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Puritan History
Bradford and "Of Plymouth Plantation"
Rowlandson and "A Narrative of her Captivity"
Edwards and "Sinners at the Hands of an Angry God"
Literary Techniques
100
From what word did the Puritans get their title?
"Purify." The Puritans sought to purify the church of England.
100
What happened to the haughty, profane young man who tormented the sick passengers of the ship?
He fell ill himself, died, and was tossed off of the ship before reaching the new world.
100
Describe Rowlandson's opinion of and attitude toward the Native Americans at the beginning of her narrative. Give one specific example.
She believes them to be savage. They fail to give her food and water. They threaten to hit her child if the girl does not stop crying.
100
What was the Great Awakening?
The First Great Awakening emphasized the importance of an immediate, personal religious experience. It was a call to be "born again" by accepted Christ as a savior. An attempt to return the colonies to strict, Calvinist, Puritan behaviors.
100
Bradford uses plain style. What is plain style?
Every day language, simple syntax.
200
The Puritans believed all people were born into one of two groups, that their fates were predetermined. What were those groups?
The saved and the damned, or the elect and the unregenerate.
200
Who was Squanto?
Squanto was believed to be the Pilgrims' "special instrument of God." He interpreted for them and showed them how to plant food for themselves.
200
Who is Rowlandson's captor?
King Philip's "brother-in-law." King Philip was the son of Massasoit.
200
Why would the bow and arrow metaphor Edwards uses be particularly frightening to colonists?
It mimics the conflict with the Native Americans.
200
Rowlandson uses subjective reporting. What is subjective reporting?
Use of emotionally loaded words when recounting an event. Could be positive or negative.
300
Puritans modeled their government, the Mayflower Compact, on what covenant?
The Puritans modeled their government on their covenant or agreement with God.
300
Summarize, briefly, the treaty between the Pilgrims and Wampanoags.
The Native Americans promised never to hurt any of the Pilgrims. The Natives would send anyone who did so to be punished. The Natives would help in any war. The Natives would send other confederates to join the treaty. The Natives would not bring weapons. (Depending on your point of view, this may be likewise for the Pilgrims to the Native Americans).
300
What does Rowlandson receive from a Native American for which she is thankful?
A Bible.
300
Why is the God Edwards discusses different from the God we see in Rowlandson's narrative and Bradford's journal?
He is wrathful and punishing. He is not testing faith or giving a challenge a person can handle.
300
Edwards uses the limited opportunity persuasive technique. What is the limited opportunity technique?
Only a short time to make a decision. Leads audience to make a quick, possibly rash decision.
400
Why did the Puritans believe the Church of England needed to be purified?
The church was controlled by Henry VIII, who took control of the church for his personal reasons (i.e. divorce). Also, Puritans believed that the members of the church needed a direct relationship with God, not just a relationship through the clergy.
400
In what style does Bradford write? Why is this still difficult for us to understand?
Bradford uses plain style, which features simple sentences, and every day language. He references their Bible. We have a difficult time understanding this because his every day language and syntax is now archaic. We also don't readily understand his allusions to the Bible unless we have a thorough knowledge of the Bible.
400
How does Rowlandson's attitude change toward the food she is given?
She begins to savor what she once would have found disgusting.
400
Describe Edwards' style of writing.
Figurative language, vivid imagery
400
What is propaganda? And how might Rowlandson's narrative be used as propaganda?
Propaganda is literature or writing that leads its audience to think a certain way. Rowlandson's narrative may have been used as propaganda to portray the Native Americans as savages or to assert the superiority of the Europeans.
500
Why was it important that Puritans have the ability to read?
They believed the Bible was the literal word of God. They needed to be able to read this to build their relationship with God and not need to rely on the clergy.
500
Why might the treaty between the Wamponoags and the Pilgrims seem one-sided?
Depending on the way the language is interpreted, it appears the Native Americans are the only ones who make promises not to harm the Pilgrims.
500
Were the Native Americans themselves deprived of food? Give one specific example.
"Whereupon they fell to boiling of groundnuts, and parching of corn (as many as had it) for their provision: And in the morning away they went."
500
Describe and explain the dam and flood metaphor.
Pressure building up, dam breaking, etc.
500
Recall the excerpt from John Smith's pamphlet about Jamestown. How would you describe his writing style? How does his writing compare to Bradford's?
Smith used overstatement to make the colony sound fantastic. It seemed as though it survived without any hardship. He used vivid details and figurative language. Bradford used plain style and relied on facts. Bradford's account seems much more realistic and down-to-earth.