READING GUIDES 1

·THE IROQUOIS CREATION STORY

-1.Describe the text’s style and language.

Long sentences with subordination, connected to narrated texts instead of oral tradicionñ It
is non-standard English, formal, polite. This is an example of the transculturation, it is hybrid.
-2. Give examples of duality as a luring force in this story.
·Upper/lowe worlds
·man/female
·mankind/monsters
·dark/light
-3. Search for influences of the christian creation story (genesis) in the text
The order of the creation is similar to that in Genesis.
The way in which the good mind creates mend and women
The difference between two worlds: a good one/a bad one
The sky woman gets pregnant just as virgin mary did

·THE WINNEBAGO TRICKSTER CYCLE

-1. Describe the language and style of the text

Repetition like “formula”, direct speech… It uses a very simple and plain Englush, not
detailed, very literal with no metaphors and symbols. informal language: short sentences,
repeating words… All these elements indicate oral tradition.
-2. Carefully consider the following issues in terms of cultural difference with respect to our
own beliefs.
·Relationship between animals and humans: they had more respect, the way they address
each other and the way they collaborate. he wants to prove that he is more intelligent than
humans
·Differences between male and female_ There are almost no differences
·Meaning of sex: theres transgression but something good comes out of this, it is seen as
something natural and not dirty

·GENERAL HISTORY OF VIRGINIA, NEW ENGLAND AND HE SUMMER ISLES - JOHN

SMITH

–1. genre of the story

It is a captivity narrative.
-2. How does the author call his captors? how does he describe them?
Savages, devils, barbarians and grim courtiers
-3. How would you characterize Smiths style of narration?
The style is subjective, unreliable, contradictory, uses military lexicon, describes the savages
appearance. John Smith uses the TALL TALE (full of fantasy and exaggeration)
-4. In what ways is this text self-promoting John Smith
He describes himself as a hero, strong, resourceful, attractive and also justifying himself
-5. What is the effect o using the third person to refer to himself?
This person is used to emphasize the distance and sound more objective instead of a¡talking
all the time about himself
-6. Why did Smith refer to the tribesmen as “soldiers” and other military words?
He uses military lexicon because he does not know the words to refer to the hierarchy of the
people of the tribe
-7. In the pocahontas episode why do you think John smith describes it like that?
John smith again wants to pretend that he has been saved as a great hero
-8. Pocahontas became and still is a powerful symbol for all Americans. Why do you think
the story of John Smith and Pocahontas has become a national myth?
Because it has sbe come a romanticized symbol through the years.

·OF PLYMOUTH PLANTATION - WILLIAM BRADFORD

1-. What are the things that the Pilgrims do not have?
They had no friends to welcome them, no inns to entertain, no houses, no towns, and no
natives to help them
2- How are the natives characterized?
Savage barbarians, wild men, ready to attack, not welcoming at all.
3-. Does Bradford show admiration for the land he is seeing for the first time? what
perception of nature does this show?
7. Does Bradford show admiration for the land he is seeing for the first time?
What perception of nature does this show?
No, it’s hideous. It didn’t meet his expectations and also because he doesn’t see what's
common for him; houses, towns, civilization, the land is inhospitable, is dangerous.“It’s
a place to civilize”
11. What is the effect of the first person narrative in this text?
More authenticity, he tells the story from his point of view.
12. Would you characterize the style as plain or ornate? Accordingly, would you
say the main purpose of the text is didactic or entertaining?
It’s plain, direct and simple. Their purpose is to inform but not to entertain. There are
also figures or metaphors he uses as well because of the influence of the Renaissance.
13. What is the relevance of ideology in this text?
Religious ideology, puritan ideology. Human history is considered a human progress
towards God’s plan, the evolution of humans towards a goal that God had in mind —
God’s will and providence.
Excerpt 2: The Mayflower Compact.
4 concepts about The Mayflower Compact
It acknowledged a deep faith in god and his divine guidance
It expressed loyalty to England and the king
It allowed to citizens to be view as equals in the sight of god
It expressed an intend to establish just and equal laws upon which would be built a truly
democratic form of government
15. Who are the “strangers”?
The non-religious people, those who don’t belong to the __ Bradford refers to them as
Saints
18. What is democratic about this document?
Equality and also that the document in the presence of God and of other people. Also
because it is aimed for the good of the colony.
·THE PROLOGUE AND TO MY DEAR AND LOVELY HUSBAND - ANNE BRADSTREET

PROLOGUE

1- Can you divide the poem into stanzas? If so, what kind?
Eight sextets.
2- Can you find a rhyme scheme?
ABABCC
3- What kind of rhyme (if any) predominates?
Mostly full rhyme although there are some exceptions, some irregularities that may be
done deliberately.
4- What kind of foot predominates?
Iambic pentameters, except “mean pen” (spondee) which is done to emphasize and a
few exceptions more.
What kind of line predominates?
Iambic pentameters
Can you find any irregularities that you interpret as deliberate?
A spondee in “mean pen”
Bring your own ideas about the following points:
Speaker
Tone
Diction
Symbols and images
Themes
Interpretation

TO MY DEAR AND LOVING HUSBAND

Voice in 1st person: she is speaking to her husband.

If ever two were one, then surely we. “And they two shall be one flesh”: it is a
paradox that refers to the Bible. (St Paul, Ephesians). Anaphora. Omission of the verb to
emphasize the subject.
If ever man were loved by wife, then thee; anaphora
If ever wife was happy in a man, anaphora
Compare with me ye women, if you can. Bragging/self-asserting
I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold, she is valuing the love
Or all the riches that the East doth hold. Allusion to “material stuff”.
Nor ought but love from thee give recompense. Anything can express this beauty.
Sense of exchange, material… recompense, gold… debt
My love is such that rivers cannot quench, Reference to thirst, related to the body
because we have to satisfy it = passion, sexual desire. Song of Salomon. (Human love)
Thy love is such I can no way repay; paying back means equal exchange (divine
love)
The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray. (God approves love)
Then while we live, in love let’s so persevere, Alliteration. Faith
That when we live no more we may live ever. Eternal life: if you have love, you will
live forever. Alliteration. Paradox live=die.
Iambic pentameters with exceptions
Rhyme is AA BB CC DD = rhyming couplets
The tone is assertive, personal, passionate…

·THE NARRATIVE OF THE CAPTIVITY AND RESTORATION OF MRS MARY

ROWALDSON - MARY ROWALDSON

1. Notice the full title of the text: Where does the emphasis lie? What does it tell us
about the author’s purpose in writing it? How did she decide to write it?
The emphasis lies in GOD. It is even in capital letters. What this tells us is that
everything that happens in the text is GOD´S WILL. It was a first for private use but
later, at the earnest desire of some friends and the afflicted, it was made public.
3. How do her perspective and tone change when she describes the attack on her
own house?
When she describes the attack outside, she may be reporting the events that someone
may have told her “as they told me”. Whereas when she describes the attack on her own
house, she is present, she lives it in first person “that ever mine eyes saw”, “according to
my observation”
4. What terms does she use to refer to the Natives? What do these names tell us
about Mary Rowlandson’s view of them?
Important words: on one hand, msurderous wretches, merciless enemies, barbarous
creatures, black creatures, ravenous beast, in humane creature. In this list she refers to
them as the opposite to civilization (we are civilized, they are savages). Civilized/savage
On the other hand, hellhounds, infidels, bloody heathen, heathens. In this list, it is
related with religious and contrast. It goes against Christianity. Christian/pagan.
This can connect to John Smith’s text, in which he also refers to Indians as “savages”.
This view contributes to Indian hating. This terms and ideas will be the way people saw
Indians later.
8. How does the narrator articulate the four main narrative modes: description (of
people, objects, geographical settings, etc.), report (of actions), speech (either
direct or reported) and comment (e.g. moralizing disquisition or digression)?
Description: she describes actions (report) but not the places and neither objects or
people. If there are some descriptions there are very succinct.
Report: reporting predominates. The first paragraph is a clear example; here she only
reports actions —which involves action verbs and fast tempo.
Speech: there are some direct speech, linked with commas. Most of all when she talks
to God. It simply complements the report.
Comment: she makes a lot of comments related with behaviour, and all the needed
behaviour. Her conclusion is: her Faith in God.It is connected with ideology, and it is
not neutral at all, she comments to interpret the actions, and the conclusion she reaches
is that it is all God’s will.
9. How does Mary Rowlandson characterize herself throughout the text?
She changes throughout the narrative. For instance when she changes her mind about
being killed by Indians rather than coming with them. She confesses her weaknesses,
but God makes her strong, although she does present herself as weak.
11. How would you characterize the style?
It is simple. As someone how doesn’t know how to speak. Puritan style = plain, direct,
and didactic.
The most elaborate thing she does is the ways she calls Indians, and probably the
sheep/wolves simile.
She does not leave anything open for you to interpret, it is direct.
14. What basic Puritan belief about suffering and the love of God is entailed in the
last paragraph?
If you suffer or feel humiliated, that’s because God loves you.
15. What is the role of Puritans according to this view?
Puritans are bound to suffer in order to save their lives. Everything they go through is
God’s will for them.

·REMARKS CONCERNING THE SAVAGES OF NORTH AMERICA - BENJAMIN

FRANKLIN

1. What are the main stylistic techniques that Franklin uses in this text?
Plainness, simplicity, clear language
Realism, evidence, many examples… to prove that he was there.
He includes dialogue with the Natives, which adds realism to the text.
Satire to show their vices and making them ridiculous with the purpose of
improving.
2. Which aspects of Native culture are valued as positive?
They are very respectful and don’t interrupt each other when they are talking.
Their hospitality, politeness: civilized value.
The education of their children, show them how to haunt: cultural relativism.
They have no jail, police... authority because they are well organized.
There is equality among them; women also play an important role.
3. Which aspects of Euro-American culture are valued as negative?
They are intolerant and interrupt you when talking and have no leisure time.
4. What is the text’s conclusion about the idea of civilization and savagism?
The savages are the American people and native americans are the civilized.
Native Americans are not that bad, they are respectful to the Americans.
5. What do you think is the basic aim of this text?
The idea of savagism through evidence. Educate Euro-Americans about native
americans and about themselves.

AUTOBIOGRAPHY

Genre:
Autobiography: continuity.
Bildungsroman: refers to a young person that grows.
Tone:
It uses a smart and self-deprecating tone. He is aware of his shortcomings and
mistakes and thus he presents himself as imperfect.
Style:
Satirical
Plain
Pragmatic
Realistic
Clear
Speaks through a mask, an invented persona.
Narrator:
First person, central
Falsely naive narrative voice
3. How does he describe the project he conceives?
Life without committing any fault, achieving every virtue either through natural
inclination or deliberately.
4. What is the main purpose of his method?
Acquire good habits, avoid wrong ones; achieving moral perfection.
9. How would you characterize the style of this text?
Precise, simple, the text is didactic, he wants to reach people. The text is not very
formal but clear. Satirical.
11. How can you relate this text to what you know about the American Dream? And
capitalism?
The idea of hard work (work ethic), that will lead you to success, and of course
material success, which is connected to capitalism.
Being in control of your life, you have the possibility to choose (Am. D. Idea too),
and change your life, start again (new opportunity — Am. D. Idea too)
This is PRAGMATIC, that means, practical.
The sense of mission, HARD work means effort. This effort is connected to
EDUCATION, self-education in this case.
Rags to riches. He starts from scratch, and get to “riches” through EDUCATION.
The contradiction is that even though he includes FRUGALITY in his list of
virtues, the text shares capitalist ideas.
12. How does Benjamin Franklin portray himself?
He’s apparently sincere, but that’s a strategy to build his image through
language…
BF the person and the character are not the same
He’s advertising himself instead of being himself.
He also tries to do good to people. He “generously” offers himself as an example
to other people, though he also brags.
He also helped the community a lot.
He stands for the character, integrity, freedom and opportunity that the US came
to symbolize to the world, also a symbol of American democracy.
Puritan Values became “American” values. This constant self-examining his
conscious (just like the Puritans used to do)
This text is written in the era of the Enlightenment, in the beginning of the US as a
country. He wrote his autobiography to be remember after his dead, that is

RIP VAN WINKLE - WASHINGTON IRVING

6. How is Rip Van Winkle similar to or different from Benjamin Franklin? What
about John Smith?
Benjamin Franklin is always thinking about profit, being productive, everything he does
is useful. On the contrary, Rip only lives for the sake of living, likes conversation and
being nice to people. Interesting comparison here.
John Smith is a physically strong and attractive man while Rip is the opposite.
7. Analyse the author’s use of the four narrative modes: description (of people,
objects, or geographical settings), report (of actions), speech (either direct or
reported), and comment (e.g. moralizing disquisition or digression). How are these
modes articulated? Is there a balance, or are some modes more important than
others?
Description (of characters and places) is the main one, and also comment.
After the nap there is more dialogue (speech) and the reporting is not important because
the actions are not relevant: just a man who goes to the mountains, falls asleep and wakes
up.
8. Is the narrator reliable or unreliable? Justify.
Unreliable. The story is just an excuse for W. I. to experiment.
There are three narrators:
Rip: is unreliable because every time he tells the story, he tells a different version.
D. Knickerbocker: he gets the story from people but mainly from Rip; so if Rip is
unreliable, Knickerbocker so.
G. Crayon: he is intrusive because appears out of the narrative but he is unreliable
too.
9. How would you describe Irving’s style in this short story?
Playful and elegant. Very well-finished, sophisticated. Descriptive. Not spontaneously
written.
12. How can we read the story from a feminist perspective?
From his wife’s point of view we empathize with her because there is a feminist
approach in the inequality of women and men in that society.
She is described as bossy, authoritarian. We only have Rip’s point of view but not
hers.
13. Explain the relevance of the following themes:
The American Revolution: it does not appear directly in the story because the
nap of 20 years covers this period but we can see the changes after it.
Tradition and revolution, continuity and change: the changes and the
revolution are necessary but combining the old and the new.
o Continuity is indicated in the landscape because it does not change.
Myth and imagination: it comes from a Scandinavian traditional myth. It refers
to the fact that Rip finds Henry Hudson and his crew.
Stories vs. history: he uses the Dutch origins in order to build a story about it,
which has a German origin; and associating other stories with that place. It has to
do with lore, the popular tradition. Even in a fictional story like this, there is truth.
Identity: the people of America, 20 years after Rip fell asleep, found their
identity. The American people after receiving their freedom celebrated and
became excited by holding elections. Rip, having difficulty finding himself
throughout the story, finally finds his identity when his daughter finds him and
takes him home to live with her.

THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS - JAMES COOPER

2. Analyze the author’s use of the narrative modes of description, report, speech and
comment.
He skillfully unifies descriptions with fast paced actions. The images are very powerful
and the way through which he describes actions is very direct. Speech is not widely used
but the dialogue we have in the text is quite relevant because we can appreciate the
feelings and the drama.
In the second text, we actually have more dialogue in comparison to the previous one:
dialogue between Cora and Magua creates suspense. There are some evaluative narrator’s
comments: “perhaps” “incredibly … space” “insuperable”. These comments do not
predominate in the text but Cooper lets to a larger extent the characters define themselves
through their actions. Although we find some comments, we have to draw conclusions on
the characters.
3. What elements of the captivity narrative can you find?
There must be cruel indians, the typical pattern of capture-rescue, some scholars
think that he was not worthy to survive because he was probably not as skillfully
and faithfull as expected. In captivity narrative, survival was a question of
personal skilling faith.
The presence of women. They are related to purity.
It is a dynamic text, a text on the move. In contrast to Mary Rowlandson’s, we do
not have a religious focus however there is also a lesson to be learnt at the end.
There is conflict, violence, sacrifice for the nation to exist.
4. What elements of romance are there?
The love story with a happy ending.
Sentimentalism rather than rationalism.
Interest in the past to find new inspirations: mysterious atmosphere, magical
description of the indians.
Individualism of the hero and of the characters.
There is drama, suspense…
Cooper is still a pre-romantic but he is more romantic than Irving.
5. How is masculinity stressed (in a genre that was for a long time not respected
because it was considered “feminine”)?
It is stressed by the use of violence and action, strength, vigor… This novel is not about
marriage and manners, motherhood; it is a story with action, violence that attracted males.
And even though there are feminine characters, the main ones are men.
6. How would you characterize the style of this text?
It is descriptive in combination with report. It is quite complex, heavy and sometimes it
has very long sentences with difficult vocabulary. What stands out are its vivid and visual
descriptions, it is very direct and does not use euphemisms. The style is very romantic
and although we can find irony, it lacks sophistication. The tone is serious and dramatic.
7. How can you compare the style with Washington Irving’s?
Irving still shows traits of neoclassicism but not Cooper (he is more romantic, he uses the
past and exotic locations) Clearly Cooper is much more romantic that Irving.
The sources of Irving are European folklore but Cooper's sources are historical. Irving
moralises about women, but Cooper lets the reader draw their own conclusions.
Cooper accepted the American condition, he creates this myth but Irving does not, he
addresses the American setting as a European one.

NATURE - RALPH WALDO

3. Explain his use of the image of the hieroglyph in the second paragraph of the
Introduction.
To solve a hieroglyph you need a key, but the fact that you don’t have the key doesn’t
mean there’s no meaning to it. For instance the gravity force was there before we
“discovered” it”.
The solution to the individual's questions is within the individuals: in their lives,
experience…
Nature contains the answers, nature has its truth. The answers are in nature… the answers
are there and despite the fact that we find some of them, we will never be able to
know/find all the answers.
14. Analyse the central metaphor of Nature: “I become a transparent eye-ball.”
In order to make his metaphors striking, he uses grotesque extravagance. This text is
about seeing nature through our eyes and through ourselves. Emerson mixes philosophy
and popular image.
In this metaphor, he mixes philosophy and grotesque humour (popular image). It entails
a loss of identity, if you become transparent you somehow lose your identity. It is a
paradox; he's nothing but sees all.
The metaphor of the eyeball is a perfect sphere which gives the sense of wholeness:
universe. That leads to the loss of identity.
15. How would you describe the tone of the text?
The tone is intense, reflective, intuitive, spiritual, enthusiastic, provocative and
enthusiastic.
It is also didactic, he’s preaching. He offers his experiences for us to learn by and for
ourselves.
16. How would you characterize the language?
Very direct.
Many paradoxes and contradictions (old and new, I’m nothing but I see all) Some images
as well (transparent eyeball, sepulchres of the fathers, the floods of life).
17. What relevant themes for the understanding of American identity can you find
in the text?
Communion with nature. Individualism: the I and nature, but at the same time there is a
loss of identity. Exceptionalism, sense of mission, be reborn in nature. Starting something
new, “forgetting about the past”.

WALDEN - HENRY THOREAOU

3. How do you interpret his comments on the first person (2nd paragraph, lines 15-
20)?
He promotes the use of the 1st person narrator because for him, the use of "I" is more
honest and straightforward. He writes from his own experience and knowledge. He is the
person he most knows so he writes about himself. He also explores his inner self:
introspective exercise.
15. What is the relevance of the use of the first person narrative?
The relevance of the first person is that we have a direct access to Thoreau's experience
and thus the text is more reliable. This “I” is a part of Romanticism (individualism). It
allows us to see that he’s very self-conscious because he is even aware of his limitations.
16. Comment on the style of the text, paying special attention to genre, tone,
language, references (quotation and allusion)...
Genre: mixture of genres: it is an autobiography because he talks about his own
experience, but it is not a typical one as he includes poetry and philosophy. It's also a
social satire and he includes a scientific way of writing as he includes the observance of
the natural world.
Tone: ironic, original, direct… provocative, tries to make us react in a friendly way; it is
humorous but at the same time it is serious. In order to attract the reader and to be
persuasive, he uses exaggerations. The tone is also bombastic (he is sure of what he is
saying).
Language: poetic language (metaphors, images, paradoxes…), but at the same time it is
a more common and down-to-earth language. (Emerson is more abstract).
A very allusive text (there are a lot of references: Romulus and Remus, bible, Greeks…),
19. Which Romantic elements can you find in your reading of Thoreau’s Walden?
The first person and subjectivity.
Youth as being better. Age as a deterioration.
Emphasis on simple life.
The idea of rebirth, freedom.
20. Thoreau’s Walden as an attempt to put Emerson’s theories into practice: discuss.
Emerson was more about the message, more spiritual.
Thoreau was more practical.

NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLAS, AN AMERICAN SLAVE -

FREDERICK DOUGLAS

5. What is the relevance of the monologue at the beginning of chapter X? Analyze

its language, tone, imagery…
Imagery: whose broad bosom
Tone: expresses sadness
Language: he describes the amazing ships but then his reaction is bad because he feels
inferior to the ships.
In this monologue, Douglass compares himself to a ship (he had earlier compared
himself to a horse, now to something that is not even alive, how sad is that! This is a
dehumanization). This monologue is very emotive, he questions himself why he is a
slave, and even wonders if God exists.
10. Find examples of the dehumanizing effects of slavery in the text.
Lacking of knowledge.
When they take him away from his mother.
When he compares himself to horses and ships.
Why was I born a man if I’m treated like a brute.
11. How would you define the diction in these passages? What about the style? And
the first person narrative?
First person narrative; reliability. It makes an impact on the reader, because he shares
his own experience.
Through expressing his emotions and feelings, he impacts the reader.
He’s direct. At the beginning he presents facts, then he uses a lot of passionate words.
It’s elevated, clear language. He uses metaphors and personifications.
12. What characteristics of romanticism can you find in these passages?
Sense of self, individuality, masculinity and heroic figure. There’s somehow a sense of
adventure. Natural image of the ships. The idea of rebirth and freedom
13. Compare Frederick Douglass’s Narrative with Benjamin Franklin’s
Autobiography.
Differences:
Franklin starts from a position in which he is considered a human being, however
Douglass starts from being compared to a horse!
Benjamin Franklin does mention his faults, but Douglass doesn’t.
Race and context (Enlightenment and Romanticism)
Both share:
Values: effort, the idea beneath both is education.
Self-made men
Sense of mission: in BF is being morally perfect and in FD is becoming free.
Both write in first person (autobiographical tests).
Both evolved and progressed, were self-educated and emphasize freedom

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