First Among Bunyan's Critics: T. S., Imitative Sequel Writer

• Published in: Bunyan studies no. 21; pp. 55 - 72
• Main Author: Garrett, Christopher E
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Newcastle Upon Tyne Northumbria University, Department of Humanities, Faculty of Arts, Design and Social Sciences 01.01.2017
• Subjects: 17th century; Allegory; Authenticity; Authorship; British & Irish literature; Bunyan, John (1628-1688); Bunyan, John (1628-88); Christianity; Collaboration; English literature; Folklore; Literary characters; Literary criticism; Literary devices; Literary influences; Meditation; Narrative techniques; Publishing; Publishing industry; Readers; Reading; Religion; Remakes & sequels; Spirituality; Theology; Truth; Writers; New York; United Kingdom > UK; United States > US; England
• ISSN: 0954-0970

According to her reading, although in The Second Part it is obvious that its author is opposed to High Church practice, his book appeals to a church tradition and weaves into the text a liturgical pattern.13 It is certainly true that T. S. stresses the importance of communion. To help us understand T. S.'s importance as Bunyan critic, we should turn our attention to U. Milo Kaufmann's scholarship. Besides emphasizing the influence of the Puritan meditative tradition in Bunyan's writing, Kaufmann wishes to pursue a much larger argument in which he employs two key terms: mythos (action; also related with imagination) and logos (thought; synonymous with reason and the Word). According to Kaufmann, the 'spiritual progenitor of Puritanism, John Calvin, was oriented toward logos rather than mythos as the fit vessel of truth'.17 He argues that writers like Baxter, Sibbes, and Bunyan begin to defuse the Puritan mistrust of allegory and imagination, and a movement commences among Puritan authors toward mythos. [...]according to Tindall, 'in answer to T. S.'s advocacy of the general call, Christiana received an individual letter from God [...] asking her particularly to set out'.29 Whether or not Tindall is correct in his surmises here, there certainly is greater emphasis on the benefits of spiritual community in Bunyan's Second Part.