American Studies AP (Literature) Summer Work 2013 -2014
Peterman / Alexander
I. Read and study all notes in packet. You are responsible for knowing the information that we
provide for you here.
A. Puritans / Separatists
B. William Bradford
C. Anne Bradstreet
D. Jonathan Edwards
II. Read and analyze
A. William Bradford (Heath Anthology - pgs. 245 - 266) or American Tradition pp 25-35
B. Anne Bradstreet poetry (Heath Anthology - pgs. 291 - 312) or American Tradition pp 43-51
C. Jonathan Edwards (Heath Anthology - pgs.592-603) American Tradition pp 97-108
D. The Scarlet Letter. Nathaniel Hawthorne Be prepared to discuss Get this book on your own
III. Written Work Notes: (Notes will be checked for completeness-worth 120 pts.)
A. Read and take hand written notes on each selection (A through D). All notes should be in a
notebook or binder with three-hole paper. Your name should be written on each page. Your
notes should be personal (they are your own), however they should also cover the following
material:
1. Identify the author’s objective in writing his/her work. Provide textual support.
2. Identify the author’s style. What do you notice? What are some examples of the
author’s writing style? Provide textual support.
3. What are some of the ideas that you can identify about the author’s views concerning:
the new world, man, native Americans, God and nature. Provide textual support.
4. What are the differences/similarities that you observe among these writers. Provide
support from text.
B. Poetry
1. Define the poetic devices below. Identify Bradstreet's use of these poetic devices
within her poems. Provide specific examples for each with a brief explanation.
A. conceit
B. metaphor
C. personification
D. alliteration
E. assonance
F. inversion
G. onomatopoeia
B. The Scarlet Letter Hawthorne: Answer these questions in complete sentencess and with
textual support. Answers should be hand written and will be collected. Your name should be
on every page. We do not expect your answers to be the length of an essay. Provide us with
enough information so we can assess your understanding . Worth 100pts.
1. Describe the Puritan town as Hawthorne develops it in his novel. Why is this important?
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2. Discuss Hawthorne’s characterization of major characters: Hester,Pearl, Chillingworth,
Dimmesdale
3. Discuss the role of the scaffold as it relates to plot and theme.
4. Discuss the role of the forest.
5. Discuss the allegorical aspects of The Scarlet Letter.
These assignments serve as your summer reading assignment. They should be completed for the
first day of school. You will be given two written assessments to determine whether or not you
know the material that you were responsible for learning over the summer. There will be a written
test on the material covered in all notes (100pts.) There will be an “in-class” summer reading essay
on The Scarlet Letter. ( 200 pts.) Clearly we view your ability to express your ideas analytically with
clarity as important. Since you are in an AP class, we have high expectations in this regard. Your
American Studies teachers will help you with your writing, but you must be willing to WORK.
If you have any questions regarding any of the assignments you may email me us at
[email protected] or [email protected]. It would be wise to look things over now, as I
will be away for portions of the summer. However all emails will be checked within a few days, even
if I am away.
Notes for American Studies AP Literature (…the soul) LEARN THESE…..
The Separatists and Puritans
The Separatists arrived in America and founded Plymouth Colony in 1620 after deciding to
separate, at risk of death, from the Church of England (Anglican Church).
The Puritans arrived in America and founded the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1630 after
deciding that their attempts to purify the Church of England from within was futile.
After the Puritans arrived in America in 1630, both of these groups of "pilgrims" or wanderers
used the name Puritan to describe their religious stance.
When Henry VIII decided that he wanted to take another wife, this began the rift between the
Church of England, which was Catholic in doctrine and in ritual, and the Vatican in Rome. Because
Catholicism does not condone divorce and, in fact, the Pope forbade Henry VIII to divorce his wife, the
king decided to reform his church. But for many such as the Separatists and Puritans, the reforms were
just superficial. These groups objected to the Catholic rituals (traditions) of the Church of England
although they did not take too much objection to the doctrines (teachings) which were essentially
Protestant by that time.
Church of England believed in the following:
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1) A large ornately, decorated church made of stone with high Romanesque arches reaching
toward the heavens. The churches were very cathedral-like with stained glass windows, rich
tapestries on the altars, golden candelabras and burning incense.
2) Bishops conducting the services, from very elevated positions and wore ostentatious surplices
(robes). The clergy stood on altars above their parishioners so that when communion was given,
the “sinner” lay prostrate at their feet. As God’s emissaries, the bishops placed themselves far
above the "sinners" who were relegated vulnerable, subordinate positions to God as well as to the
bishops.
3) Elaborate sermons and Bible readings.
Separatists and Puritans believed in the following:
1) Simple churches made of clapboard painted white. They did not believe that a church
should have stained glass windows, tapestries, golden candelabras, or incense since all of
these distracted from the minister's message and God's words. Parishioners were to go to
church to become spiritually rich. An ostentatious church only served to display material,
transitory wealth that had no purpose for the truly devote.
2) Ministers and “elders” conducting the services from the altar in plain black robes and stood on
the floor level with their parishioners when communion was given. The “sinner” was offered
communion from a kneeling position so that although the “sinner” was obviously not on the same
level as the minister who was God's emissary, he was not placed in as a demeaning position. Still,
a hierarchy of position in terms of God was maintained.
3) “Visible saints”. A “visible saint” was any confessed sinner to whom God had made His
presence felt or His words heard. After having a “religious experience”, the person would confess
his sins and reveal the experience in front of the entire congregation. For this to happen to
someone, one was looked on as being very special in God's eyes since God had communicated
through this person.
4) Simple sermons and Bible readings such as the “Our Father” which did not distract from God’s
message. The plain style was used in sermon writing. Given the time period, few adjectives and
distracting words were used so the minister’s point would be made clearly and succinctly.
FOR THESE REASONS, AND OTHERS, SEPARATISTS AND PURITANS RISKED
IMPRISONMENT, OSTRACISM, AND/OR DEATH IF THEY BROKE FROM THE CHURCH
OF ENGLAND.
The Puritan Doctrine
1) Man was inherently (from birth) evil or “naturally depraved” because he was the product of
Adam and Eve who had violated God's ordinance in the Garden of Eden.
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2) As a result, man was born with the original sin of Adam and Eve and he had to spend his
whole life attempting to cleanse himself of that sin.
3) A few “Elect”, “saved”, “chosen” people were born “pre-destined” to go to heaven and be with
God when they died.
4) No one knew while he was living, if he were of the “Elect” etc. (even “visible saints”).
Therefore, one had to live one’s life properly, penitently in order to live eternally with God when
one died.
5) Since one had to live one’s life as if one were condemned to hell, the “sinner” (anyone who
was without God) had to work and strive at his “calling”( the work for which God had put one on
earth). Whether one was a farmer, a tender of hides, a blacksmith, etc., one had to do the best
work one could and never be lazy or waste precious time.
6) One also had to go to church and listen to God’s emissary on earth, the minister.
He would help man in his attempt to cleanse his soul before he died. Still, only in death could one
be delivered into eternal life since only then would one be pure enough (without “original sin”) to
live with God.
7) God was arbitrary. He chose whom He wanted whether man could understand His reason.
Therefore, the sinner who had sinned all of his life could be pre-destined to go to heaven just as
could the purist maiden.
8) God was omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent. Because God was so all-powerful, all-knowing,
and always present, mere man could never escape His watchfulness or his strength.
9) God was wrathful. He would avenge the sinner.
Many references to himself as the force behind much of the successes. Puritan/religious writers, of which he
was not, did not see themselves as guiding lights. It was God who determined man's successes and failures.
Notes on William Bradford
William Bradford’s Mission
Bradford wanted to build the “City on Hill”, the “New Jerusalem” where the Separatists/Puritans
could worship freely without fear of persecution. At 18 yrs. old, Bradford left his farming family in Scrooby,
England to join the Separatists in their move to Holland where they would be allowed to practice their religion
freely. They remained in Holland for 12 years until finally because of the impoverished conditions under
which they were forced to live (most Separatists were educated people who owned shops in England until they
were forced to leave. In Holland, they were not to join any of the trade guilds and therefore they were forced to
farm. Few of them had much skill at farming and farming was never very lucrative) they decided risk the
voyage to the New World. His group arrived on the Mayflower in 1620 and established Plymouth Colony.
William Bradford’s mission was a spiritual one. There was little self interest on his part. He wished to
carry God’s word across the sea and live free to sing God's glory.
William Bradford’s Purposes in Writing
a) Bradford wanted to glorify God.
.
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b) Bradford reinforced the idea that Separatists/Puritans were the “chosen” people of God Since they had
arrived safely in the New World.
c) His account served as propaganda to persuade other Puritans to come to the “City on the Hill”.
d) Bradford lost a historical account of the first religious settlement in the New World. He is celebrated
as being the first American historian.
William Bradford’s Writing Style (the Plain Style)
.
a) coupling- the use of two words that have very similar meanings for emphasis Ex. – cruel and fierce,
wild and savage.
b) metaphors/similes
c) personification- giving human characteristics to inanimate objects for emphasis. Ex, - sea of troubles.
d) alliteration- use of repeating consonant sounds for emphasis. Ex.- poor people's present condition.
e) biblical allusions- quotes, stories from the Bible to give credence to his argument.
Notes on Anne Bradstreet (1612-1672)
Anne Bradstreet's Background
Came to America with the Puritans in 1630 and settled near Andover, Mass. Her husband Simon was
very active in government and, therefore, traveled to England a great deal often leaving her alone in the
wilderness with the responsibility of her eight children for whom she had to provide firewood and food on a
daily basis in a very primitive community. It was very uncommon, even in England, for women to find the time
to do anything other than household chores. When Bradstreet's brother-in-law had a book of her poems
published in England without her permission, the Puritans discovered that they had an accomplished poet
living in their midst. They used Anne Bradstreet as propaganda to convince other Puritans to risk the journey
to the New World where life was not nearly as difficult as in England since women had leisure enough to
write. Bradstreet is known as America's first poet.
Anne Bradstreet's Contribution /Purpose for Writing
a) Bradstreet wrote to escape from the conditions in the New World rather than to express what she felt
and knew. She did not write to instruct. She was the first non-didactic poet.
b)Bradstreet wrote for herself about her love for her husband, children and grandchildren rather than just
her love of God.
c) Bradstreet explored the glory of God as it was revealed in nature (Pantheism). She was the first to give
embodiment to American wilderness.
d)Bradstreet wrote in praise of God but she did not write solely to praise God.
e) She was one of the first writers to be published professionally in America.
f) Given the time period, her individualism lies in her choice of subject matter rather than her style.
Anne Bradstreet's Writing Style
a) conceit- a startling comparison between two disparate things.
b)metaphors I similes
c) personification
d)alliteration
e) assonance
f) inversion- altering the conventional order of phrases in a line of poetry.
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“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” Review Sheet
1. Edwards wrote "Sinners ... " in 1741.
a.) For how long had the first Puritans been in America?
b.) Given the length of time, why did he feel the need to write such a shocking sermon? THINK of
as many reasons as you can.
2. Jonathan Edwards's sermon literally made audiences shriek and swoon (faint). Why did this occur
given the portrait that he paints of Hell?
3. One of Edwards's most effective techniques in "Sinners ... " is repetition yet, if one looks closely, he
does not just repeat. He expands on his original statement. Find several good examples of this and explain
them.
4. Edwards uses poetic techniques such as metaphors, similes, assonance, alliteration, onomatopeia (when
a word sounds like what it means) and personification. Find good examples of each of these techniques
and EXPLAIN what they mean in terms of his theme.
5. Examine the three parts of the sermon, the biblical quote, the doctrine, and the application.
a.) How does the biblical quote focus the sermon?
b.) What lesson does the doctrine teach?
c.) Who is supposed to apply the sermon to himself?
6. What are the most obvious differences between “the doctrine” and “the application?” READ
CAREFULLY.
7. What images from nature does Edwards use to make his point? Why does he use those images?
8. To what does Edwards compare Hell? Be thorough.
9. To what does Edwards compare the sinner? Be thorough.
10. To what does Edwards compare God? Be thorough.
11. What vision of hope does Edwards offer to his congregation?
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