BRADFORD – OF PLYMOUTH PLANTATION – post to journal 1A by assigned due date (respond to question 1 and 2 and then any 1 of the remaining Bradford questions)
1. Citing specific examples from the Bradford readings, discuss the ways in which he uses language (words and sentences) to describe and inform his readers about the situation and conditions they faced. How do Bradford’s descriptions give ‘meaning’ to their experience. Hint: re-read Bradford’s description of the potential perils they faced at the hands of the ‘savages’ on page 126 of the text and note the sentence beginning “And also those which should escape …”
2. How do these readings from Bradford’s history challenge and/or affirm traditional American beliefs about the Pilgrims and our colonial origins?
(respond to 1 of the following 3 questions)
2. How does Bradford’s account of the Puritan’s/Pilgrim’s rationale of leaving for the ‘new world’ (chapter IV: Showing the Reasons and Causes for Their Removal) compare with our ‘traditional’ understanding of their rationale?
3. In seventeenth-century Puritan thought, prosperity was a mixed blessing, even a paradox. If the colony prospered, and if individuals within the congregations fared well materially, such good fortune could signify righteousness and divine favor; but these colonists took seriously the warnings in the Gospels about the near impossibility of rich people entering Heaven. Bradford sounds elegiac in his account (Book II, Chapter XXII) of the colony growing prosperous and dispersing. The colony has succeeded and is spreading inland–so how can we account for Bradford’s melancholy mood?
4. If Bradford’s intent in writing his ‘Historie’ was to glorify and sanctify the ‘Pilgrim’ experience in the New World, discuss why he would feel it necessary to include the events he relates in chapter 32. ‘A Horrible Truth”?
WINTHROP – A MODEL OF CHRISTIAN CHARITY – post to journal 1A by the assigned due date (respond to both of the following questions)
1. In his sermon, “A Modell of Christian Charity,” what social structures, image patterns, values, and governing principles does Winthrop create/articulate to characterize the ideal community he envisions? Have those structures, patterns, values, and principles been incorporated into American culture and hold today or have they changed?
2. On page 176 of the text, the paragraph beginning with the sentence “Thus stands the cause between God and us” is generally referred to as the ‘Arabella Covenant’ and is considered, like the Mayflower Compact, as a basic document articulating American beliefs and ideals – how do the two documents compare? Is there a difference between the two or are they essentially the same?
Book Name: The Norton Anthology of American Literature 8th edition Volumes A & B Nina Baym
Grading rubric:
Evaluation considerations – individual response
A ‘weak’ response (Think ‘D’) will address a majority of the questions in generally broad or sweeping terms. The responses will offer minimal textual support for the statements being made.
An ‘adequate’ response ( think ‘C’) will address a majority of the questions in general terms without making broad or sweeping generalizations. The response will offer some textual support for the statements being made.
An ‘effective/good’ response ( think ‘B’) will address a majority of the questions in some specific terms and offer ‘reasonable’ support and offer a targeted response with reference to 2 or more examples
An ‘excellent/outstanding’ response ( think ‘A’) will address a majority of the questions with specific textual references and offer at least 3 (examples) from the readings in support of the response.
Important Considerations –
• Respond to each question in full/complete sentences and paragraphs
• Respond to each question individually and completely (be sure to clearly address all parts of each question)
• Be sure to support your responses, where/when appropriate, with relevant examples from the text and/or posted notes