A People's History of the United States, Zinn

Reading Questions

1. What were Columbus first impressions of the Native Americans? (cite the primary source of Columbus journal entry)
2. What was Columbus motive for embarking on his voyage?
3. To whom does Columbus attribute his success?
4. What account does Bartolome de las Casas offer on the Native American people?
5. What account does Bartolome de las Casas offer on Columbus treatment of the Native Americans?
6. What commentary does Zinn provide on English and Native American relations during the early years surrounding the settlement
of Jamestown?
7. Summarize the plea made by Powhatan to John Smith and the members of Jamestown.
8. What commentary does Zinn provide on the Pilgrims and the Puritans arrival to New England? What justification is provided by
the Puritans when they claimed New England land to establish the Massachusetts Bay Colony.
9. What is identified as a real human need of these early settlers that led to their cruel treatment of Native American peoples?
Does this need still make up a core value of contemporary American culture?
10. What analysis does Zinn provide on Iroquois way of life and cultural values? Do you believe this image of Iroquois community
represents a utopian society?

The General History of Virginia, Smith
Reading Questions

11. How does John Smith describe the diet, lodging, and lifestyle of the members of Jamestown? What effect did this have on them?
12. What point of view does Smith use? Why does he write his narrative in this way?
13. Compare and contrast Smiths description of the initial overseers of Jamestown, with his handling as supervisor of Jamestown.
14. What personal attributes, or qualitiues, appear to be valued within this American colony? Why?
15. What events occur while Smith and his company explored the land outside of Jamestown? Do you think Smiths account is
accurate? What evidence can you cite to argue that Smiths account is not completely objective?
16. What diction does he use, and what behavior does he exhibit, that reveals his opinion of the Native Americans? Does this initial
opinion change?
17. Who is Samoset, and how do the Pilgrims meet him?
18. What does Bradford reveal about his religious beliefs in his description of Squanto? How is Squanto a special instrument? Why
do you suppose he chose this particular diction?
19. In what way is the authors purpose of encouraging other English men and women to settle in the New World made apparent, or
clear? What other purposes does Smith appear to have had?
20. Considering the conventions of historical narratives, identify Smiths display of both subjectivity (or bias) and objectivity and
cite two examples. Explain how your cited examples are either subjective or objective.

Puritanism in New England, Campbell
Reading Questions

21. Compare and contrast the two different types of Puritans.
22. What were the values of Puritan society?
23. Explain the Puritan belief of predestination, and its relation to the various covenants, or contracts, (original sin, grace,
redemption) that were established between God and his elect.
24. Explain the theocracy political system that came to be called the Congregational or New England Way. How did it establish
power and its distribution within Puritan society?
25. How did individuals obtain church membership? How were children of church members granted membership? What were
potential motives in obtaining membership?
26. Explain the Puritan plain style. What does it avoid? How does the style focus on doctrine, reasons, and uses?
Genesis, Moses
Reading Questions

27. Why were all of the creatures on earth created?
28. Why was Adam created? Why was Eve created? How does this influence the righteous and ethnocentric Puritan perspective?
29. What would result from Adam and Eve eating from the tree of knowledge of good and evil?
30. What impact does the belief in this original sin have on the Puritans way of life?

Of Plymouth Plantation, Bradford
Reading Questions

31. How does Bradford describe (a) the Pilgrims journey across the Atlantic, (b) the Pilgrims emotional condition during the voyage,
and (c) the environmental conditions of Cape Code upon their arrival?
32. What inferences can be made about the attitudes and qualities of the Pilgrims?
33. What evidence can be found demonstrating how the Pilgrims Christian beliefs influence their writing?
34. What point of view does Bradford use? Why does he write his narrative in this way?
35. What fate would become of the majority of the colonys members? What was the cause?
36. How do the Pilgrims treat one another during the starving time? What inferences can be made about the personal attributes
that are valued within this American colony?
37. Analyze Bradfords diction and describe his attitude toward the Native Americans.
38. What relationship developed between the Pilgrims and the Native Americans? Compare and contrast the Pilgrims relationship
with the Native Americans, with that of the members of Jamestown.
39. Compare and contrast the narratives provided by Smith and Bradford. Consider their tone, diction, point of view, as well as their
opinion of the New World, themselves, fellow members of the colony, the Native Americans, etc.
40. How does Bradford describe (a) the Pilgrims journey across the Atlantic, (b) the Pilgrims emotional condition during the voyage,
and (c) the environmental conditions of Cape Code upon their arrival?
A Model of Christian Charity, Winthrop
Reading Questions

41. Identify the condition of mankind referenced by Winthrop and summarize the three reasons provided to justify why God hath
so disposed of this condition? What is his purpose in addressing this aspect of human society?
42. Explain the laws that govern human interaction.
43. Analyze Winthrops understanding of love. What is its purpose? How does it develop? To whom is it to be directed?
44. What are the various applications of Winthrops Christian model? (i.e. for the persons, the work, the ends, the means)
45. What justification is provided to explain why God will not bear with such failings at our hands? What would become of them if
they fail?
46. At the beginning of the second to last paragraph, what metaphor is used regarding what must be avoided? Why would this
metaphor resonate with his audience?
47. Ultimately, what would the Puritans need to do to be successful and avoid such peril?
48. Explain Winthrops significant declaration: For we must consider that we shall be as a city upon a hill. The eyes of all people are
upon us. Does this statement still apply to America? Can you provide examples?
49. Why did Winthrop quote Moses? What was he predicting would happen if they followed Moses advice? What was the
alternative, if they did not?
50. Cite one example/explanation of Winthrops use of the rhetorical devices (pathos, ethos, logos) to achieve his purpose.

Narrative of the Captivity, Rowlandson
Reading Questions

51. What details are provided to describe the events the occurred the morning of February 10, 1675?
52. What diction is used to describe the Native Americans? What can be inferred about Rowlandsons opinion of the Native
Americans?
53. What does Rowlandson struggle with during her period of captivity, believing herself to be careless? What did she fear?
54. What kind gestures, or acts, do the Native Americans offer Rowlandson?
55. What harsh conditions are the Native Americans forced to endure? What is the primary cause to their situation?
56. What tension is apparent between Rowlandsons slow assimilation into Native American culture, and her attempt to hold true to
her Puritan values?
57. Upon returning from captivity, what lesson does Rowlandson learn? What attributes does she appear to value?
58.
59.
60.

Select Poems, Bradstreet
Reading Questions
The Prorogue

61. How does Bradstreet contrast herself with her male poet counterparts? (Stanza 1)
62. What allusion is made to which Bradstreet compare herself? In what manner does she contrast herself? (Stanza 2)
63. In what way is Bradstreet irreparable? (Stanza 3)
64. What is Bradstreets tone? How does it shift from the prior stanzas? (Stanza 5)
65. What claim does Bradstreet make? How radical is this claim within Puritan society? Within present day America? (Stanza 7)
66. How does Bradstreet contrast herself with her male poet counterparts? (Stanza 1)
67. What allusion is made to which Bradstreet compare herself? In what manner does she contrast herself? (Stanza 2)
To My Dear and Loving Husband

68. What imagery does Bradstreet use to describe her feelings toward her husband?
69. What does their relationship and her feelings toward her husband say of Puritan values?
70. What does Bradstreet hope for the future? What does her aspirations say of Puritan beliefs?

Select Poems, Bradstreet
Reading Questions
Flesh and Spirit

71. How does Bradstreet personify Flesh and Spirit? Why does Bradstreet personify them in this way?
72. Explain Fleshs criticism of Spirit. How does Flesh try to show Spirit unto thy sense and persuade her to change her ways?
73. How does Spirit initially respond to Fleshs criticism? What does Spirit aim to do?
74. What allusions are made by Spirit to explain their lineage? What inferences can be made from these allusions?
75. What tone does Spirit take when addressing Flesh?
76. What details and imagery does Spirit provide to justify her choices? What is ironic about her description?
77. Who wins the argument between the Flesh and the Spirit? Explain.
78. Why does Bradstreet begin the poem by describing her wandering along the banks of Lacrim?
79. What is her purpose in writing this poem? What her purpose achieved?
80. How is her poetry symbolic of the Puritan plain style?

Select Poems, Taylor
Reading Questions

Huswifery

81. To what is the speaker compared in the first two stanzas? How do the words distaff, flyer, spoole, and reel symbolic of the Puritan
plain style?
82. What does the poems tone suggest about the speakers attitude toward God?
83. What seems to be the authors overall purpose? What does it say about our relationship with God?
84. How do the holy robes serve a symbol representing Taylors belief in Gods grace?
Upon a Wasp Chilled with Cold

85. Identify and explain the following examples demonstrating Taylor personification of the wasp: (a) What details does he use in
describing the wasp? (b) How does the wasp warm itself? (c) What does the wasp do after it has warmed itself?
86. How does the wasp serve a symbol representing Taylors belief in Gods grace?
87. Looking to the second half of the poem, what seems to be the authors overall purpose? What does it say about our relationship
with nature?
88.
89.
90.

Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God, Edwards
Reading Questions

91. According to Edwards, what keeps sinners from falling into hell, and what do his listeners mistakenly feel keeps them from
falling into hell? What metaphor is eventually used to express the folly, or foolhardiness, of this belief?
92. Locate the paragraphs that begin with the excerpt provided below. Within each paragraph, identify the metaphors and imagery
Edwards uses to convey the wrath of God, and explain their persuasive impact on causing fear and hopelessness.
a. Your wickedness makes

b. The wrath of God is

c. The bow of God's wrath

d. The God that holds you

93. What diction in the sermons title suggests the pathos of Edwards message? What additional traits does Edwards attribute to
God as the sermon progresses?
94. Toward the end of the sermon, how does Edwards attempt to appeal to his larger audience?
95. As Edwards concludes his sermon, how does his tone shift? What diction does he use to establish this new tone?
96. What does he say sinners can obtain? What must sinners do to obtain these things?
97. Cite one example/explanation of Edwards use of the rhetorical devices (pathos, ethos, logos) to achieve his purpose.
98. Given his purpose and audience, do you think Edwards sermon was effective? Why or why not?
99. Compare and contrast the sermons provided by Winthrop and Edwards. Consider the tone, diction, imagery, and rhetoric they use
to persuade their audience.
100.