Let’s start from the beginning…

The foundation of American Literature showcases how literature was influenced by culture. For example, throughout time literature developed from oral to written, and was dramatically changed by new idealistic standards. The Indians began to thrive thousands of years prior with their stories traditionally oral, but starting in the early 1500s to the 1700s,The Europeans brought over written traditions. These stories encompass native cultures and their ability to thrive, the settling of the  Puritans in New England, and the rise of Rationalism throughout America.

Before the initial arrival of the European’s in the fifteenth century, American Indians were steadily prospering for thousands of years. The Europeans first interactions with the Native Americans, revolving around trade, soon grew into a curiosity and reliance on Native Americans to survive. In exchange, Europeans were able to assist the Natives in acquiring European firearms and textiles.With time, the settlers exposed the indians to diseases their bodies were unable to fight, such as smallpox. Natives persevered only to be forced off of the land that they shared with the colonists, who no longer required their guidance. Within their hardships, Native Americans were able to focus their stories on these challenges through oral tradition to pass down their stories. Native American stories focused on teaching moral lessons and on the natural world. Indians believed in the Sacrality of the earth, and often taught these lessons revolving on respecting the earth, and used it and its creatures to further develop their stories. *the above information was obtained from Elements of Literature, Fifth Edition*

New forms of storytelling developed when the Puritans settled in New England. The English Puritans who sought religious freedom began entering New England in the 1620s. Their values paid particular attention to self-reliance, hard work, and discipline. With the Bible as a model, the Puritans based their life off of a simple, plain style. In many ways, the American character has been shaped by the radical thoughts and beliefs of Puritans. Since their ideals were modeled off of the Bible, their political views were unrealistic, and refused to mimic anything but perfection. With that being said, many writings of the time reflected the workings of God. For example, Jonathan Edwards, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” a sermon given to his congregation, goes on to emphasize that Hell is real, and is waiting for the alleged sinners unless they change the way they’re living in a dramatic way. Most Puritan writings also revealed the “Wrath of God,” and posed God as a figure to fear, instead of look to as a father. “The God that holds you over the pit of hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked: his wrath towards you burns like fire; he looks upon you as worthy of nothing else, but to be cast into the fire…” This quote from “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” closely represents that God was to be seen as unforgiving, and merciless for sinners.

The rise of rationalism, or reason to discover truth was embraced by the early 1750s. Rationalist principles influenced the Declaration of Independence and altered American literature to a different extent. In America, The Age of Reason was an age of pamphlets, and literature rooted in realities of governing and organizing a new nation. Like the Puritans, the Rationalist believed that God had created the world, but disagreed on notions of revelation, divine providence, and final judgement. In contrary, they believed that God gave humanity reason to discover both scientific and spiritual truth. It inspired the founders of the new country to call former peers to war, and demonstrate liberty. Literature of the time unfolded the political and social events such as the struggle to gain independence from Britain. An example of writing reflecting the ideals would be Olaudah Equiano’s The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. Equiano’s slave narrative brought up issues faced by slaves, but is argued to be a variety of styles. Equiano’s slave narrative ended the rationalist period and  segwayed into a new one, Romanticism.