American Literature Exam 1
"Then, coming out, beheld a space The flame consume my dwelling place. & when I could no longer look, I blest His name that gave & took, That laid my goods now in the dust. Yea, so it was, & so 'twas just."
Author: Anne Bradstreet Title: The Burning of Our House Date: 1666 Bradstreet is saying God is allowed to take whatever he wants.
"Under thy roof no guest shall sit, Nor at thy table eat a bit. No pleasant tale shall e'er be told, Nor things recounted done of old.
Author: Anne Bradstreet Title: The Burning of Our House Date: 1666 Her home was turned down and she lost everything, her home will never be lived in again & is wondering if her true wealth was ever even on Earth to begin with. She has faith that God has a plan of rher but is conflicted by her feelings of doubt. This is one of the first positive depictions of the area of New England despite her circumstances
"Even the distance at which the Almighty hath placed England & America is a strong & natural proof that the authority of the one over the other was never the design of Heaven."
Author: Thomas Paine Title: Common Sense Date: 1776 Paine is using typology to interpret the political situation between England & America. Type= the Ocean, Antitype= the Social & Political Separation. He is also saying that God never intended for one to be superior to the other.
"The most sanguine in Britain doth not think so. The utmost stretch of human wisdom cannot, at this time, compass a plan, short of separation, which can promise the continent even a year's security. Reconciliation is now a fallacious dream. Nature hath deserted the connection, & art cannot supply her place. For as Milton wisely expresses, "never can true reconcilement grow where wounds of deadly hate have pierced so deep.""
Author: Thomas Paine Title: Common Sense Date: 1776 This quote is saying that Satan can be distracting but you must stay focused on the grace of God, otherwise you will fall from the grace of God.
"[...] a mare, a cow, two goats, five sheep, two calves, and a turkey."
Author: William Bradford Title: Of Plymouth Plantation Date: 1630s-50s Bradford is listing all the animals that Thomas Granger, a young servant, had sexual intercourse with. Granger & all the animals were killed as punishment.
"So they left that goodly and pleasant city, which had been their resting place near twelve years; but they knew they were pilgrims, and looked not much on those things, but lifted up their eyes to the heavens, their dearest country, and quieted their spirits."
Author: William Bradford Title: Of Plymouth Plantation Date: 1630s-50s Bradford is saying that although the pilgrims are leaving their home & going to an unknown place, they know that God is guiding them & heaven is their one true home.
"Besides, what could they see but a hideous and desolate wilderness, full of wild beasts and wild men? And what multitudes there might be of them they knew not. Neither could they, as it were, go up to the top of Pisgah, to view from this wilderness a more goodly country to feed their hopes; for which way soever they turned their eyes (save upwards to the heavens) they could have a little solace or content in respect of any outward objects."
Author: William Bradford Title: Of Plymouth Plantation Date: 1640s-50s This passage starts with a rhetorical question. The ocean and wilderness are a type of the desert and the antitype is the exodus story. Bradford does not see a promised land but is hopeful it will turn out okay, they know their final destination is heaven.
"They would snatch babes from from their mothers' breasts & take them by their feet & dash their heads against the rocks. Others would fling them over their shoulders into the rivers, laughing & jeering, & as they fell into the water they would call out: "Thrash, you little bugger!"; other babes, they would run their swords through mother & child at once, & all that they came across."
Author: Bartolome de Las Casas Title: The Destruction of The Indies Date: 1542 This quote helped create the generalization of the "cruel spaniard". This passage shoes the cruelty of the Christians towards the Indies. The Indies were mistreated in violent ways by the Christians.
[The Christians] had their interpreter tell the Indians that we were some of their own, and that we had gotten lost a long time back, and that we were people with little luck or valor, and that they were the lords of that land, who had to be obeyed and served. But the Indians gave little or no weight to what they were told. Instead they talked among themselves, saying that the Christians were lying, for we had come from where the sun rises, and the others from where it sets; and that we cured the sick, and they killed those who were healthy; that we came naked and barefoot, and they came dressed and on horseback and with lances; and that we coveted nothing and instead quickly gave away everything we were given, and the others had no other aim but to steal everything they could, and they never gave anything to anyone.
Author: Cabeza De Vaca Title: Chronicle of Narvaez Expedition Date: 1542 This passage is significant because the Christians are trying to convince the Indians that they are the ones who should be worshipped. This is ironic because usually Christians think we should not worship others but God because He is the savior. The Indians realized their worth and did not believe what the Christians were trying to force into their minds.
"This sentiment roused our countrymen's jealousy. Alcarez bade his interpreter tell the Indians that we were members of his race who had been long lost; that his group were the lords of the landwho must be obeyed and served while were inconsequential. The Indians paid no attention to this. Conferring among themselves, they replied that we were member of his race who had been long lost; that this group were the lords of the land who must be obeyed and served, while were inconsequential. The Indians paid no attention to this. Conferring among themselves, they replied that the Christians lied: We had come from the sunrise, they from the sunset; we healed the sick, they killed the sound; we came naked and barefoot, they clothed, horsed, lanced; we coveted nothing but gave whatever we were given, while they robbed whomever they found and bestowed nothing on anyone."
Author: Cabeza de Vaca Title: The Relacion Date: 1532 This quote is significant because it tells us that Alcarez & his men got so close with the Indians that they could not convince them that they were the enemy.
"This island and all the others are very fertile to a limitless degree, and this island is extremely so. In it there are many harbors on the coast of the sea, beyond comparison with others which I know in Christendom, and many rivers, good and large, which is marvelous. Its lands are high, and there are in it many sierras and very lofty mountains, beyond comparison with the island of Tererife. All are most beautiful, [...] with trees of a thousand kinds and tall [...] And I am told that they never lose their foliage [...] And the nightingale was singing. [...] and there is honey [...]"
Author: Christopher Columbus Title: Letter of Discovery Date: 1493 This is a written encounter of Columbus's exploration of the islands. He is trying to "sell" or "advertise" this land & is exaggerating his descriptions.
"In this sad state, God's tender bowels run Out streams of Grace: and He to end all strife The purest Wheat in Heaven His dear-dear son Grinds, and kneads up into this Bread of Life"
Author: Edward Taylor Title: Meditation 8 Date: 1684 This passage is significant because it discusses God sending His one and only Son to save everyone and be the Bread of Life
"When that this Bird of Paradise put in This Wicker Cage (my Corpse) to twiddle praise Had pecked the Fruit forbade: & so did fling Away its Food; & lost it's golden days; It fell into Celestial Famine sore: And never could attain a morsel more."
Author: Edward Taylor Title: Meditation 8 Date: 1684 He is saying that the humans that eat the forbidden fruit get kicked out of paradise & then there is nothing left for the soul to eat.
"Did God mold up this Bread in Heaven, & bake, Which from His Table came, & to thine goeth? Doth He bespeak thee thus, This Soul Bread take? Come Eat thy fill of this thy God's White Loaf? It's Food too fine for Angels, yet come, take And Eat thy fill. It's Heaven's Sugar Cake."
Author: Edward Taylor Title: Meditation 8 Date: 1684 He is saying the bread is Jesus & is asking what is the antitype of the bread. He is also telling everyone to allow God to influence them/be apart of their lives.
"This city has many squares where trading is done & markets are held continuously. There is one square twice as big as that of Salamanca, with arcades all around, where more than sixty thousand people come each to buy and sell, & where every kind of merchandise produced in these lands is found; provisions as well as ornaments of gold & silver, lead, brass, copper, tin, stones, shells, bones, & feather."
Author: Hernan Cortes Title: Second Letter to the Spanish Crown Date: 1522 Cortes was known for writing about cities. Here he is describing the square of the city & the people there. He discusses the products he sees for sale and the crowds of people.
"A true sense of the divine & superlative excellency of the things of religion; a real sense of the excellency of God, & Jesus Christ, & the work of redemption, [...] He that is spiritually enlightened truly apprehends & sees it, or has a sense of it. He does not merely rationally believe that God is glorious, but he has a sense of the gloriousness of God in his heart. There is not only a rational belief that God is holy, & that holiness is a good thing; but there is a sense of the loveliness of God's holiness. There is not only a speculatively judging that God is gracious, but a sense how amiable God is upon that account; or a sense of the beauty of this divine attribute."
Author: Jonathan Edwards Title: A Divine & Supernatural Light Date: 1733 In this sermon, Edwards is saying that the divine light is not a physical sense, but rather a supernatural sense. He is also reminding everyone that God is the greatest glory and should be praised as the ultimate creator.
"There is wonderful resemblance in the effects which God produces, and consentaneity in his manner of working in one thing and another, throughout all nature. It is very observable in the visible world. Therefore 'tis allowed that God does purposely make and order one thing to be in an agreeableness and harmony with another. And if so, why should not we suppose that he makes the inferior in imitation of the superior, the material of the spiritual, on purpose to have a resemblance and shadow of them? We see that even in the material world God makes one part of it strangely to agree with another; and why is it not reasonable to suppose he makes the whole as a shadow of the spiritual world?"
Author: Jonathan Edwards Title: Images of Divine Things Date: 1728 Jonathan Edwards uses typology to interpret the spiritual meaning of the natural world and its processes: the types (images, or shadows) of antitypes (divine things)
"Your wickedness makes you as it were heavy as lead, & to tend downwards with great weight & pressure towards hell; & if God should let you go, you would immediately sink & swiftly descend & plunge into the bottomless gulf, & your healthy constitution, & your own care & prudence, & best contrivance, & all your righteousness, would have no more influence to uphold you & keep you out of hell, than a spider's web would have to stop a fallen rock."
Author: Jonathan Edwards Title: Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Date: 1741 Edwards references religion & science in this sermon. The science in this passage is the principles of gravity and laws of motion, there is a force and its reaction. He uses fear to create suspense. It is meant to "wake up" everyone & bring their attention to the fate that their souls may face in God's hands.
"Then my heart began to fail: and I fell aweeping, which was the first time to my remembrance, that I wept before them. Although I had met with so much affliction, and my heart was many times ready to break, yet could I not shed one tear in their sight; but rather had been all this while in a maze, and like one astonished. But now I may say Psalm 137:1, "By the Rivers of Babylon, there we sate down: yea, we wept when we remember Zion." There one of them asked me why I wept. I could hardly tell what to say: Yet I answered, they would kill me. "No," said he, "none will hurt you."
Author: Mary Rowlandson Title: A Narrative of the Captivity & Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson Date: 1682 Rowlandson is using Psalm 137.1 of the Israelites crying by the river as a antitype & comparing herself to the scripture as the type, because she also cried at the thought of dying & leaving her home behind. She uses the Scripture to comfort her and try to understand her situation.
"I had one child dead, another in the wilderness, I knew not where, the third they would not let me come near to: "Me (as he said) have ye bereaved of my Children, Joseph is not, and Simeon is not, and ye will take Benjamin also, all these things are against me". I could not sit still in this condition, but kept walking from one place to another. And as I was going along, my heart was even overwhelmed with thoughts of my condition, and that I should have children, and a nation which I knew not, ruled over them."
Author: Mary Rowlandson Title: A Narrative of the Captivity & Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson Date: 1682 This passage is significant because Rowlandson uses typology. The antitype in this passage is the quoting of the Bible of Jacob's story who was in a similar condition. She discusses this because it is comparable to her situation. The type in this passage is her expressing how she feels.
"O glorious place! where face to face Jehovah may be seen, By such as were sinners whilere & no dark veil between. Where the sun shine, & light divine, of God's bright countenance, Doth rest upon them every one, with sweetest influence."
Author: Michael Wigglesworth Title: The Day of Doom Date: 1662 He saying that God watches over & loves everyone.
Before his face the Heav'ns gave place, and skies are rent asunder, With mighty voice, and hideous noise, more terrible than thunder. And brightness damps Heav'n's glorious lamps & makes them hide their heads"
Author: Michael Wigglesworth Title: The Day of Doom Date: 1662 Wigglesworth is saying that there is no human representation of Jesus by the Puritans. However, God is demonstrating his power showing the sinners why they were wrong, it is a terrifying image
"Twas mercy brought me from my pagan land, Taught my benighted soul to understand That there's a God, that there's a Savior too: Once I redemption neither sought nor knew. Some view our sable race with scornful eye, "Their color is a diabolic dye." Remember, Christians, black as Cain. May be refined, & join the angelic train."
Author: Phillis Wheatley Title: On Being Brought from Africa to America Date: 1773 Wheatley is discussing how God saved her life and that everyone can find salvation also, She talks about how they are judged for their skin color and how that doesn't matter to God
"Take Him, ye wretched, for your only good, Take Him ye starving sinners, for your food; Ye thirsty, come to this life-giving stream, Ye preachers, take Him for your joyful theme; Take Him my dear Americans, he said, Be your complaints on His kind bosom laid: Take Him, ye Africans, He longs for you, Impartial Savior is His title due: Washed in the fountain of redeeming blood, You shall be sons, & kings, & priests to God."
Author: Phillis Wheatley Title: On the Death of the Rev. Mr. George Whitefield, 1770 Date: 1770 This quote is her taking the claim on who has the claim on Christianity in America. She says George Whitefield (an English preacher) was a great man and he wanted the best for American and Africa
"See Him with hands out-stretched upon the cross; Immense compassion in his bosom glows; He hears revilers, nor resents their scorn: What matchless mercy in the Son of God! When the whole human race by sin had fallen, He designed to die that they might rise again, And share with Him in the sublimest skies, Life without death, & glory without end."
Author: Phillis Wheatley Title: To the University of Cambridge, in New England Date: 1773 Wheatley is talking to Harvard students in this quote. This was the 1st image of a human Jesus in American Literature & Christianity.
"They have less hair on the face & body. They secrete less by the kidnies, & more by the glands of the skin, which gives them a very strong & disagreeable odour."
Author: Thomas Jefferson Title: Notes on the State of Virginia Date: 1781-84 Jefferson is trying to justify slavery.
"He has waged cruel war against human nature itself, violating its most sacred rights of life & liberty in the persons of a distant people who never offended him, captivating & carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere, or to incur miserable death in their transportation thither."
Author: Thomas Jefferson Title: The Autobiography of Thomas Jefferson Date: 1821 This was removed from the declaration of independence. The southern and northern states objected this because slavery is the basis of both economies. It represents a contradiction between his words and ideals.
"And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, & our sacred honor."
Author: Thomas Jefferson Title: The Autobiography of Thomas Jefferson Date: 1821 Jefferson was content with being the thinker in the background. He did not want to put his life on the line.
"The cause of America is in a great measure the cause of all mankind"
Author: Thomas Paine Title: Common Sense Date: 1776 He is answering the question, "what is America?" by saying it is larger than just a tie to the land.
