Puritanism. Puritanism was a Protestant religious movement that emerged in England in the 1500s and later spread to the colonies of New England. The Puritans objected to the wealth, power, authority, and elaborate ritual of the Catholic Church. They professed a desire to “purify” the Church of England by ridding it of Catholic practices. The Puritans are known for their austerity and acceptance of the basic principles of Calvinism, including the ideas of preordination and original sin. As you read from The Pilgrim’s Progress, look for passages that reflect Puritan beliefs.
Allegory. An allegory is a work in which each element symbolizes, or represents, something else.
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One of the most popular allegories in English literature, The Pilgrim’s Progress tells the story of the life journey of a pilgrim named Christian. Bunyan modeled his writing style in The Pilgrim’s Progress on the prose of the English Bible, enabling even the humblest reader to share the experiences of Christian and the travelers he meets. Once a household book, The Pilgrim’s Progress gave many phrases to our language: “the slough of despond,” “the house beautiful,” “Mr. Worldly-Wiseman,” and “Vanity Fair.” As The Pilgrim’s Progress opens, the speaker has a dream in which he sees Christian, who is weeping and wondering what to do.
As you read, make a cluster chart of the various elements that symbolize something else. One example has been done for you.
Describe a journey you have taken (or would like to take) that meant more than what you saw or did. For example, maybe you took a trip and something made you realize you were no longer a child; that trip is always connected with losing your childhood innocence.
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