ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -It reflects on the Puritans” ideals and beliefs. Such as, they believed in salvation and that the fate of individual soul was predetermined by God. Also, that salvation was a private choice among God and the ‘Elect’. Elects or Saints were the ones who were saved and the ones who weren’t were ‘wicked’.

Detailed explanation-2: -Puritan literature relied on Biblical allusions. Biblical allusions, or references to Biblical events or characters, were used heavily in Puritan writing. Many authors would compare themselves or current struggles to hardships endured by characters illustrated in the Bible.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Puritans were strict Calvinists, or followers of the reformer John Calvin. Calvin taught that God was all-powerful and completely sovereign. Human beings were depraved sinners. God had chosen a few people, “the elect, ” for salvation.

Detailed explanation-4: -Puritans compared their own lives to biblical narratives and events and compared themselves to biblical characters to illustrate points. Puritans lived a simple life based on the concepts of humility and simplicity. This influence comes from their religious beliefs and the Bible.

Detailed explanation-5: -The Puritans gathered in differ-ent groups and made a covenant (formal agreement) with God to obey his will as revealed in the Bible. In these “covenant commu-nities, ” they focused on Bible read-ing, preaching, and following God’s biblical laws.