Early American Literature & Indigenous Voices

Oral Tradition

Knowledge, stories, and cultural history passed down by word of mouth from one generation to the next.

Cyclical Worldview

The belief that life moves in continuous cycles of beginnings and endings rather than a straight line.

Community (Native American Voices)

The core belief that individuals are deeply connected to and responsible for one another.

Connection to Nature

The belief that humans are an equal part of the natural world, not superior to it.

Archetype

A recurring pattern, character, symbol, or situation found across stories in many different cultures.

Myth

A traditional cultural story explaining origins, natural phenomena, or core community beliefs.

Puritanism (Age of Faith)

Colonial literary period centered on God, strict religious faith, and living according to moral principles.

Human Nature (Puritan View)

The belief that humans are inherently sinful and completely dependent on God's grace for salvation.

Plain Style

A writing style using simple, direct, and unadorned language to convey clear spiritual and practical truths.

Puritan Writing Forms

Daily forms of literature including journals, diaries, historical records, sermons, and devotional poetry.

Anne Bradstreet: Burning of House

A poem examining initial human grief over losing earthly possessions versus ultimate faith in God.

Earthly vs. Heavenly Home

Bradstreet's contrast between temporary material possessions on Earth and eternal spiritual security in Heaven.

Allusion

A direct reference in literature to a well-known person, historical event, religious text, or literary work.

Inversion

Altering normal sentence word order (e.g., placing the verb before the subject) for poetic emphasis or rhyme.

Age of Reason (Enlightenment/Rationalism)

A movement emphasizing human logic, scientific inquiry, evidence, and practical self-improvement.

Human Potential (Age of Reason)

The belief that individuals can actively improve themselves and society through effort, education, and logic.

Benjamin Franklin's Autobiography

A classic rags-to-riches account showing how hard work, discipline, and education lead to personal success.

Franklin's 13 Virtues

A systematic list of practical personal goals Franklin created to work toward moral perfection.

Virtue Tracking Method

Franklin's process of focusing on one virtue per week and charting daily slip-ups in a notebook.

Analogy

A comparison between two different things to explain a complex idea by showing their similarities.

Franklin's Garden Analogy

Comparing self-improvement to weeding a garden: systematically pulling out bad habits to cultivate good virtues.

Almanac

An annual reference publication containing calendars, weather forecasts, practical advice, and general knowledge.

Poor Richard's Almanack

Benjamin Franklin's popular yearly publication containing practical life advice, humor, and aphorisms.