Short Essay Questions

  
1)The writings of Captain John Smith and Christopher Columbus serve as a type of propaganda. Both discuss the New World as an Eden-like paradise—a land of plenty. Supply specific examples of how each man uses his writing to spur future colonization efforts.
2) Discus Cotton Mather’s role as a Puritan leader and as a participant in the witch trials at Salem.
3) Two conflicting views of Jonathan Edwards exist: (a) that he has a searing and ferocious preaching style designed to exploit the fears of troubled and confused people (b) that he used “terror” not just to stir up emotionalism but to awaken sinners and proclaim the omnipotence of God. Which of these views do you think is more accurate and why?
4) Discuss how Mary Rowlandson’s captivity narrative follows the traditional pattern of most captivity narratives that proceed from “separation” to “transformation” to “return.”
5) Based on the readings from our textbook (NOT what you’ve studied before), what strike you as the most memorable aspects of the adventures/experiences of men like Columbus, de las Casas, Cabeza de Vaca, and/or Smith? Discuss TWO of these men in your answer.
6) What do the poems of Bradstreet and the Narrative of Mary Rowlandson suggest about the fears and anxieties of women in Puritan society?