An example of colonial literature written as part of the Great Awakening is "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards. This sermon, delivered in 1741 during the peak of the Great Awakening, emphasized the concept of God's wrath and the need for repentance, aiming to awaken listeners to the fragility of human life and the consequences of sin. Edwards' writing style, characterized by vivid imagery and intense emotional appeal, made a significant impact on the religious landscape of the time.
Arja Rosenholm has written: 'Gendering awakening' -- subject(s): History, History and criticism, Russian literature, Women and literature, Women authors
Colonial literature during the Great Awakening was characterized by a focus on spiritual revival and personal piety, reflecting the religious fervor of the period. Writers like Jonathan Edwards and George Whitefield emphasized emotional experiences and a direct relationship with God, often using vivid imagery and persuasive rhetoric in their sermons and writings. This literature sought to inspire a communal return to faith, challenging established religious practices and promoting individual religious experiences. Overall, it played a crucial role in shaping American identity and the cultural landscape of the time.
Richard Lever has written: 'Post-colonial literatures in English' -- subject(s): Bibliography, History and criticism, In literature, Postcolonialism in literature, Australian literature, Postcolonialism
Jeffrey W. Westover has written: 'The colonial moment' -- subject(s): American poetry, Colonies in literature, History, History and criticism, Imperialism in literature, Nationalism and literature, Postcolonialism in literature
Ena C. Vulor has written: 'Colonial and anti-colonial discourses' -- subject- s -: Colonization, Criticism and interpretation, In literature, Influence, Knowledge
Lothar Lutze has written: 'Hindi writing in post-colonial India' -- subject(s): Hindi literature, History and criticism, Postcolonialism, Postcolonialism in literature
The Scarlet Letter
Clifford Sheats Capps has written: 'Colonial Georgia' -- subject(s): History, Juvenile literature
Ben Tipping has written: 'Exemplary epic' -- subject(s): Punica, Vice in literature, Virtues in literature, Ethics, Example, Ethics in literature, History
Oral traditions were most common during the pre-colonial and early colonial eras in American literature. This was a time when storytelling and folklore were passed down through generations verbally, before written forms of literature became more widespread.
Kathryn M. Mayers has written: 'Visions of empire in colonial Spanish American ekphrastic writing' -- subject(s): Ekphrasis, History and criticism, Spanish American literature, Imperialism in literature
Typically, works of Colonial literature tended to focus on either true accounts of actual events, or works that were intended to glorify God. Some of the notable writers of that time were Anne Bradstreet, Cotton Mather, and Jonathan Edwards.