LETTERATURA ANGLO-AMERICANA I

CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS 1451-1506

Born into a family of wool workers in Genoa, C.C. turned to the see as a young man.
The first Columbus letter(1493) was written aboard the caravel Nina, in which affirms
to have discovered a series of Islands. He gave to the isle the name of San Salvador
and then continued to find a name for the others. He also described Hispaniola that he
think it was the most beautiful island. Letter to Ferd. And Isab. Regarding the fourth
voyage (1503): this was written by Columbus when he was in Jamaica, he described
the length of his service to the Spanish crown and he claims that all the possessed has
been stolen from him. So he want justice for who did this. He thinks the islands were
more extensive and richer than all the other Christian lands. After his life as explorer,
he wants to go to Rome or to other pilgrimages.

BARTOLOME DE LAS CASAS 1474-1566

Going to Hispaniola himself in 1502, Casas soon was participating in the exploitation of
the native. Later he became a priest, he grew convinced that such behaviour was
contrary to Cristian teaching, and soon he was urging all masters to renounce the
slavery system (or recomienda). One of his remedies to Indian slavery was to import
African to Indies to replace them. Casas renounced to his suggestion because he think
black slavery its the same of Indian one. When casas returned in 1547 to Spain began
to write of west Indies and he continued until his death. The Very Brief Relation of the
Devastation of the Indies: Hispaniola was the first land of the new world to be
destroyed and depopulated by the Christians. Here they began their subjection of
women and children. What the Indians gave to the settlers was always too little to
satisfy them and very soon Christians began to commit act of force. The Indians took
up arms, but their weapon were very weak. Then he described all the atrocity towards
the Indians. The Coast of Pearls, paria, and the island: the Spaniard have brought to
the isle of Hispaniola more than 2 million of slaves. They loaded ship with them and
often a lot of them die during the travel. The tyranny exercised by the Spaniard
against the Indians in the work of pearls was the most cruel; the pearl fisher dive into
the sea and remain there for many minutes without breathing.

CABEZA DE VACA 1490-1558

The relation of A.N Cabeza de Vaca: (DEDICATION)::: In this part CdV flatters the
Emperor Charles V, and talks about his actions. Of himself he say that he has only the
duty to transmit what he saw and heard in nine years in that places. (THE MALHADO
WAY OF LIFE)::: in this part he describes the way of life of the Indians. Their activities,
their manners and culture. The Indians live on the island from October to February.
They loved their children much than everything. At house where a son may die, no one
goes out for food for three months, the neighbours providing what is eaten.

THOMAS HARRIOT 1560-1621

He was the first English who published information relating to the new world. In a Brief
and True Report of the new found land of Virginia he gives a lot of information about
flora and fauna and of the American Indians. He describes people clothed with mantle
made of deerskins. They didnt have weapons of iron or steel to fight. The town was
very small. People believed that there were many Gods of different degrees but only
one was the chief. When he create the world he create the other Gods first, then the
moon and the stars. The gods are of human shape and so they are represented by
images in form of human and placed in temples. They also believe in the immortality
of soul. When the soul is departed prom the body, according to the work it had done,
in carried to heaven or to a hole called Popagusso. In every town Harriot made
declaration of the content of the Bible.

JOHN SMITH 1580-1631

Captain John Smith was an English explorer, who found the colony of Jamestown,
Virginia; he is also famous for his association with Pocahontas. General History of
Virginia, New England and summer Isles. Smith wrote this after the departure of the
ship; there they started to suffering illness and starvation. Smith takes over the
management of the colony. While Smith and his men were on an expedition the were
attacked by 300 Indians who killed Smiths men but spared his life, in exchange for his
compass. When Indians decided to kill Smith, he is saved by Pocahontas. She save the
prisoner and later she helps the settles by bringing them food. Smith in his work use
the third person rather than the first and also used grammar, the sentence structure
and word choices of European style of writing.

THOMAS MORTON 1579-1647

Writer, lawyer and social reformer; he founded the colony of Ma-re Mount. NEW
ENGLISH CANAAN::: this work is divided in three books, is a denunciation of puritan
Government in the colonies. In contrast he describes the noble culture of Indians. 1)
description of the natives, their manner and culture. 2) he describes natural resources
of New England. The nature is described using metaphorical language and biblical
allusion. 3) he describes the life of Puritans and their conflict with the inhabitants of
Ma-re Mount. the most important part of the third book is the description of the rising
of Maypole. This was a secular tradition from Roman festival in honor of the renewal of
vegetative life. This section includes a song made dancing around the tree.

JOHN WINTHROP 1588-1649

He was a wealthy English puritan lawyer. He wrote A Model of Christian Charity where
he set out the ideals of an harmonious Christian community. He sailed to the new
world, during the journey on the Arbella he wrote this sermon, in which urges
Massachusettss settlers to collaborate to build a new City upon the Hill, that would
be their new community. John Winthrop begins his sermon by stating that God made
people have different position from another, for 3 reason: Because he wants his men
to help each other, rich help the poor instead of God directly. The rich shows his love
and the poor shows his gratitude. Because he wants bring people closer together.

Winthrop explains how people of the community should live. He compares the bond
between Christians and the love of a mother for his child: love without expecting
anything in return. He wrote that this love is real and not imaginary, that this love is
divine and that it rest in the welfare of its beloved.

ROGER WILLIAMS 1603-1683

He was an English protestant theologian who was an early proponent of religious
freedom and the separation of church and state. He fight the Puritans and he attempts
to educate his readers about interracial relations. He expressed ideals of freedom that
are still applied in today society. He create a sort of dictionary introducing Indians
terms. From : The Bloody Tenet of Persecutionetc.. in this work Williams interpreted
many passages of the old and the new testament, it is in the form of a dialogue
between truth and peace. The main theme is the separation of church and state. From:
A Letter to the Town of Providence: in this letter he says that everyone should have
liberty to participate in their own desired faith. They shouldnt be forced to practice a
religion. He uses a metaphor of a ship. On the same ship there are papist, protestant,
Turks. None is forced to come to the ships prayer or worship. The captain has to
command also peace and justice. So if someone refuse to pay the common freight or
someone refuse to do his work, the commander will justice him. Everyone will have
the same treatment.

MARY ROWLANDSON 1636-1711

M.R. was a colonial American woman who was captured by Natives. She is known for
having written a description of her eleven weeks spent as prisoner. The title of book is
Narrative of the Captivity an Restoration of Mrs. M.R. in her diary she writes from her
capture to her return and her story is recounted in 20 removes. Rowlandson reserves
her experience in relation to God and the Bible. Her capture is something that God
wanted for her and that she must endure. She judges the Native Americans through a
Christian perspective, creating a negative bias about them. She makes continual
references to the Bible to support her actions. She thinks that humans have no choice,
they have to accept the will of god and try to make sense of it.

COTTON MATHER 1663-1728

C.M. was an English minister often remembered for his description of Salems trial. In
the seventieth century the settlers of New England feel devils power in a strange way;
this fear of the Devil was born by the idea that they had invaded Satans land. Mather
decided to observe and report the most important trial about witch. The Wonders of
the Invisible World::: Mather describes in detail Salems trial. He wrote about his
experience with the afflicted Goodwin Children from Boston. He discusses the Devils
plan to overturn plantation and churches with the help of witches. One of the most
important trial was the Marta Carriers one. Even his children affirm that they were
witched and what their mother made them. Cotton Mather also remember John
Winthrop as his model of perfect earthly ruler and he described him as a man of deep
humanity and strong integrity.

JONATHAN EDWARDS 1703-1758

Sinners in the hands of an angry God is an appeal to sinners, to recognize that they
will be judged by God. Three themes stand out as particularly important to understand
Edwards approach to his message: corrupt sinners must face God judgement; time is
short for the unrepentant; God can decide to extend the days of mercy and provide
another opportunity to respond his call. Edwards think that sin in an active force in the
world that is completely controlled by the Devil. Anyone who hasnt converted was
considered a servant of the Devil. This sermon is typical of the Great Awakening ,
emphasizing the belief that hell is a real place. According to Edwards, God has given
humanity a chance to rectify their sins. The sermon if full of metaphor and stories
taken by the Bible.