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How does religion impact literature
The influence of religion on American literature
Puritanism in American Literature
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Influences of Early Literature Each person can identify him or her own self with some type of belief system or religion, even if that belief is not based on a higher being. Each person’s way of thinking affects his overall outlook on life. This statement reigns especially true in literature. Every author’s belief system is reflected through his or her writing. People are also affected by the events occurring around them. The time period in which an author lives will have an impact on his writing. If a devout Christian was writing a documentation of life in early America, the reader would not only be able to recognize his God-fearing characteristics, but would also recognize the current historical events occurring around the author. The …show more content…
The early explorers were sent by Spain to colonize the Gulf Coast. They faced many struggles and never were able successfully colonize. Sir Walter Raleigh was the next explorer sent to settle North America. His exploration also ended without successful colonization. With the failure of yet another expedition, the Virginia Company embarked on one more expedition, sending 113 men, women, and children to Roanoke. This small settlement would later become known as The Lost Colony. As you can tell from the name, this expedition would become the third failed attempt at colonization. During these voyages, religion is a factor, but greed is the most prominent drive. Although the early explorers did not come to America for religious purposes, as the Pilgrims and Puritans will later do, their religious values are still relevant. Their faith can be uncovered in their simple everyday actions, such as praying and thanking God frequently. In my opinion, literature works by the early explorers may be written for the purpose of simply describing what is happening in history at the time. In de Vaca’s “La Relación,” he is describing his experiences in the New World. “La Relación” is by no means a religious narrative, but religion is still prominent. De Vaca writes with a manner that displays his Godly faith. He can often be quoted thanking God while telling of the events transpiring around him around
...survival. Cabeza de Vaca cannot thank God enough for carrying him through the terrible times that he and the few remaining Spaniards went through as captives of the Indians. He feels a sort of accomplishment for making it through and comes out with a better appreciation for life. After experiencing what it was like to have been an Indian and a slave, and after being on the verge of death several times, the fact that Cabeza de Vaca was able to keep his composure and take each day at a time is astonishing. Of course, like a worthy Christian, Cabeza de Vaca gives God all of the credit in the world for his survival and success. However, it is Cabeza de Vaca’s faith in himself and determination that allow him to survive and go through the changes that he makes. It is almost a riches to rags, and back to riches story. However, the riches at the outcome of the expedition are far different from the riches going in. These new riches are not measured in gold or land, but in the appreciation for human life and the struggle for survival which made a better man out of him.
Although the English were not the first Europeans to explore or colonize North America, their settlements along the Eastern seaboard became the thirteen colonies that later formed the United States. England relied on private trading companies to establish a presence in North America. Two of these groups, the Virginia Company was the first permanent English settlement in Jamestown, Virginia. “ The Jamestown colony was modeled after a military expedition, transplanting about 100 hardy Englishmen into the Virginia…”(Smith 3). And the voyage of the Mayflower, bringing people to Plymouth, Massachusetts.” ...1620-1647 describes this journey and provides a glimpse of the settler's life in what became New England.” (Bradford 5). Jamestown and Plymouth
According to David M. Carr, the history of Scriptural interpretation indicates that religious texts are popular candidates for reinterpretation and, as such, are spaces wherein the personal identity of the reader frequently inscribes itself at length:
The first effort by the English to establish a colony in the New World was when Sir Walter Raleigh issued a charter to establish a colony at Roanoke. It was the responsibility of Raleigh to make the necessary provisions to complete the journeys to the New World and accomplish the goals of the charter. This entailed hiring ship captains and their crews, recruiting possible colonists, purchasing food and other supplies, and finding those who would invest capital in the missions. Raleigh however did not actively participate in the journeys to Roanoke Island; he was just the organizer and major financier.
3.Raleigh, Sir Walter— 1554-1618, English soldier, explorer, courtier, and man of letters. He conceived and organized the colonizing expeditions to America that ended tragically with the lost colony on Roanoke Island, VA with Christopher Marlowe and George Chapman.
This all began when Sir Walter Raleigh, a wealthy courtier, sought-after permission from Queen Elizabeth I to establish a colony in North America. On March 25th 1584 he got a charter to start the colony. Raleigh funded and authorized the expedition .He sent two explorers by the names of Phillip Amadas and Arthur Barlowe to claim land for the queen,they departed on the west side of England on April 27th . On May 10 they arrived at the Canaries, a series of islands near the northwest coast of mainland Africa. They arrived at the West Indies on June 10 and stayed there for twelve days then left. On July 4 the explorers saw North American land, they sailed for nine days more looking for an entryway to the sea or river and found one on June 13th. They then set off to explore the land and place it on the map . After they went back two additional journeys there followed after. One group arrived in 1585 and went there for...
While residing in England, the Puritans and faithful Catholics faced prosecution, which led to their immigration to the New World. Most left England to avoid further harassment. Many groups and parishes applied for charters to America and, led by faithful ministers, the Pilgrims and Puritans made the long voyage to North America. Their religion became a unique element in the New England colonies by 1700. Before landing, the groups settled on agreements, signing laws and compacts to ensure a community effort towards survival when they came to shore, settling in New England. Their strong sense of community and faith in God led them to develop a hardworking society by year 1700, which Documents A and D express through the explanation of how the Pilgrims and Puritans plan to develop...
When most people think of the early settlement they think of the first successful settlement, Jamestown, but this was not the first settlement in the New World. The settlement at Roanoke was the first attempt to colonize the New World. The settlement at Roanoke is often referred to as the “Lost Colony” because of its unusual disappearance. The reason people often do not know about the first settlement at Roanoke because it was abandoned, forgotten, and lost. The Roanoke settlement was located on an island on the northern coast of what is now North Carolina. A few more than a hundred English men first settled the colony at Roanoke Island in 1584. The conditions were harsh and between the lack of supplies and the troubles with natives of the area the settlement was all but doomed from the start. Three years after the initial settlement was founded, in 1587, more English arrived this time there were one hundred and ten colonists that consisted not just of men, but of women and children as well. Women and children were brought to the New World so that the settlement could become a fully functioning society. Of course this idea obviously did not work out as planned. The war going on in Europe between the English and the Spanish caused a delay of more supplies and people. If there had not been a prolonged delay in the resupplying process the entire course of American history may not have been what we know it to be now. If the war had started any earlier or later then people might have known more about the original first settlement of the New World. All the evidence left when people returned to Roanoke following the war in Europe was the word “CROATOAN” carved into a tree. Historians believe these to be marks left by the Croatoan Indians...
Religious tolerance, freedom, fame, and fortune. These advantages and many others are what awaited anyone who boarded a ship and sailed across the Atlantic to America. For many rich and clergy men it was easy. They could be on their way with no questions asked. The first ship to America did not even have one woman. Nevertheless, once they got a taste of the western world, there was no stopping.
When most people think of the early settlement they think of the first successful settlement, Jamestown, but this was not the first settlement in the New World. The settlement at Roanoke was the first attempt to colonize the New World. The settlement at Roanoke is often referred to as the “Lost Colony” because of its unusual disappearance. The reason people often do not know about the first settlement at Roanoke is because it was abandoned, forgotten, and lost. The Roanoke settlement was located on an island on the northern coast of what is now North Carolina. A few more than a hundred English men first settled the colony at Roanoke Island in 1584. The conditions were harsh and between the lack of supplies and the troubles with natives of the area the settlement was all but doomed from the start. Three years after the initial settlement was founded, in 1587, more English arrived this time there were one hundred and ten colonists that consisted not just of men, but of women and children as well. Women and children were brought to the New World so that the settlement could become a fully functioning society. Of course this idea obviously did not work out as planned. The war going on in Europe between the English and the Spanish caused a delay of more supplies and people. If there had not been a prolonged delay in the resupplying process the entire course of American history may not have been what we know it to be now. If the war had started any earlier or later then people might have known more about the original first settlement of the New World. All the evidence left when people returned to Roanoke following the war in Europe was the word “CROATOAN” carved into a tree. Historians believe these to be marks left by the Croatoan Indi...
In the article “Why did Columbus Sail?”, Kevin Miller goes into great depth as to how religious Columbus really was or if he was truly religious at all. The first point he makes is that the stereotypical view of a mission to find a trade route is “misleading” (9) and that he “felt that Almighty God had directly brought about his journey” (9). In fact, Columbus was so religious that he was often mistaken to have been “a member of a religious order” (9) because of how strictly he felt about it. Something interesting that Miller presents is that Columbus held evangelical views before Martin Luther even wrote his excerpts against the Catholic church. For example, Columbus once said “I am only a most unworthy sinner, but ever since I have cried out for grace and mercy from the Lord, they have covered me
Since the first storytellers, religion has played an important part in developing both character and plot. From Ancient Greece to Egypt to Judaism to Christianity, the basic stories of human origins have stood the test of time. Classic books such as The Great Gatsby, The Stranger, and Lord of the Flies are full of religious parallels and imagery. Conceptually, main characters of each work--Gatsby, The Stranger’s Meursault, and Lord of the Flies’ schoolboys attempt to be Christ-like figures, but whose demise is ironically brought about by their own sins.
All of the authors we have conversed about in class and studied about at home are connected in at least one way, if not many more. For example, Anne Bradstreet, Jonathan Edwards, Michael Wigglesworth and John Winthrop all write about God and the way we should all act and the simple fact that we all need to be Christians and so must the Indians who occupy their lives. Where as these authors are writers of the Heavenly Father, the authors that I wish to write about, though they do speak a little about God, I am writing on their influence on the Indian culture as well as the impact the Indians have made in Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca’s, Mary Rowlandson’s and Samson Occom’s lives.
Different time periods share different ideals and values. Depending on the era, those cultural beliefs and standards are reflected through the way in which individuals act and behave. People within these times convey their beliefs to others through the use of writing. Literature is vastly influenced by culture and ideals of the time period it is written.
Literature has had a major impact on society, and, also our history. Literature has reformed and shaped civilizations, changed political systems, and has exposed injustices (3). Our literature has changed and developed as we have, keeping up with our society. “...literature is crucial for the advancement of society (3).” With literary works, we can convince others to view things a certain way, share our opinions, and more. Literature is greatly intertwined with our society and everyday lives, and they would not be the same without it. Literature plays an irreplaceable role in our