A Personal Anthology

Literature of Colonial America

The writings of this period are accounts of European explorers, traders, and settlers describing their adventures. Various different things were going on in America at this time, and everyone's aspect of how things happened is what the writings are about. In order to understand and engulf these pieces of literature, the reader needs to understand how people were living, and what was going on in America. The English- speaking man and the Indians had widely differing cultures that very much clashed and caused upsetting problems. There were also many different people settling in America with a different attitude on religion. Various different things contributed to the thoughts put into words, which make up the works of the Colonial Period literature.

Columbus's Letter Describing His First Voyage is an important piece of writing that is a part of history. It was Columbus's voyage that had united Europe and America. He discovered so much territory that was unknown to the Europeans, and to have a written account of his journey is an amazing part of history. It is an informing piece of writing to read in order to understand the way Christopher Columbus is known to have discovered the Americas.

The published works of Captain John Smith tells us the story of how Jamestown, Virginia was established. John Smith told about his encounters with the Virginia Indians, and also of himself being captured. That is where the myths of John Smith's tale of Pocahontas came about. It may or may not be true, but maybe that is the fantasy that brings this writing to life. True or untrue, it is a long-lived legend that everyone will hear about during the course of his or her lifetime. To be able to read it allows someone to imagine in their own fantasy the things he is describing in words. It is an enjoyable writing to read, and I believe everyone should read it at least once.

There are two women writers from the Colonial Period who have forever imprinted their names in the era of literature: Mary Rowlandson and Anne Bradstreet. Anne Bradstreet, to begin, was the first notable poet in American literature. Her works were published without her consent, and have been studied and critiqued ever since. In her poems she expresses her thoughts on the pleasures of God, life, and especially family. There are two poems of hers that I really enjoyed reading: To My Dear and Loving Husband and In Reference To Her Children. When you read the first, you can see how sincere her love for her husband is. There is nothing on Earth that could ever accurately express the love and passion she had for him. In the latter, she wrote about her children and the life that they had together. Reading the works of Anne Bradstreet you begin to appreciate the love she has for life, and that spending her time writing about her times with her family is what she enjoyed. I have come to realize the flowery, yet simple things in life are what matter most.

Mary Rowlandson set the footing for the adventure tale of the time. Her narrative about getting captured by the Indians gives the view of how a Puritan would view the savage lives of the "red-skins". Though the story was sort of long, it showed the accounts of how Puritans were devoted to religion by her quotes of the bible. It should be read to get an account of how people thought of the Indians as fiends.

The Literature of Reason and Revolution

This period is argued to be the most monumental of all time. It had astonishing advances in science, religion, politics, and philosophy. This had a profound effect on people's beliefs and the way they lived their lives. Two of the most influential gentlemen of this period are Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.

"The Alamanack became one of the most influential publications in American history, a delight to generations of readers gratified by preachments on the virtues of hard work, thrift, and resource." That quote sums up the way I thought when I read Benjamin Franklin's FROM Poor Richard Improved. Today we all use the proverbs Franklin wrote. The Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin is a lengthy selection to expect one to read. Though it made way for the emergence of the autobiography to become a genre of its own.

Thomas Jefferson made an impact on politics during this time. The Declaration of Independence was written and published, which was drafted by Jefferson. Students should study the Declaration of Independence in order to understand the foundation of our country.

Another important woman writer emerged during this period. Phyllis Wheatley, who told of being a slave, was taken from her home in Africa and brought to the United States