Beginning to 1820: Short Answer Quiz

William Bradford, From Of Plymouth Plantation


  1. [This question refers to Chapter 1 of Book I. This section is in the full edition only] “When as by the travail and diligence of some godly and zealous preachers, and God’s blessings on their labors, as in other places of the land, so in the North parts, many became enlightened by the word of God, and had their ignorance and sins discovered unto them, and began by His grace to reform their lives, and make conscience of their ways, the work of God was no sooner manifest in them, but presently they were both scoffed and scorned by the profane multitude, and the ministers urged with the yoke of subscription, or else must be silenced; and the poor people were so vexed with apparitors, and the pursuivants, and the commissary courts, as truly their affliction was not small; which, notwithstanding, they bore sundry years with much patience, till they were occasioned (by the continuance and increase of these troubles, and other means which the Lord raised up in those days) to see further into things by the light of the word of God” (105 [full ed.]). This is the first, long, periodic sentence from the Bradford selection, and it takes many syntactical turns to get from its beginning to its end. What does Bradford accomplish by loading up so many clauses into one sentence? What does he emphasize by syntax, and what does he stress by its ending?

  1. [This question refers to Chapter 1 of Book I. This section is in the full edition only] Before the Pilgrims leave Holland, Bradford writes of their perspective of the dangers they will face from the Indians: “And also those which should escape or overcome these difficulties, should yet be in continual danger of the savage people, who are cruel, barbarous, and most treacherous, being most furious in their rage, and merciless when they overcome; not being content only to kill, and take away life, but delight to torment men in the most bloody manner that may be; flaying some alive with the shells of fishes, cutting off the members and joints of others by piecemeal, and broiling on the coals, eat the collops of their flesh in their sight whilst they live; with other cruelties horrible to be related” (108-9 [full ed.] ). Consider that this passage was written after the Pilgrims had long established Plymouth plantation¾what of this initial horror of the Indians was actually warranted by experience? What does it say about the Pilgrims’ prejudices, and about European views of Native Americans?

  1. [This question refers to Chapter X of Book I.]  Upon landing on Cape Cod, the Pilgrims “found water and refreshed themselves, being the first New England water they drunk of, and was now in their great thirst as pleasant unto them as wine or beer had been in foretimes” (117 [full ed.] 63 [shorter ed.]). From this description, what do you take to have been especially virtuous or delicious about the water? Try to account for Bradford’s high praise for the water.

  1. [This question refers to Chapter XI of Book II.] Bradford’s description of the peace treaty with Massasoit and the help they received from Squanto reveals much about the Pilgrim’s desperate situation in New England: “After these things he returned to his place called Sowams, some forty mile from this place, but Squanto continued with them, and was their interpreter, and was a special instrument sent of God for their good beyond their expectation. He directed them how to set their corn, where to take fish, and to procure other commodities, and was also their pilot to bring them to unknown places for their profit, and never left them till he died. He was a native of this place, and scarce any left alive besides himself” (123-4 [full ed.] 68-69 [shorter ed.]). According to Bradford, to what did the Pilgrims attribute his aid, and what kind of aid did he tender to them? What seems to have been Squanto’s motivation to help the Pilgrims?



First Name:
Last Name:
Your Email Address:
Your Professor's Email Address: