Jonathan Edwards's sermon 'Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,' delivered in 1741, became a hallmark of the First Great Awakening, a religious revival that swept through the American colonies. Edwards's vivid imagery and emotional appeal highlighted the urgency of personal salvation and the fear of divine judgment. His theological works, including 'A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections,' further explored the nature of religious experience, significantly shaping American evangelicalism and the landscape of Protestant thought.

Jonathan Edwards's theology during the Great Awakening in 1741 profoundly influenced American poetry, particularly through his aesthetics of the sublime. His exploration of beauty and terror resonated with poets like Emily Dickinson, who grappled with similar themes of spiritual sensation in their works.