Colonial Time Period Puritanism 1620 1750 Writing styles

Colonial Time Period (Puritanism) 1620– 1750 • Writing styles • Writers wrote in Puritan Plain Style • using simple, direct language to discuss everyday objects and feelings • Writing that brought home a full awareness of the importance of worshipping God and of the spiritual dangers that the soul faced on Earth

Puritan Beliefs • WORK AND PRAY!!!! • Believed in a Covenant with God and with each other to follow moral codes in pursuit of eternal life • Believed in Predestination (only the elect would be saved) • Believed God and Satan were active presences in the natural world

• Believed Native Americans were heathens and the woods and forests full of demons • Believed in mandatory attendance at church • Believed that people were expected to work hard and repress emotions and opinions

• Read natural signs to see God’s will or Satan’s tricks (when a neighbor’s crop failed or a child became sick, saw it as God’s will and did not help) • Believed Satan selected the “weakest”—women, children and the insane to carry out his work. • Believed those who followed Satan were considered witches • Punished witchcraft by death

Witch Trials in Europe • As early as 1450, there witch hunts all over Europe • Many thousands were hanged, drowned or burned at the stake • Women were viewed as “imperfect” as they were formed from a man’s rib whereas men were the privileged sex (Christ--a male) • Popular view of women was source of witch hunt hysteria…seen as inherently evil and sexual—thus targets for the devil

Salem (Boston) Witch Trials • Possibly the single, most studied event in colonial American history • Fear of magic and witchcraft was common in New England, as it had been in Europe • Over 100 alleged witches had been tried and hanged in New England during the 1600 s • In early 1692, the witch hunt hysteria began in Salem

• From early spring to September 1692, over 150 “witches” were taken into custody • 19 men and women refused to confess and were hanged on Gallows Hill • One man was pressed to death under stones • Four died in jail

Elements of the Puritans today • Societal Judgement • Sexuality and morals • Nude beaches • Dress code • Laws based on morality • Abortion • Capital Punishment • Manifest Destiny • It is our job to spread democracy

TOTD Theme • You need to look back in the play and pick out ONE example for EACH THEME that proves it. This example needs to be a quote from the character. Then, in complete sentences, you need to explain how those examples prove themes and explain what Ibsen believes. MLA FORMAT! • In A Dolls House deception is shown when Nora states, “_______________"(p. #). This is deception since she _________. This shows that Ibsen believes_________.