Comparing and Contrasting Explorer Literature vs Puritan Literature (Essay Sample)

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Comparing and Contrasting Explorer Literature Vs Puritan Literature
Explorer and puritan literature vary due to the period of their development and the intended use. Developers of explorer literature sought to document their experiences in the searches to discover information or resources. Notable development of explorer literature occurred during the age of discovery when the rest of the world was sailed and charted by European explorers. For instance, before the arrival of Europeans in North America, transmission of literature was done using myths, legends, tales, and songs of Indian cultures. Stories varied from tribe to another depending on its geographical location. Documented literature of exploration from the age of discovery is presented in form personal accounts of experiences. On the other hand, puritans documented their experiences through diaries, but placed more emphasis on reflecting about the individual’s spiritual journey (American History). Puritanism sought to attach religious meaning or significance to events taking place in everyday life, hence had immense cultural and political impact on early America. The similarities and differences in explorer and puritan literatures are based on ideological beliefs of the writers and largely reflect their individual worldviews.
Genres
The similarity between explorer and puritan literature is that booth valued reality and strived to portray experiences of the writers from such a perspective. It is important to recognize that both early colonialists and puritans wrote their accounts in journals and diaries, but the similarities do not extend far. While explorer literature is full of accounts of experiences on immigration, settling in new territories, and day-to-day life events, puritan literature emphasized on religious themes. The emphasis on religion limited puritan literature to few genres namely: sermons, historical narratives, and poetry. On the other hand, explorer literature addressed numerous topics from politics, economy, religion, culture, and geography, which represent diverse genres, even though historical narrative and poetry were used as literary devices. The common genres used include travel writing, historical writing, natural science, short stories, sketches, and novels.
Style
It is important to understand that both explorer and puritan literature adopted a non-fiction approach by valuing reality. However, Luebering observes that American literature can be divided into five distinct periods, and each has unique characteristics. For instance, explorer literature written by early European settlers from 1600s, which is also the earliest American literature, was practical, straightforward, derived from Great Britain, and focused on the future. Exploration experiences, religion, and American life stories were written as journals, poems, and novels. While explorer literature captured complex dynamics of the American society at the time, puritan literature a plain style depicted the simple lives of its proponents founded on the concepts of humility and simplicity. The influence and experiences of puritans were drawn from religious beliefs and the bible. The writings plainly mimicked cultural values, such as perception of elaborate clothing or conceited thoughts as offensive. Puritans wrote in a direct style that contradicted the elaborate style of European origin used by explorers. The use of simple sentences devoid of Latin quotations or elaborate metaphors intended to communicate information without drawing attention to the writer.
Purpose
Explorer literature was for informing. The emergence of ‘true American literature’ in the 19th century reflected the common theme of explorers in depicting and exploring new territorial societies and landscapes in unprecedented manner (Luebering). Explorer literature documents religious, cultural, and political concepts at the time. For instance, religious practices included the worshipping of gods, animals, plants, or sacred persons by different tribes; and governance systems included democracies, theocracies, and council of elders. However, the inclination of explorer literature towards European tradition implies that its purpose was to introduce aspects of the latter into new societies. However, the Federalist Papers (1787–88), by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay, and autobiographies on enslavement were intended to shape social and political contexts of the new America (Luebering). Puritan literature main purpose was religious transformation by advocating recognition and acceptance of role of the church and God’s influence in life. The letters wrote by puritans to friends and family did more than communicating because they were instructive and thought Christian values and devoid of entertainment. The 1670s and 1680s saw the clergy in New England write sermons drawn directly from the Old Testament book of Je