Discussion. 1. It took Americans many years to develop a national litera­ture

I. Support the ideas:

1. It took Americans many years to develop a national litera­ture.

2. Today American authors are recognized throughout the world.

3. The United States has large and varied literature. II. Explain:

1. What is the contribution of American writers into the world literature?

2. What makes American books popular all over the world?

2. COLONIAL WRITING (1608—1765)

The American colonists wrote histories to record their activi­ties, sermons to teach moral lessons, and pamphlets to argue polit­ical points. Even their poems discussed religious and moral sub­jects. In all their writings, the colonists imitated popular European style.

Few colonial writings of the 1600's and early 1700's can be considered outstanding. But these works give us insight into the ideas and events of this period in early American history.

Histories. The adventurer John Smith probably wrote the first personal account of colonial life in America. Smith called his book «А True Relation of Such Occurrences and Accidents... as Hath Hapned in Virginia». It was published in England in 1608. Smith wrote it to attract European settlers to America.

Other early works also discussed the new land. John Winthrop, in his Journal, described life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony from 1630 to 1649. «History of Plimoth Plantation» by William Bradford tells about the Pilgrims who settled the Plymouth Colony.

Most colonial histories seem dull today. But a few of them sparkle with wit and humor. Sarah Kcmblc Knight, a Boston school- teacher, kept a delightful Journal of her trip from Boston to New York City in 1704. William Bird II, a Virginia planter, wrote «The History of the Dividing Line». This pamphlet tells about a survey­ing trip Byrd took in 1728. It offers glimpses into the relaxed, fun- loving life of Southern aristocrats.

In 1782, Michel-Guillaume Jean de Cr£vecoeur published his lively «Letters from an American Farmer». The book takes the form of 12 letters written by an American farmer to an imaginary friend in England.

Religious writings, such as sermons and religious pamphlets, made up the bulk of colonial literature. Many settlers had come to America because they disagreed with the teachings of the Church of England. Now, the settlers began to argue among themselves and to form new religious groups. Vigorous and sometimes bitter debates took place. Some religious leaders, among them Nathaniel Ward, called for intolerance toward the new sects. Ward's best-known work is «The Simple Cobbler of Aggawam in America» (1647).

Other members of the clergy pleaded for religious freedom. Roger Williams argued for separation of church and state in «The Bloudy Tenent of Persecution» (1644), and other pamphlets.

Three religious leaders wrote particularly important works. They were (1) Cotton Mather, a dedicated Puritan; (2) Jonathan Edwards, a reasoning Calvinist; and (3) John Woolman, a gentle Quaker.

Mather wrote more than 450 works on a variety of subjects. In some, he defended the witchcraft trials of Salem, Mass. He used quotations from the Bible to «prove» that witches existed. Mather's masterpiece is his two-volume «Magnalia Christi Americana (Eccle­siastical History of New England», 1702).

Edwards was the leader in New England of the religious revival movement known as the Great Awakening The movement swept the colonies during the early 1700's. Edwards stirred the people with such frightening sermons as «Sinners in the Hands of an An­gry God» (1741). His best-known book, «Freedom of Will» (1754), defends the doctrines of Calvinism.

Woolman left a record of his innermost thoughts in his Journal, published in 1774, two years after his death. The work reflects his deep faith in the «Inner Light». According to Quaker belief, the light is God's spirit and it exists in every human being.

Colonial poetry also dealt mostly with religious subjects. Many colonists wrote pious verses and jingles for friends and relatives. The first book printed in the colonies was a collection of psalms in verse form. It became known as the «Bay Psalm Book». Several New England ministers prepared the book. Stephen Daye printed it in Cambridge, Mass., in 1640.

Three New England poets earned fame: (1) Michael Wigglesworth, (2) Anne Dudley Bradstreet, and (3) Edward Tay­lor.

Wigglesworth wrote «The Day of Doom» (1662), the most popu­lar literary work of colonial times. A copy of this long poem stood on almost all Puritan bookshelves along with the Bible and «Pilgrim's Progress» by the English author John Bunyan. The poem describes Calvinist beliefs about sin and salvation,

Bradstreet was America's first important poet. She became known for her collected poems, «The Tenth Muse Lately Sprung Up in America» (1650). This book includes religious poetry as well as simple lyrics on nature and home life.

Taylor stands out as the best colonial poet. His works were un­known until 1937, when a manuscript of his poems was discovered and published. Taylor, a stern Calvinist, had a brilliant style that saved his poems from becoming dull statements of religious doc­trines. His works show the influence of John Donne and other En­glish poets of the early 1600's.