..."Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" Jonathan Edwards In the first few weeks of class we have discussed the thought and religion of the early people that first began the development of our counrty. As we have looked at the literature in class the works of these writers seem to be simlar in that each one talks about a higher being that these people all worshipped. However, that is where the comparisons would end. One of the writings that I found interesting was that of Jonathan Edwards. Born in 1703 in East Windsor, Connecticut, Jonathan Edwards lived at a time when the Calvinistic Puritanism of the American colonies, particularly New England, was giving way to thoughts coming out of Europe. We had discussed in one of first classes the reason that so many of the laws and rights found here in the United States were the same as in Europe. The reason was for this is because that is where the people of early America came from. This is the reason for the large population of people believing in these thoughts and beliefs coming from Europe. The Bible was a large part of the lives of these people. With that, as many religious leaders before and after him, Edwards's source of inspiration and guidance was the Bible. He often used parts or sections of biblical verse rather than complete text because too much information might diminish the importance of his primary intent. An example of how he preached to the people can be seen in Edwards's sermon, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry...
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...“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” Jonathon Edwards delivered a sermon for the ages in 1741. “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” was powerful and moving to all who heard it. Edward’s mastery of diction, immaculate imagery, and reinforced repetition made sure his listeners understood the full impact of their sins. This piece was so forceful, it sent them running for the hills. Maybe not the hills but a few did run out screaming! He accomplished exactly what he had hoped for. People were definitely afraid that God would punish them for their sins. Jonathon Edwards knew how to make his words count. Edwards chose words that got the most bang for his buck. He wanted his words to convey his feelings in the most persuasive way possible. Phrases such as, “The floods of God’s vengeance have been withheld” were used in this sermon. The words are chosen carefully to demonstrate God’s wrath. Edwards could have said God’s anger but he chose, instead, to use the words “floods” and “God’s vengeance” to evoke fear and trembling in his listeners. Another phrase Edwards uses is, “fiery floods of the fierceness and wrath of God”. Those words are full of impact. When they’re spoken to the crowd they automatically trigger trepidation. Edwards once again is demonstrating God’s disdain for sinners. One of the most aggressive statements in Edward’s whole piece are the words, “you are ten thousand times more abominable in his eyes than the most hateful venomous serpent is in ours.” Edwards...
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...“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” - Rhetorical Analysis Description: In a typical AP analysis essay you will be required to discuss the rhetorical strategies the author uses to achieve his purpose. Sometimes specific strategies will be suggested like sentence structure or diction. But usually the prompt is rather open and it is up to you to decide on those elements that are most significant and let those be the focus of you paper. In any case your analysis should have the following qualities: • Clear focus on specific strategies which are significant • References the text directly through direct quotes and paraphrase. • Analysis goes beyond mere identification and discusses the effect of the strategies used. • Strategies used are connected to the author’s purpose. All of the characteristics above should be evident through out the essay and in every paragraph. A word on paragraph structure: • Beginning o Identifies strategy which is the focus of the paragraph o Makes reference to the effect and, or purpose of the strategy, o Indicates a specific portion of the text o Provides a transition from previous paragraph • Middle o Provides specific examples/ evidence from text o Explains and elaborates on the effect, provides detailed and specific insights • End o Links back to thesis, provides big picture analysis of the importance of the focus Assignment: Compose...
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...will be comparing and contrasting the two stories, “ The Minister’s Black Veil” by Nathaniel Hawthorne and “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards. The literary devices I will be using to express these differences and similarities will be symbolism, imagery , and foreshadowing. While I would characterize Hawthorne’s style as mysterious and dark Jonathan Edwards reveals the reader’s understanding of Puritan ideals of religion by giving the readers a new perspective on the ideal of God. In the book “The Minister’s Black Veil” Hawthorne uses symbolism to disguise a person visage . It states “ so far as my vow may suffer me know, then, this veil is a type and a symbol, and I am bound to wear it ever both light and darkness in solitude before the gaze of multitudes and as with strangers so with my familiar. No mortal eye will see it withdrawn.”(Hawthorne 5). He’s stating that the veil is keeping him who he is and will...
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...Akil Hodge 9-17-10 2nd / U.S. Lit. Analysis: Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God The Great Awakening was a religious movement that shocked the world and brought unbelieving people into the life of a Christian. Jonathan Edwards was a powerful, influential figure in this movement and was known for his visual sermons. His method of preaching was using fear to frighten people to convert. One of his most powerful sermons, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, used many rhetorical strategies to persuade his unsaved audience to become saved to avoid the torment of hell. One productive approach that was substantial in scaring the unsaved people in the audience is through the use of imagery. Imagery is the usage of words to make an image in the mind of the listener(s); with which Edwards uses adequately to defend his reason. In his case, he utilizes this technique to penetrate the hearts and minds to everyone present. This strategy terrifies his listeners into following his directions and method of redemption. “There are black clouds of God’s wrath now hanging directly over your heads” is an excellent example of imagery because it displays an image of hater from God. Metaphors are applied often in this distinctive speech about God and his anger. This figure of speech spans over the whole account through all paragraphs and is a very unique way of influence. I feel that “The bow of God’s wrath is dent” presents the meaning of the word metaphor, which is the using of words...
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...immutable Rule of Righteousness that God has fixed between him and Mankind, is gone out against them, and stands against them; so that they are bound over already to Hell.” (Edwards, 6). Puritanism had a large impact on the development of the American identity, during and after the American Revolution which is evident in Jonathan Edwards's sermon "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." In his sermon he states how Americans need to fight for their freedoms that are not only given to them by the nation and new government, but also by God himself. His sermons are compelling enough to change the course of the nation and cause it to...
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...In "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God" by Jonathan Edwards, Edwards describes in this sermon God's fury towards those who do not following the religion. To do this, Edwards is required to use man rhetorical devices. Some of those devices are Imagery,Connotation, and Personification. Edwards uses Imagery to allow his audience to visualize how near God is with his wrath. He states, "There are the black clouds of God's wrath now hanging directly over your heads, full of the dreadful storm and big with thunder..." This allows the audience to imagine the proximity of Gods wrath. He uses, "black clouds", to describe how dark Gods wrath is. These clouds are right over the audiences head to allow them to visualize that is only a matter of time until God releases his fury upon them. But he also goes on to state, "full of dreadful storm and big with thunder..." to describe the darkness of the clouds, but to also allow them to get an idea of some the items that are held within the dark cloud. Edwards uses imagery to all his audience to visualize the proximity of Gods wrath, but to also allow them to imagine the horrific events that follow if God decides to release his wrath....
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...the heads of society members; however, it is often also used as a source of hope. Jonathan Edwards’s Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God speech and Patrick Henry’s “Speech to the Virginia Convention” have many differences in the way the speakers portray religion to their advantage, and striking similarities in how they use religious views to persuade their audience. Edwards begins his speech by explaining God’s wrath, and how all Christians are held in the “hand” of God over the pit of hell. From the beginning of his speech, he uses this imagery to instill the fear of burning in hell eternally. Edwards then continues to add panic within the audience as he conveys that “The devil is waiting for them, hell gaping for them, the flames gather and flash about them and would swallow them up” (5-7). The usage of imagery pushes these...
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...The Great Awakening was a movement in colonial times influenced by leaders such as George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards. One of Jonathan edwards’ most influencial sermon was “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”. In this sermon, he demonstrates how God’s wrath is unstoppable and only Christ can save you from an eternity of misery. In his sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God’, Jonathan Edwards impacts religious beliefs of colonial American people through rhetoric and persuasion during the Great Awakening. Edwards’ sermon revolutionizes the religious beliefs during the Great Awakening. Edwards uses the simile: “ The God holds you over the pit of Hell, much as one holds a spider, or some loathsome insect over the fire, abhors you, and is dreadfully provoked: his wrath towards you burns like a fire… you are ten thousand times more abominable in his eyes than the worst venomous serpent is in ours” (Edwards 89). This new idea of God being a God of fury and relentless wrath revolutionized the belief of colonial Americans. William Farley states in his article on the Great Awakening that “Overnight, the town was transformed. The citizens sang hymns in the streets, the tavern closed, young people pursued God in bands, and it...
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...Edwards who wrote Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Bradford’s piece is a Separatist’s interpretation of the Reformation in England and the early years of the newly founded Plymouth colony. Edward’s piece touches upon the topic of the seriousness of sin in his Puritan congregation. One common theme among the pieces, Of Plymouth Plantation and the Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, is that Puritan faith, beliefs, attitudes, and values is based on charity and hard work involving...
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...Question Six The forthright sermon, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, is very directly written to strike fear in his listeners. This sermon was written by Jonathan Edwards, a Puritan preacher. With his very elaborately spoken, yet very brutally worded sermons, Edwards tried to scare his listeners into continue following the religion, or start following it again. He used two main techniques to do this, firstly, by speaking how awful hell would be, and secondly, how horrific God’s wrath would be, Jonathan would even use both ways to strike more fear too. The idea of hell was very frightening to many already. Jonathan was a man who thrived on this fear of many. In the first few sentences, he sermonized,“That world of misery, that lake of...
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...In the sermon of Reverend Jonathan Edward’s ,“Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” Edwards talks about eternal damnation for people who do not believe in Christ. In his opinion, people who don’t turn to the path of salvation will face the wrath of God. His use of imagery and literary devices contribute to the effectiveness of his preachings. Edward uses imagery to instill fear into his audience, his wording paints vivid pictures into people’s brains. He begins to talk about the horrors that are awaiting the sinners, “the devil is waiting for them, hell is gaping for them, the flames gather and flash for them…”(4). Edward wants the sinners to know that if they do not begin to accept God into their lives, the devil will be awaiting their...
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...The verbalization, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” by Jonathan Edwards, is set in the time of the Great Awakening. Although this time period was after the Puritans, it sets the stage for the abundance of Edwards’ notions. Edwards’ speech, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”, speaks to the audience because of the harshness and the ability to create trepidation in people. He strategically lowers the audience’s self-love and makes it feel guilty until eventually when hearing the horrors of hell, you endure fear. The speech begins by making you terror hell and then gives you the loophole out of it. Although the message is not distinctly stated, Edwards’ vigor in speech blows the audience into believing every single word. Given the setting and circumstances of his time, Edwards' speech, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", is an example of an effective argument due to his allusions to the past and polished use of visual imagery to engender fear in his audience. Edwards’ speech uses visual imagery, therefore leaving a mark and creating guilt in the audiences’ conscious. After creating multiple emotions like: guilt, fear, self-realization, he gives them a mode to be saved from it all. Although each of these images were diminutive and concise, when allied with the allusions they create the trepidation Edwards worked...
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...Puritans have a strict moral compass that has severe consequences if you do anything wrong. Jonathan Edward’s narrative, Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, conceives a darker illustration to Puritan belief than Nathaniel Hawthorne’s narrative, Young Goodman Brown. The Puritans conclude, based on scripture that God hated sin and would punish you for it. Jonathan Edward describes God’s disapproval of wrong doing by saying “ That God will execute the fierceness of his anger, implies, that he will inflict wrath without any pity. When God beholds the ineffable extremity of your case, and sees your torment to be so vastly disproportioned to your strength, and sees how your poor soul is crushed, and sinks down, as it were, into an infinite gloom; he will have no compassion upon you, he will not forbear the executions of his wrath, or in the least lighten his hand; there shall be no moderation or mercy, nor will God then at all stay his rough wind; he will have no regard to your welfare, nor be at all careful lest you should suffer too much in any other sense, than only that you shall not suffer beyond what strict justice requires…”...
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...Awakening, a time of religious revival and fervor during the 1730s and 1740s. In his sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” Edwards uses the rhetorical devices of imagery and repetition to convey the pilgrims’ attitude toward God and their way of life. Edwards’ profuse usage of imagery throughout his sermon conveyed the pilgrims’ attitude towards God. Imagery is a rhetorical device which consists of descriptive language that appeals to a person’s five senses and their emotions. In his sermon, Edwards creates vivid images of an angry God and of God’s frightening wrath in order to induce fear among his audience to persuade them to reform their ways. Edwards states,...
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