When the topic of Puritan literature is alluded to, most literary critics reflect on one similarity: religion. However, Puritan literature is far too complex to characterize the entire category by a single component. Pieces of Puritan literature can differ in a multitude of literary devices. One literary device that distinguishes pieces of literature is the purpose of the author. This difference is shown in the following works: “Upon the Burning of Our House,” by Anne Bradstreet, “Upon a Spider Catching a Fly,” by Edward Taylor, and “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” by Jonathan Edwards. Bradstreet, Taylor, and Edwards use literary aspects, such as purpose, to differentiate the common topic of religion. The three selections are similar …show more content…
Although the poems were not written with intentions of publication, Bradstreet and Taylor’s poems are meant to edify the readers. Bradstreet wrote, “A price so vast as is unknown, / Yet by His gift is made thine own; / There’s wealth enough, I need no more, / Farewell, my pelf, farewell, my store” (Bradstreet 49-52). This quote informs the readers that all things belong to God, so an attachment to material items must not evolve. Taylor explains God’s ability to protect His followers from evil through stating, “But mighty, Gracious Lord / Communicate / Thy Grace to breake the Cord, afford / Us Glory’s Gate / And State” (Taylor 42-46). While these selections are didactic, Edward’s sermon is meant to persuade his listeners. Edwards states, “So that, thus it is that natural men are held in the hand of God, over the pit of hell; they have deserved the fiery pit, and are already sentenced to it; and God is dreadfully provoked, his anger is as great towards them as to those that are actually suffering the executions of the fierceness of his wrath in hell; and they have done nothing in the least to appease or abate that anger,...” (Edwards 126). In this quote Edwards attempts to persuade his audience to transform themselves from natural men into new creatures to diminish the anger that God feels towards those who have not been born
In using these metaphors, Edwards is enabling the reader(s) to understand the tone by putting it in a situation and context, which is more easily correlated. Subsequently, he uses imagery in the opening paragraph stating that when men are on Gods’ hands and they could descend to hell. Natural men are held in the hands of God, over the pit of hell knowing that you might descend into the abyss at any moment should scare you. God chose to save you until he wants to let you slope into an eternity of sweltering flames.
Puritans are intense religious people, they do things in order from God to their own personal challenges, while still keeping God in their minds at all times. Anne Bradstreet is a Puritan who had just lost her house due to a fire. Her approach to this story is a calm and loveable approach. Jonathan Edwards is another Puritan but he is much more intense with informing people about God. He puts God before anyone and everything just like any other puritan would do. Edwards approach to this story is violent and brutal, he tells everyone in his story’s who are sinners that they will be held over fires by God.“ Here Follow Some Verses Upon The Burning of Our House”and “Sinner In The Hands Of An Angry God” are both very similar in some ways and different
Rummel gives an analysis of the history and development of Puritanism in New England during the 1600s. In simple words how the people had formed a society in order to reform England and separate church from government. Puritans had God as an almighty, they were known as people with strict education, solitary environment, and own beliefs such as their obsession with the devil, evil and good. Rummel states that even if Hawthorne mentions religion in his short stories most of it Puritanism, he still never recommended any particular opinion. The story is focused on Puritan elements and Hawthorne’s approach to it. Hawthorne uses religious phrases and elements that makes the reader analyze each several object, action, figure, and scenario in the story. That’s why Goodman Brown has too much conflict going on and is very detailed on what he feels and sees. The article is one great piece of information that supports the understanding of the Puritan religious mindset and Hawthorne’s attitude towards it. Of course into the interpretation of what might had happened in the story.
Edwards opens his sermon by expressing the idea that men are subject to the whims of God and that those who refuse to welcome God are held out of hell by nothing more than the simple pleasure and mercy of God’s hand. He appeals to the pathos of his listeners
Edwards instills fear in his congregation by threatening the wrath of God and what will happen if one does not omit their lives to Him. “So that thus it is, that natural men’ are held in the hand god over the pit of hell; they have deserved the fiery pit, and are already sentenced to it;” (102). Here Edwards uses sharp descriptions to show his congregation that any wrong move can put one in Hell, promoting the practice of religion, more specifically; his church. Edwards also writes and speaks very poetically in such a way that his sermons are delivered with an intense amount of imagery that it seems as if those in attendance are watching a movie. Comparing the earth to God’s hand and the mention of God’s wrath being a loaded bow that is ready to rain down on sinners at any moment, helps add the the fear and the image. Another way Edwards creates his atmosphere is by referring to the mass in front of him as ‘you’. When spoken to in such a personal manner one is more likely to be afraid or concerned about the subject as opposed to the sermon being delivered with a more general
In Jonathan Edwards, “Sinners in the Hands of an An Angry God,” shows an extreme viewpoint of God. According to Edwards, humanity is naturally infected with sin despite our efforts to overcome it. Throughout his sermon, Edwards goes on about how God shows such mercy in not throwing all humanity in the deepest depths of hell. As said by Edwards in his sermon, “ You hang by a slender thread, with the flames of divine wrath flashing about
Later in the text, she refers to her God as an almighty architect, showing that she trusts the plans he has for her. Throughout this poem, Bradstreet shows qualities of
In William Faulkner’s Barn Burning, Abner Snopes is a main character and father of Colonel Sartoris Snopes (Sarty), who is also a main character. Abner is a very poor looking man, unclean and unshaven. He always seems to wear the same thing, a dirty white button up shirt with a dirty black hat and coat.
A belief in God is one of the central components of Puritanism, but Bradstreet and Edwards paint God with two very different personalities in their works, “Upon the Burning of Our House” (Bradstreet) and “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” (Edwards). Bradstreet characterizes God as a forgiving and loving figure, while Edwards’ version of God is vengeful and furious, displaying the different ideas the two writers are conveyed through religion despite them both following the sect of Puritanism. Bradstreet and Edwards are both very different in their views of God, as well as having different approaches to how they stylize their story. Bradstreet approaches God as a kindred deity who focuses on caring for his worshippers and rewarding those that follow him.
The Puritan life, although simple, demanded diligence both mentally and spiritually which put stress on even the most faithful of followers. Although the common practice entailed brushing religious struggles under the rug, few writers bravely wrote of their religious doubts and endeavors to become better Puritans. Author Anne Bradstreet shows in her work “Here Follows Some Verse upon the Burning of Our House, July 10th, 1666” that religious struggles are often met by Puritans and it takes brave souls to admit their difficult time with their religion. This poem shows a woman dealing with a religious crisis and how even though she struggles her faith still holds strong in the end. Bradstreet’s poem displays a crisis of faith in her content
In the short fiction “Barn Burning” by William Faulkner we experience the conflict between Sarty and his father Abner Snopes. “You’re getting to be a man. You got to learn. You got to learn to stick to your own blood or you ain’t going to have any blood to stick to you.” (Faulkner, p.199). Sarty has an internal conflict choosing right over wrong resulting in being unfaithful to his Father. Author William Faulkner served in the air force and was a clerk at a bookstore before he started writing which lead him after several prize-winning works to writing screen plays in Hollywood. The setting of the story take place in civil war times, where the author William Faulkner grew up 1897-1962 (Faulkner, p.196). Sarty must choose what he feels is
William Faulkner is a writer from Mississippi. Faulkner is a very famous writer with most of his most famous works being short stories. Two of his most popular short stories are “A rose for Emily” along with “Barn Burning”. Faulkner has many other popular works, but “Barn Burning” was one of his well-known stories because of the many different of elements of literature in which Faulkner chose to include. Faulkner was known as a writer who could properly convey many different elements of literature, such as symbolism, conflict, tone, and many other elements of plot within his stories. In “Barn Burning”, William Faulkner most commonly uses symbolism and conflict to emphasize the obstacles that Sarty has to face in his youth years.
Puritan literature captures not only their beliefs as a religion, but their beliefs as individuals. All Puritan literature is utilitarian, meaning it is useful, purposeful, and reflecting a non-ornate style of writing. One of the most prominent of early English poets was Anne Bradstreet. Her poems reflect the utilitarian style, but do so in a way that is entirely unique to herself and her emotions. Anne Bradstreet opens the bridge between her faith and her personal experiences in her poetry. In her poems “Upon the Burning of Our House” and “In Reference to Her Children” she reflects utilitarianism by recounting the conflicts between her love of her worldly things and her devotion to God’s eternity.
In The poem “The Flesh and The Spirit” author Anne Bradstreet uses: human values, personification, desires and pleasures, as key elements to portray to the reader the internal battle of man; his desires for physical satisfaction and holy redemption. I think this is significant because, it is through this specific literary work Bradstreet addresses the major issues, of mans conflict within. It is through this text I also believe that Bradstreet had not only unintentionally addressed issues important during her lifetime, but which can also be applied to the generations that will come after her passing. She in her own way broke down, what this supernatural crusade translates to in the real world. Through the next few paragraphs this paper will explain the significance of this poem’s theme “ the internal human conflict of gaining materialist pleasures versus obtaining holy deliverance”.
In Bradstreet’s poem “To My Dear and Loving Husband”, Bradstreet mentions the reciprocal love her and her husband share and how she prays that God will realize the strong bond the couple shares and that their love will be ever-lasting and will persevere even after death. Bradstreet stressed how important it was to her to be a good and humble Puritan wife and her poetry exuded the beliefs, values, and ideals of Puritan life.