ESSAY CEMETERY

Mary Rowlandson.  Image source In February 1675 the first attack by the Indians of Lancaster occurred. They set fire to the dwellings of Lancaster and kill its inhabitants. They set fire to Mary's house, and when Mary and her children try to leave her house they are shot at. They finally have to, upon which her brother-in-law die from a previous wound. She herself is shot as is Sarah, the six-year old child in her arms, and a child of her sister's murdered by a blow to the head. Hearing of this, her sister prays to go with them and is promptly shot too. The Indians take the children one way, and Mary another, promising that they would not hurt her if she came with them. Of the 37 of them in her house, only one evaded both death and captivity. 24 are taken alive as captives.  The First Remove The first night in captivity is miserable. She is denied sleep in an English-made dwelling. Still in the ravaged town, the Indians celebrate all night, singing and dancing ...

This is written upon the celebration of the 82 nd July 4 th in 1858. July 4 th is a celebration of liberty that transcends time and space. It is the second most important holiday after Passover. The fourth of July, as a story of liberty, is a second Passover, a second redemption of mankind, as it is a release from slavery to freedom. The exodus is similarly a first declaration of independence. These two events form a history. In fact, the American Revolution is "the ultimate result of biblical theories", that is, a product of the bible and the exodus. The doctrines (of America and the Bible, I suppose) will ultimately revolutionize all nations. Their effect is registered all over the world, with population growth and increasing civil rights everywhere. Soon liberty, equality and justice will vanquish monarchies and other forms of non-democratic government and conquer the world. There is one God, "one law and one judgment" and in celebrating the 4 th...

THEMES God's providence Hunger Violence against the Indians Idolatry of the Indians Indians as savages Indians marvel at the white man Indians feed the white men Misinterpreting Indian actions Indian woman saves white man Indians defy their own (Pocahontas) STYLE Smith refers to himself in the third person PEOPLE AND PLACES Chickahominy Smith President Captain Archer Wingfield Kendall England Warraskoyack Okee Quiyoughkasouck King of Pamunkey Robinson Emry Jamestown John Smith

From The Norton Anthology of English Literature, Vol I, Ed. 5 After the sailors depart for England, the settlers are left completely hungry. They have very little food and many die. When they run out, God makes it so the Indians bring the settlers food and save them. He realizes that they had come to the New World too late to plant food. Smith directs the building of the settlement's lodgings. Then he tries to trade with the Indians and that failing tries to use force, shooting them and capturing their idol god. He got food enough for a year but the settlers ate it much more quickly. Smith prevents several settlers from absconding to England. When winter approaches hunting is good and they have as much food as they like. Smith gets two men killed on an expedition and he is taken prisoner for 1.5 months. He comes to be admired by the Indians. Smith gives their leader a compass and explains astronomy to them, so the leader orders him to be spared. The savages stare at h...

Prologue THEMES AND AUTHORIAL ATTITUDE Self- criticism Self-reflexiveness Metaliterature: "the Greeks", Bartas Feminism- objection to traditional gender role I am obnoxious to each carping tongue Who says my hand a needle better fits. Men are better But women are still good Defense of woman writers To My Dear and Loving Husband THEMES Love Contentment in marriage Repayment in heaven Eternal life through love Verses Upon the Burning of Our House THEMES Burning house Fear Lamenting her possessions gone Chastisement for material thoughts Riches lie in belief in God STYLE Shift in tense: first, the poet speaks in past tense and then she addresses her heart, and then back to thinking of herself KEYWORDS Fire Ruin ashes Posthumous depiction of Anne Bradstreet by Edmund H. Garrett.  Source: Wikipedia

Prologue At first she is reluctant to tell of the beginning of the creation of the commonwealth because she feels unworthy. But then she is inspired by Bartas and begins. She apologizes for her irreparably inferior skill. She objects to the convention against women writing and addresses the scorn with which women writers are regarded. She concedes that men do everything better, but asks men not to completely disregard women's smaller talents. She says her poetry is worthy of recognition. To My Dear and Loving Husband She loves her husband and is joyful to be with him. She loves him more than all the riches and though she cannot repay him she prays heaven will reward him. She asks him to persevere in love so that through this love they may live forever. Verses Upon the Burning of Our House When she went to sleep she did not expect disaster, but she is awakened with cries of "fire!" She prays to god for help, leaves her house and looks upon her burning dwel...

THEMES Variability of creatures under god Quoting from Scripture Laws governing proper social behavior Interpretation of the bible Cockiness that they are the chosen ones Body of Chris Love Individual conduct to benefit the common good Generosity Assistance to those in need KEY WORDS His (God's) laws STYLE AND DEVICES Quoting scripture Question and answer format John Winthrop

God has made the world so that there are those who are less fortunate, and more fortunate. The reasons are: 1. To be in accord with the variability present in the natural world. Also, it is more satisfactory to gain followers of God secondhand, via a man messenger than directly by God accruing them.  2. The variation in the goodness of people gives God the opportunity to use his power to moderate vices, and support and endow with virtues.  3. Variety causes men to need one another and thus grow closer together. The difference in men is not because some are better than others but because this serves God and all God's men. People should show mercy and exercise justice toward one another, and be governed by the Laws of Nature (love thy neighbor as you love yourself) and Gospel (hospitality, as dictated by the Gospel). The following is in Q&A format: Men should help others in need. They should behave in this way because they care for one another as much as th...