STUD

THE AGE OF REASON AND REVOLUTION (1725-1810)

Revolutionary Literature

Background Information

The five major beliefs of this period of literature directly contrast to the Colonial beliefs:

Change is inevitable 2) Reason is the key to perfection 3) Man is capable of perfection 4) Nature is bountiful and beautiful 5) God is good, kind and gentle

1. What encourages the growth of a new American identity?

2. Define (A) Enlightenment (B) Rationalism (C) Deism (D) Theism

3. Why is the Puritan commonwealth doomed at this time?

4. Define the social contract of Jean Jacques Rousseau.

5. What changes are taking place in 1) religion 2) politics 3) literature 4) humanitarian acts 5) society?

Assigned Readings

Jonathan Edwards --- "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" 138-140

Benjamin Franklin ---From The Autobiography 179-181, "The Way to Wealth: Preface to Poor Richard, 1758" 188-194

Thomas Paine --- "The American Crisis" 210-215

Thomas Jefferson --- :Letter to John Adams" 225-228

Olaudah Equiano --- "From the Interesting Narrative of the life of Olaudah Equiano" 230-234

Phillis Wheatley ---"On Being Brought from Africa to America" 225 "To His Excellency General Washinmgton" 228

Philip Freneau --- "To the Memory of the Brave Americans" 231-232 "The Wild Honeysuckle" 232 "The Indian Burying Ground" 232-233

Required Journal Responses

JE # 1 Discuss what you know about our founding fathers before beginning a study of their literature.

JE # 2 Discuss the effectiveness or the ineffectiveness of Edward's metaphors in his "Sinners .." sermon.

JE # 3 Cite and discuss three examples of Franklin's self-improvement recommendations from The Autobiography.

JE # 4Discuss some of the features of Paine's rhetoric that make him such a convincing spokesman of the A.cause?

JE # 5 Jefferson discussed his ideas of artificial aristrocracy and natural aristocracy in his letter to Adams. Relate those ideas to today's interpretations of aristocracy. What, if anything, has changesd?

JE # 6 Compare/contrast Olaudah's and Wheatley's feelings about slavery.

JE # 7 Discuss the universality of Freneau's poetry.

REVOLUTIONARY AUTHORS

Jonathan Edwards (1703-1758)

Was born into Colonial America when science and rationalism were beginning to replace the passion for religion and spirituality
Is considered the most gifted defender and preacher of the Enlightenment during the Great Awakening
His passion was for the release of grace in common life and to justify revivalism
His “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” contains the literary techniques of tome, imagery, hyperbole, and characterization
Was an Indian missionary
Died of an inoculation against smallpox
Was the New World’s first systematic philosopher
Preached his famous sermon to the church at Enfield, CN
His style is mystical, reserved and somewhat “tiresomely scrupulous”

Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)

Was a statesman, scientist, inventor, self-made man and revolutionary hero
Was not in America during the Revolution, but was in France, where by its end he helped negotiate the Treaty of Paris
Developed the first circulating library, the first colonial hospital, the most efficient mail delivery system of the time, and the first modern fire department
Was a prolific writer of many varieties of literature
His themes center around specific issues, controversies, or observations drawn from popular eighteenth century models and forms
Exemplifies the Age of Enlightenment: energetic, restless, curious, and optimistic
Makes use of traditionally literary devices of persona, irony and satire
Is the only statesman to have signed all four of the documents which helped to create the United States: The Declaration of Independence—1778; The Treaty of Alliance, Amity, and Commerce with France—1778; The Treaty of Peach between England, France, and the United States—1782; and The Constitution—1787
Is the originator of Pragmatism

Thomas Paine (1737-1809)

Was thirty-seven years old when he came to America
Struggled with the death of his first wife and separation form his second
Established himself as a journalist and a revolutionary, one who declared “Where liberty is, there is my country”
Sold more than 100,000 copies of Common Sense within three months of publication
Uses reason as a way to fire emotions to gain new recruits to the American cause, and to inspire those active and committed to stay that way
Is pragmatic in all his writings, responding with passion to the events of his time, unoriginal in his inspiration
His style is simple and easily accessible to the average American, as he calls for and gains momentum for the drafting of the Declaration of Independence.
His primary purpose in writing was to increase support for the Revolutionary War, and he did so with his ardor and commitment that are very American
His ideas developed from tow fundamental principles: a belief in the ability of natural reason to govern and a conviction that all men were united in the fellowship of freedom
His work is powerful, animated by passion, incisive logic, sarcasm, and an ear for cadence that produces memorable statement – “These are the times that try men’s souls”
After the war, was accused of being an atheist, and was denied burial in a Christian cemetery. Later as his body was being transported to England for burial, it was lost at sea
Was labeled by Jefferson as a “howling atheist”

Thomas Jefferson (1753-1826)

Employs the dual approach to literature—writes about immediate and practical issues while considering future implications
Was devoted to theory and philosophical contemplation
Recognized the conflicts that slavery would have on America and endeavored to correct it (even though he did not free his own slaves)
Wrote the largest amount of correspondence ever written

Phillis Wheatley (1753-1784)

Was the first black American to publish a book
Was brought to American when she was 7 or 8 years old and bought by a kindly man who gave her his name and educated her
Her works were recognized in London where she was termed “the sooty prodigy”
Traveled to London where she met the Countess of Huntington, the Lord Mayor of London, and the Earl of Dartmouth
Was received by General Washington in 1776 after writing a poem about him
Her themes are mostly about conventional Colonial America: the greatness of the US and the regenerative powers of Christianity
Her style is neoclassical, her ideas conventional, and her voice largely impersonal. She writes almost entirely in couplets
Only in her letters does she openly address the issue of slavery. The following selection suggests the hypocrisy of those who are calling for political liberty from England while ignoring the plight of the slave:

…in every human breast God has implanted a principle, which we call love of freedom; it is impatient of oppression, and pants for deliverance…I will assert that the same principle lives in us. God grant deliverance in His own time, and get Him honor upon all those whose avarice impels them to countenance and help forward the calamities of their fellow creatures. This I desire not for their hurt, but to convince them of the strange absurdity of their conduct, whose words and actions are so diametrically opposite. How well the cry for liberty, and the reverse disposition for the exercise of oppressive power over others agree—I humbly think it does not require the penetration of a philosopher to determine. 11 Feb. 1774, letter to Samson Occom

Olaudah Equiano (1745?-1779)

Was born in present-day Nigeria, probably spoke the Ibo language and was able to learn several other languages as he passed through many slave masters during the next six months
Was trained to read and write by some of his slave owners who recognized his intelligence
After ten years he was able to buy his freedom from money invested in cargoes traded by his master, a Philadelphia Quaker named Robert King
Was a strong advocate of justice for slaves
His autobiography, published when he was forty-four, became an international best seller and launched him into a polished speaker

Philip Freneau (1752-1832)

Is known as the “Father of American Poetry”
Is a transitional figure, Neoclassical by training, but romantic in spirit
Was a satirist, a sentimentalist, a humanitarian, a poet of reason, and a deistic optimist
His themes are inspired by death and transience
Was known as a prolific propagandist (because of his involvement with the War), and was once accused of being a spy and was imprisoned aboard a British ship
Is probably best known for his vivid observations of people, places, patriotism, nature, wildlife and other American subjects
Wrote in ornate couplets during his early poetic career, but later developed a natural, simple and concrete diction