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Primera Prueba de Evaluacin Continua a Distancia

1) Compare and contrast the narrative strategies used by John Smith and William
Bradford (focusing on the texts selected in units 1 and 2). See A Study Guide for
American Literature to 1900, pages 21-23.
We can find many differences on the narrative strategies used by these two authors.
Regarding their attitude to the colonial undertaking, is possible to see that both of them
had a different goal when they embarked on their voyages. John Smith was a proud,
self-made man that travelled to the New World with the aim of getting wealthy as soon
as possible. On the other hand, Bradford wanted to settle, to start a new life where he
and his community could practice their religion without being persecuted (they were
religious dissenters to the Crown). However, no matter their goal, both had a negative
attitude towards the Natives, since they were described as savages on many occasions
(Smith lines 1, 5, 9, 25; Bradford, line 53). Wilderness also had a negative sense as
described by Bradford as being full of wild beasts and wild men (line 59). Although
they had such a negative view on the New World, Smith started writing with the
purpose to encourage others to come to conquer that land, so his target audience could
include brave, active people, such as soldiers, warriors or adventurers. Bradford,
instead, wrote for its community, to have an account of the events happening to the
settlement. In addition, while both of them wrote an autobiography, Bradford did it with
the format of a diary, keeping the exact date and he started writing some years after he
had settled on the new land. Despite this, his work was not published until 1857. Smith,
on the contrary, started writing a personal letter to a friend in 1608 and at the same year,
this was published as a pamphlet, although Smith did not intend to publish his work. In
Smiths writing we can see how he highlighted that his destiny was in his hands. It was
his courage and intelligence what kept him alive. The way he described himself was
showing a heroic behaviour. In the case of Bradford, Providence, ruled his and every
mans destiny (lines 12-16). He and his community were in Gods hands.
Regarding style, we can observe more differences. Maybe, the most obvious one is
the narrative voice. Smith used the third-person-singular to give the impression that the
events narrated by him were objectively described. In spite of this, Bradford used the
first- person-singular, which allowed him to give his personal opinion and to be more
subjective. Another point to be made is that on Smiths narrative, the style is ornamental
with military and native vocabulary (lines 29, 30, 36). Probably, he wanted to make his
writing more accurate, interesting and authentic. By contrast, Bradfords style is plain
with shorter grammar sentences and very simple syntax, and at the same time, full of
biblical allusions (lines 37, 51, 61). This shows us the didactic purpose of his writing
and how the Puritan thought was present at his mind.
These are the most significant similarities and differences on both writers regarding
their narrative strategies.
2) Describe how Anne Bradstreet and Jonathan Edwards use metaphorical
language (focusing on the texts selected in units 3 and 5). See A Study Guide for
American Literature to 1900, pages 47-50.
Although both authors were Puritans, they wrote using metaphorical language,
thus, moving away from the plain style that characterized the Puritan writings. Apart
from this, they had a different purpose and audience in mind when they did so. Anne

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Bradstreet wrote around 1650 and she started writing for her family. In The Author to
Her Book, she develops an extended metaphor through the poem. The speaker in this
poem is the author, who is compared to a mother whose child is her book of poems.
Since Bradstreet was well aware of womens role in society at those times, she presents
her book humbly and apologizing for such a poor and illegitimate child. The whole
poem is a metaphor where she compares and indentifies the biological birth of a mother
with the intellectual birth of a poet. In To My Dear and Loving Husband, the poet again
is also the speaker, who expresses her passionate love for her husband and there, she
uses biblical allusions (lines 1, 7) and imagery of wealth (lines 5, 6). This language
makes us evoke different images in our minds and it can shape our perception of the
authors feelings by making the writing more vivid, clear and effective.
Alternatively, Edwards wrote a century later than Bradstreet, and he was a preacher
whose main aim was to awaken the audience in his congregation. He expressed his
thoughts and ideas using metaphors, similes, and a great deal of figurative language in
general, because he believed that conversion could be achieved through the senses, not
only through reason. His sermon Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God starts with a
biblical quotation: their foot shall slide in due time, which is an extended metaphor
present in the first part of the text. This metaphor is supported by biblical allusions
(lines 13, 19), other metaphors (lines 6, 29-30) and an explanation with remarks from
the author so his audience could understand the message clearly. In the second part of
the text, Application, we find more metaphors that have different vehicles but the same
tenor: the hell (lines 41, 42, 56, 128, 129). We also find similes (lines 75, 76, 77, 78)
which can be easily understood by his community, such is the case of the simile you
will be the chaff of the summer threshing floor (lines 76, 77) that would have a great
impact on the rural audience that was familiar with the process of threshing grains.
Other metaphors present in the text are the ones that refer to sinners (lines 56-59, 112113, 116-117). These metaphors refer to animals that most people find repulsive and in
this way the author is creating a feeling of disgust towards them. This text is full of
figurative language that draws listeners and readers attention to an imagery that
produces an immediate emotional response.