Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God Analysis Breakdown

1. Firstly, what do you believe is the tone of the writing?

The tone of this writing is very condemning. It is negative and unhopeful. Also, the tone is very criticizing.
2. List 20 that seem to be significant diction (word choice). No more, no less. I want 20 so that you can see the patterns
in diction; however, I want to limit you so that you pick the 20 most significant words. Remember, do not confuse
diction for literary devices like allusion. There is a difference!!! Then, explain how this diction creates a tone.
pit, hell, fiery, sentenced, dreadfully, anger, suffering, executions, wrath, devil, uncovenanted, unobliged,
forbearance, incensed, awful, misery, gaping, suspended, wickedness, bottomless
These diction words are all associated with negativity and give off a frightening feeling. When a person reads the
word, wrath, accompanied with another word in the same paragraph such as the devil, the writing takes on a very
condemning tone because they are not necessarily words spoken on a positive, hopeful note.
3. What is the syntax of the writing? What types of sentences does Edwards tend towards? How does this syntax
create the tone?
Edwards uses accusatory statements and writes in second person. By using second person and accusatory syntax,
Edwards causes the reader to feel as though they are on the stand. Accusatory statements cause readers to think
of their actions and in this case make them feel hopeless since Edwards is stating that they have no chance
whatsoever of redeeming themselves. Therefore, the writing has a hopeless and accusatory/criticizing tone.
4. Jonathan Edwards largely relies on metaphors in his homily. Use the table below to record three major metaphors
that occur in the poem. Then explain what tone these metaphors create.
Metaphor Meaning of the
Metaphor
Edwards Argument What it says about
Puritan Society



Consider the fearful
danger you are in: it is a
great furnace of wrath, a
wide bottomless pit



This metaphor means that
the danger of being
condemned to hell is the
most terrible thing one can
imagine, comparing it to a
bottomless pit helps the
reader to picture just how
bad it is.

Edwards is arguing that
people are in a great danger
because of how we
provoke god through our
ruthless ways. He is saying
that this danger of Gods
wrath is greater than any
other.

This shows that the Puritan
society remains in a
constant fear of God and his
wrath, believing it to be one
of the most dangerous
things on this earth.

The God that holds you
over the pit of hell, much as
one holds a spider, or
loathsome insect over the
fire





This metaphor says that
God taunts us as though
humans are disgusting
insects which can be cast
aside and toyed with.

Edwards argues that
humans are meaningless to
God, all we are good for is
provoking Him and angering
him. Therefore, he views us
as though we are
meaningless insects.

This shows that Puritan
societies believed that life
was basically one big
mistake since God treats his
own creation as though
they are loathsome insects
yet humans are meant to
make the best of it.


The wrath of God is like
great waters that are
dammed for the preset;
they increase more and
more, and rise higher and
higher, till an outlet is
given




This metaphor means that
Gods wrath is building up
as though it were waters
being held back by a dam,
but a dam cannot be held
forever; therefore it is
saying that Gods wrath can
only be held back for so
long.

Edwards is arguing that God
will eventually not tolerate
human sin and will punish
his people as soon as he
gets pushed to the edge.
Therefore, he is saying that
people have to straighten
out their act before they
push God too far.

This shows that Puritan
society lives in a constant
fear of Gods wrath being
released upon them at the
slightest mistakes.

5) What is Edwards purpose as an author in this homily? What is he trying to communicate to his audience? Do you
believe that his approach is affective?
Edwards purpose as an author was to convey the message that Gods wrath is inevitable and will come down
upon the people no matter what. He was trying to communicate to his audience that they should fear the lord
and follow his rules; he does this by telling them that God is full of anger and nothing people can say or do can
change that. I believe his approach was very effective. It was effective because he was able to scare these people
into believing him due to his respective position in the Puritan society.

6) Now that you have considered the diction, syntax, and metaphors in the Edwards homily. Do you agree with your
initial view on the writings tone (from question 1)? If yes, what affirmed your view? If no, what changed your view?
Yes, I completely agree with my initial view. The types of diction used within this homily support my analysis of
the tone. Words such as hell, damned, and wrath, definitely create a very condemning tone to this piece of
writing. Also, further looking into the metaphors proves that most of Edwards message was to frighten Puritan
society and make them feel totally inferior and helpless to the wrath of God.