“from Of Plymouth Plantation”

1. “from Of Plymouth Plantation” English 10

2. William Bradford • Mayflower traveled to America in 1620. • Thirty-year old Bradford was on it. • Orphaned as an infant • Studied the Bible and became a Separatist • Sought reforms in the Church of England rather than trying to purify it. They broke away in 1609 • Moved to Holland • Feared losing identity to Dutch culture • Decided to go America • Landed in Provincetown, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod on November 21, 1620. • 102 settlers got off the ship at Plymouth • Signed The Mayflower Compact-the colony’s rules of government.

3. Bradford continued • The First Winter • 100 settlers, the Pilgrims, elected Bradford leader. • No food at the beginning of winter. • No wilderness or survival skills. • Half the colonists died of pneumonia, fever, starvation, etc. • Bradford led the colony into a thriving community • Elected governor for 31 terms

4. Bradford Continued • Allowed different religions and nonbelievers in the community. • Distributed equal parcels of land • Bradford separates religious commentary from historical commentary • Bradford made no claims as other Puritans to colonial life being God’s plan.

5. Think • How important is it to be able to openly express your own beliefs? • Have you ever been in a situation where you felt you were not allowed or able to share your beliefs? • Would you put everything on the line for your beliefs?

6. Literary Element • Diction • A writer’s choice of words. • The writer’s voice or style. • Tip: Break long sentences into smaller parts!

7. Passages to Remember • P. 62 • “In sundry of these storms the winds were so fierce and the seas so high, as they could not beat a knot of sail… • Connotation? The emotions surrounding a word • Think of the difference in meaning if he had used “bad.”

8. Passages to remember • P. 64 • “…they resolved to bear up again for the Cape and thought themselves happy to get out of those dangers before night overtook them, as by God’s good providence they did…” • Notice religious overtones in writing.

9. Passages to remember • P. 64 “…they had now no friends to welcome them nor inns to entertain or refresh their weatherbeaten bodies; no houses or much less towns to repair to, to seek for succor. It is recorded in Scripture as a mercy to the Apostle and his shipwrecked company that the barbarians showed them no small kindness in refreshing them, but these savage barbarians, when they met with them (as after will appear) were readier to fill their sides full of arrows than otherwise…

10. …And for the season it was winter, and they that know the winters of that country know them to be sharp and violent, and subject to cruel and fierce storms, dangerous to travel to known places, much more to search an unknown coast.” • Notice the hardships they faced. • Reference to the Bible-Religious importance • Diction-choice of words

11. Passages to remember • P. 64 • “…in two or three months’ time half their company died…of 100 odd persons, scarce fifty remained…there was but six or seven sound persons who to their great commendations, be it spoken, spared no pains night nor day, but with abundance of toil and hazard of their own health, fetched them wood, made them fires, dressed them meat, made their beds, washed their loathsome clothes, clothed and unclothed them…and all this willingly and cheerfully, without any grudging in the least, showing…a rare example and worthy to be remembered…

12. Point of View-Bias • How does Bradford’s writing differ from Cabeza de Vaca’s?

13. Diction • P. 64 • “All this while the Indians came skulking about them…a certain Indian came boldly amongst them and spoke to them in broken English, which they could well understand but marveled at it. At length they understood by discourse with him, that he was not of these parts, but belonged to the eastern parts where some English ships came to fish…” • What does this passage tell you about this particular Indian?

14. Passages to remember • P. 64 • “…His name was Samoset. He told them also of another Indian whose name was Squanto, a native of this place, who had been in England and could speak better English than himself.”

15. Peace ( 24 years) on these terms: • 1. That neither he nor any of his should injure or do hurt to any of their people. • 2. That if any of his did hurt to any of theirs he should send the offender, that they might punish him. • 3. That if anything were taken away from any of theirs, he should cause it to be restored; and they should do the like to his. • 4.If any did unjustly war against him, they would aid him; if any did war against them, he should aid them.

16. 5. He should send to his neighbors confederates to certify them of this, that they might not wrong them, but might be likewise comprised in the conditions of peace. • 6. That when their men came to them, they should leave their bows and arrows behind them.

17. P. 64 • “…Squanto continued with them and was their interpreter and was a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation…”

18. Difference from the first winter? • P. 64 “…They began now to gather in the small harvest they had, and to fit up their houses and dwellings against winter, being all well recovered in health and strength and had all things in good plenty…All the summer there was no want…Which made many afterwards write so largely of their plenty here to their friends in England.”

19. Main Ideas • The author believes the Lord’s intervention kept a few people safe from sickness. • Squanto taught them about the land. • Squanto acted as their guide. • Squanto is referred to as a “special instrument sent of God,” letting us know Bradford believed all that happened was guided by God.