This paper deals with the religious aspects in James Baldwin’s novel Go Tell It On The Mountain. As this book is partly autobiographical, the first chapter delivers a short biography of the author James Baldwin. His life and (religious) experiences had a great influence on his writing and several common aspects between his own life and the one of the novel’s hero John Grimes can be identified.
Prior to treat the topic of religious aspects within the novel, the background and an overview of Pentecostal and Black Church belief in general are given.
After a short summary of the plot in chapter 4, the paper deals with the aspects of Afro-American Religion and the Black Church in the book, including the title and every single chapter of the book. At the end of this paper, there’s a short conclusion.
At a glance
- Grade: 2.0 (1.0 is the best grade)
- Examines biblical counterparts of characters including Gabriel, Elizabeth and Elisha
Contents
1. Introduction
2. Short Biography of James Baldwin
3. Overview Pentecostalism and Black Church
4. Contents in Go Tell It On The Mountain
5. Religion within the novel
5.1 The Title
5.2 Part One
5.3 Part Two
5.3.1 Florence’s Prayer
5.3.2 Gabriel’s Prayer
5.3.3 Elizabeth’s Prayer
5.4 Part Three
6. Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
This paper examines how James Baldwin’s Go Tell It On The Mountain portrays African American religion and the Black Church. It asks how Pentecostal belief, biblical references and religious practices shape the novel’s characters, language and structure, while placing the work in the context of Baldwin’s life.
- Baldwin’s life and religious experiences
- Black Pentecostalism and church practices
- The novel’s title, spirituals and biblical allusions
- John Grimes’s family and search for identity
- Prayer, worship and religious conversion
Excerpt from the Book
3. Overview Pentecostalism and Black Church
To the religious understanding of James Baldwin’s novel Go Tell It On The Mountain, the concept and history of Black Pentecostalism and the Black Church is of crucial importance.
When the first Africans reached the United States, they were baptized and most of them joined one of the two main Christian sects existing in the South: the Methodist or the Baptist. These two sects base most of their teachings on the Bible. The Negroes’ early participation in the new faith depended on a close study and interest on the Bible. As time went on, Negroes established their own churches, but with certain variations which could perhaps be traced to the Negroes’ African Background (Baldwin, Longman 256).
Some members of the Pentecostal Church are possessed by the “Spirit” and begin to “prophecy” and “testify” to the might and saving mercies of the Lord. The use of musical instruments, singing of Negro Spirituals, the clapping of hands, stamping of feet and rhythmic body movement play a major role during the sermons, which are usually very emotional. It can be described as an ecstasy of spiritual elation when the members start dancing and singing.
The members of the church consider themselves to be a family and address one another in family-terms, such as brother, sister, mother and father. Furthermore, the members regard themselves as “Saints” and all non-members as “the Sinners”.
The beginnings of the modern Pentecostal movement centered on the white Revolutionist Charles Parham. The pentecostal scene shifts to the West, to California, where in 1906 a black minister named W.J. Seymour arrived to preach a small Nazarene church. After three days of his preaching, the Spirit fell and “tongues” were heard on the West Coast (Sylvander 130).
The meeting quickly outgrew the small home and a former African Methodist Episcopal church building was rented on Azusa Street in the industrial part of the city. From here was to develop the revival church, sending the pentecostal experience around the world. It was called “Apostolic Faith Mission”.
The Pentecostal Experience may be defined as seeking and receiving the gift of speaking in tongues as a sign of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In turn that baptism may be defined as the dwelling of the Holy Spirit in the individual believer. Furthermore, the ability of healing and other charismatic gifts are considered to be the real aspects of the pentecostal belief.
Chapter Summaries
1. Introduction: The paper introduces its focus on religion in Baldwin’s novel and outlines the relationship between the author’s experiences, the religious background and the subsequent textual analysis.
2. Short Biography of James Baldwin: This chapter traces Baldwin’s upbringing, his early experience as a preacher, his move to Europe and his literary and public career.
3. Overview Pentecostalism and Black Church: The author describes aspects of Black church worship and Pentecostal history, including speaking in tongues and the Azusa Street revival.
4. Contents in Go Tell It On The Mountain: The novel’s plot and three-part structure are introduced through John Grimes’s family and religious community.
5. Religion within the novel: This chapter examines biblical names, spirituals, worship and the novel’s title before discussing each part and the prayers of Florence, Gabriel and Elizabeth.
6. Conclusion: The paper returns to the connections between religious experience, Black history, identity and biblical references in Baldwin’s novel.
Keywords
James Baldwin, Go Tell It On The Mountain, African American religion, Black Church, Pentecostalism, biblical allusions, spirituals, John Grimes, prayer, religious conversion, identity, Harlem
Frequently Asked Questions
What is this paper about?
It examines the portrayal of African American religion and the Black Church in James Baldwin’s Go Tell It On The Mountain.
What are its central themes?
The paper explores Pentecostal worship, biblical imagery, spirituals, family relationships, identity and conversion.
What is the paper’s primary objective?
It aims to explain how religious beliefs and practices appear throughout the novel and how they relate to its characters and structure.
What method does the author use?
The author combines contextual discussion of Baldwin’s life and Pentecostalism with a textual analysis of the novel, drawing on literary scholarship and religious references.
What does the main analysis cover?
It considers the title, biblical names and language, church services, the three parts of the novel and the individual prayers in its second part.
Which keywords characterize the paper?
Key terms include James Baldwin, Black Church, Pentecostalism, biblical allusions, spirituals, prayer and religious conversion.
How does the paper approach the novel’s title?
It discusses the title’s connection to an African American spiritual and its biblical associations, alongside an account of Baldwin’s inspiration.
Whose prayers are discussed in the second part?
The analysis considers the prayers of Florence, Gabriel and Elizabeth and the memories through which their family histories emerge.
Why is Baldwin’s biography included?
The paper presents his upbringing and religious experiences as context for understanding parallels between his life and John Grimes’s story.
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- Meike Krause (Autor:in), 2006, The portrayal of African-American religion and the black church in James Baldwin's "Go Tell It On The Mountain ", München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/76724
