American Literature: Exam 1

what were the native american creation stories?

iriquois creation story, navajo creation story

works of Christopher Columbus

Letter to Luis, Letter to Ferdinand

works of William Bradford

Of Plymouth Plantation

works of Thomas Morton

New English Canaan

works of Anne Bradstreet

both public and private poems

works of Mary Rowlandson

Narrative of Captivity and Restoration

works of Cotton Mather

The Wonders of the Invisible World; recorded history of Salem Witchcraft Trials

categories of native american stories

earth diver stories, emergence stories

belief that there can only be one culture or belief system

ethnocentrism

example of ethnocentrism in literature

Mary Rowlandson was considered very ethnocentric since she had trouble adapting to any lifestyle other than her own when taken captive by Native Americans

worshipping or believing in more than one god

polytheistic

example of polytheism in literature

native americans were polytheistic; extremely religious

public poetry

writing with the intention that it was to be published and seen by others

private poetry

writing about a more personal topic that had no intentions of being published and seen by others

example of public poetry in literature

Anne Bradstreet's poem, The Author to Her Book

example of private poetry in literature

Anne Bradstreet's poem, Before the Birth of One of Her Children

book written in 1486 that was offered as the most institutionalized explanation of witchcraft in Europe; designed to help people identify witches and offer suggestions for treatment

Malleus Maleficarum

3 necessary things for witchcraft

evil intention, assistance of the devil, permission of God

a document that all Native Americans were required to read thats purpose was to set up protectorates where men are put in charge of a group of Native Americans and Christianizing them; implemented by Christopher Columbus

Requermiento

noble savages

Christopher Columbus' description of the Native Americans as gentle children of nature; peaceful

How did Bradford and Morton view of the natives differ?

Bradford considered them to be dangerous savages, while Morton favored them and considered them noble savages

separatists

to them, religion was the primary and all engrossing business of living because they wanted to separate from the church of England

Scrooby Pilgrims

also known as the Puritans; anyone on the Mayflower who wasn't a Scrooby Pilgrim was considered a stranger

What happened in 1620?

arrival of the Pilgrims; Separatists; Bradford

What happened in 1630?

arrival of the Puritans; not separatists; Morton; wanted to colonize with Natives

example of Removes in literature

In Mary Rowlandson, she refers to each chapter in her narrative as a remove when they moved to a different location

A ship that brought about 30 pilgrims and 70 colonizers to New England; came on contract to see what they could discover and what riches they could find

Mayflower

Mayflower Compact

allowed people onboard the Mayflower to govern themselves and civilize a portion of the land

Anne Bradstreet came over to America from Britain on a ship called...

Arbella

Parts of the covenant theology

Covenant of Works, Covenant of Grace

Puritan Plain Style

the Puritan style of writing where they record their experiences in journal form

Covenant of Grace

God at birth decided who will be saved and who will be damned

The people that are thought to be going to heaven; usually men of high position in the church

elect

Encountered by Christopher Columbus during his first voyage after landing near San Salvador; "our lord has crowned my voyage"

manifest destiny

spectral evidence

used in Salem Witchcraft Trials; means judges were allowed to use testimony about the spirits of people; was the primary evidence which people were accused or convicted with

significance of King Philip's War

the war in which many were killed or taken captive by Native Americans, including Mary Rowlandson, resulting in her captivity narrative

patriarchal society and examples

a society where men are the dominant figures; The Pilgrims were highly patriarchal

Captivity Narrative formula

1. there is a capture, 2. forced march or journey, 3. period of detention, 4. ends with dramatic release or escape

What did the success of the Puritan Experiment depend on?

conviction and unity

whole populations of Native Americans that can be protected or controlled by the Puritans

organized protectorates

goodwife / huswifery

how well a woman lived up to the duties of being a good wife; very important in Puritan society

example of huswifery in literature

those accused of witchcraft were almost always women who did not live up to good Puritan huswifery

biological / economic reasons for pilgrims demise

when the puritans came, they were too large and powerful for the Pilgrims and they were eventually forced to merge together

cause of witchcraft dilemma

cases of girls starting to have "fits" and being accused of practicing witchcraft

solution of witchcraft dilemma

once the governor's wife was accused of witchcraft, the governor disbanded the oyer and terminer court

court set up by the new governor of Salem, Governor Phipps, during the Salem Witchcraft trials that allowed spectral evidence

Court of Oyer and Terminer

what usually happens in earth diver stories?

animals assist in creation; birth of twins, good vs. evil; ancestors fall from sky

example of earth diver story

iriquois creation story

what usually happens in emergence stories?

world is already in existence; mankind emerges; human transformation; emerge from under the earth

example of emergence story

navajo creation story

the original covenant between God and man; if they obey the will of God, they will thrive and prosper; if they disobeyed, punishment would be death and eternity in hell

covenant of works

What was King Philip's nickname?

Metacom

a written description by the Europeans telling of their journeys of colonization; Europeans wanted to colonize as successfully as Spain had

Literature of Exploration

trading settlement taken over and renamed by Thomas Morton

Merry Mount

first Pilgrim/Puritan historian

William Bradford

devoted to the British crown and a supporter of the church of England

Thomas Morton

function of art in Puritan world

shaped our understanding of the divine purpose; did not embrace anything fictional

Governor Phipps

governor involved in Salem Witchcraft trials

wilderness vs. civilization

wilderness represented the Native Americans while civilization represented the Puritans; the more we civilize, the better we are doing

rhetorical strategies of Christopher Columbus

exaggerated much of his journeys in his writing; made everything he discovered seem outstanding and of great importance

rhetorical strategies of William Bradford

used intrusive narration; references God frequently; believed everything happened for a religious reason

rhetorical strategies of Thomas Morton

very manipulative in his writing; clever; tries to get sympathy for himself; portrays the Pilgrims negatively in order to make himself look better to the British

rhetorical strategies of Anne Bradstreet

had to come off as apologetic for her views as a woman; made herself seem inferior; writes her poems with humility

rhetorical strategies of Mary Rowlandson

uses God as her motivating factor; tries to portray herself as a good Puritan woman throughout the narrative

rhetorical strategies of Cotton Mather

used strategy of pure fact in his records of Salem Witchcraft Trials, making it seem like everything he said were facts and not opinions