Age Of Discovery Research Paper

The history of American literature is filled with many great works and authors. From the writings of the earliest colonists and onward, the thoughts, emotions, and standards of society are reflected in the written words. As the years progressed so did the words. The writings from the Age of Discovery and the Age of Reason convey powerful feelings in the foundation of a new nation. While the literature produced by the authors during these time periods changes greatly in tone, the underlying sentiment of religious belief and a trust in God remains. In the introduction, the editor of this textbook wrote that “the period of European exploration in the Americas produced a surprisingly large and intriguing body of literature” (Baym 11). The literary works of these early European explorers are rooted in religious expression. The explorers witnessed great tragedies and were subjected to unbelievable conditions. Some authors, like Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca, compared their sufferings to those of Jesus. In fact, De Vaca wrote “How much worse must have been his torment from the thorns than mine here!” (33). As newcomers began to settle into the colonies of the New World, the voice of the Puritans began to take shape. …show more content…
As stated in our power point on the Age of Discovery, the Puritans believed “the world exists merely to glorify God” (Salerno). The authors during this time wrote almost exclusively of religious beliefs and the applications of those beliefs in their lives. Anne Bradstreet and Jonathon Edwards are excellent examples of this observation. Each recognized the power of God and was thankful for it. Bradstreet was comforted during the loss of a grandchild by this faith. She recognized it when she wrote “Sith thou art settled in an everlasting state” meaning that the child was resting in the arms of the Lord (Bradstreet 7). Edwards continued that recognition when he wrote “And God has appeared glorious to me” (187). Other Puritans also were thankful to God and exalted his words because they truly believed that He had provided this new land for them so that they could worship in a way that they believed. The changes which began to develop during the Age of Discovery continued with the liberation of the colonies from Great Britain. In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote that all people should have certain rights and to achieve those rights the people must “institute a new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its power in such form, as to them shall seen most likely to effect their safety and happiness” (340). With that document, the Age of Reason continued the changes in the way that people thought, acted, and even their values. While earlier writings from the Age of Discovery were inhibited by the very strict Puritan beliefs, this was not so evident during the Age of Reason. While still expressing a belief in God, now writings also addressed social and political issues. No longer was only the wealthy educated. Education held the key to change, and it changed many of the rules of how society was expected to act and think. Although drastic changes occurred through scientific and governmental ideas and people began to accept the changing world, a firm belief that God was the basis of their lives still remained. The