The Sermon & Its Purpose
Who wrote “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”?
Who is Jonathan Edwards?
A sermon is an example of this type of formal public speaking.
oratory
This word means extreme anger.
Wrath
Based on context, what does “There will be no end to this exquisite horrible misery” mean by exquisite?
sharp or intense
Puritans believed life should focus on what above all else?
serving and obeying God
What was the purpose of Edwards’s sermon?
to persuade sinners to repent and seek salvation
When Edwards compares sinners to “spiders held over a fire,” what device is he using?
Metaphor
This word means all-powerful.
Omnipotent
What does the prefix omni- in omnipotent mean?
all or everywhere
What was the Puritans’ attitude toward fun activities like dancing, games, or theater
they saw them as sinful distractions from God
When and where was the sermon delivered?
1741 in Connecticut
This rhetorical appeal uses emotion to move an audience.
Pathos
This word means supreme; unlimited in power.
sovereign
In the phrase “God’s wrath is like great waters that are dammed for the present,” what does dammed mean in context?
held back or restrained/Destined to break
What could happen if someone skipped church or broke the Sabbath (Sunday day of rest)
they could be publicly punished, fined, or shamed
What emotion was Edwards trying to stir in his listeners?
Fear (of God’s wrath and Hell)
When Edwards describes the “furnace of God’s wrath,” what literary device is he using to appeal to the senses?
Imagery (use of senses)
incapable of being described in words
ineffable
In context, “sovereign God” means God has what kind of power?
complete or unlimited power
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Please give a wager (any portion of their current score) Before the question is revealed.
The Puritans had strict laws to control behavior — even minor sins could lead to punishment.
Explain what this reveals about their view of human nature and society.
What major religious movement was Edwards a leader of?
The Great Awakening
Name two emotional appeals Edwards uses to persuade his audience.
fear/guilt/hope
This old-fashioned word for sulfur is linked to Hell and eternal punishment.
brimstone
In the line “There is nothing that keeps wicked men, at any moment, out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God,” what does mere mean?
only or nothing more than
Puritans wanted to build a “city upon a hill.” What did that phrase mean for their community?
they wanted to be a perfect Christian example for the world — a model society watched by God and others