I was really excited when I signed up for this course until I saw the big red literature book. Why? Because I took Early American literature a couple semesters ago and this book was very similar. I also have a prior reading relationship with Captain John Smith, who might I add is BORING!! I found John Smith's inventive spelling interesting and frustrating. I think that is the teacher in me. I wanted correct the spelling all the way through. Out of the two pieces I found the one entitled "From The Generall Historie of Virginia" more interesting. I found the description of the Powhatan interesting. He calls them poor salvages, makes comments about the fact that the king has many wives and children. I thought it was also interesting that the children gave John gifts. I take it as John thinks he was superior to them and the Powhatan know it.
When I took the early American lit class we discussed the relationship between John Smith and Pocahontas. I personally think that Pocahontas was just a kind soul that didn't want John to be hurt, but John basically thought she saved him because he was superior to her. European men were very egocentric in my opinion. He also shows his egocentric nature when he talks about himself in the third person, which I find really annoying. I definitely can't wait till we move on to more modern literature, but for now I will work through it.
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I also found A Description of New England to be hard to read due to the spelling. Because of this I found myself reading and rereading portions of this writing, and still not totally understand what his point was. It was much like two different people wrote these writings, because the spelling and style of the writings were extremely different.
Hi GInger, I appreciate your point that you were looking forward to something a bit different from Early American Literature. However, I think it is important for this course to go that far back in history to investigate where and how the positive relationship (and stereotype) of the American love of land actually began. I think that is why we are looking at such writers aws John SMith and Thomas Jefferson. I think that before we delve deeply into the south, we need to establish that we know where this idea came from. Hopefully, you are noe enjoying the literature, as we are moving into more of the southern pieces!
Your right about the reading about John Smith being boring but I think it is very important to learn history before we get into the present. I think it will get better as the samester progresses. Even though the reading is dry i find it to be informational. Although i have to agree that readin Jhon Smith writing annoyed me a liitle. As a future teacher I also wanted to correct his spelling.
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