, and believed that they themselves can make them a happier life. To some extent, man has become his own master, and can decide his own fate.
2. social science
Based on natural science, some philosophers advanced a new viewpoint. John Locke maintained that “men being by nature free, equal and independent.”
This age is known as The Age of Enlightenment.
In the 18th C, although Puritanism was still quite strong, the thought of Enlightenment became another dominant influence on people’s thinking. The emphasis began to shift from their duties to God to their rights, from in-born evil to in-born good. Americans believed that more reasonable social and political order should be established. Under the influence of Enlightenment, they also learned to take actions to resist oppressive power and to criticize and reform government.
With Franklin as its spokesman, 18th C America also experienced the Age of enlightenment.

II. Famous writers.
Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
Born Into a poor candle maker’s family, had little formal education. But he read widely and became successful. He was known as a great politician, a famous scientist and an outstanding writer.
1. Political contribution
During the Colonial Period
a. the deputy post master general
b. representative of the colony in London.
During the Revolution
a. delegate to the Continental Congress, and a member of the committee to sign the Declaration of Independence. (July,4th, 1776)
b. Plays an important role in bring France into the alliance with America against Britain.