I have learned to look beyond present and smaller troubles, and to be quieted under them.
She says she has grown and learned not to complain about smaller troubles, but I feel like her actions throughout this last remove do not match that. For example, she complains about living with bare walls.
vanity of these outward things.
She says she has learned from this experience, but I feel like she is only learning what she wants to and ignoring facts that don't support her beliefs.
should be sometimes jealous
Jealous of what? Pain!?
. But the next hour in sickness and wounds, and death, having nothing but sorrow and affliction.
Is this her way of being grateful for what she has?
But now we are fed with the finest of the wheat
When she eats this food, does she not think about the Native Americans who are starving?
awful dispensation of the Lord towards us
So is she having bad dreams about God and not her capture?
house-keeping with bare walls;
Be grateful for those bare walls.
Mr. James Whitcomb,
It's crazy how many people offered their homes.
where we received her safe.
So they didn't have to buy her back. Why?
could not redeem him under seven pounds,
So, could they have been bought back this whole time?
my children being gone,
She says her children are gone a lot, which always makes me think they are dead, but then they show up alive, so I'm guessing they are alive and she just doesn't know where.
desired my husband to preach
Her husband was a minister, right?
our son Joseph was come in to Major Waldron’s, and another with him, which was my sister’s son.
It's crazy how connected the people were to have this information
its wounds,
We still don't know how the child received its wounds, or even what the wounds were. Also, why does she refer to the child as it?
received us into his house,
Is this talking about her and her husband? Do they not have a place to live? Where was the husband living before?
Boston gentlemen
That's great, but why did it not come from her husband?
The twenty pounds, the price of my redemption,
So she did have to pay for her freedom.
my own children amongst the rest,
Why hasn't she tried to get her own children back? If she was able to free herself, why can't she find them and try to work something out?
with my brother,
Family just keeps popping up.
some of them my neighbors.
So, was her family the only ones taken, or were others from the neighborhood captured as well?
nor one house left standing.
Was the town still standing when she was captured?
Mr. Hoar, and myself, and the two Indians
Is there a reason they are traveling with her?
took my leave of them
How was she free to leave? Did she not have to give them anything to be free?
roaring lions, and savage bears
There is no reason to add this language
In my travels an Indian came to me and told me, if I were willing, he and his squaw would run away, and go home along with me. I told him no: I was not willing to run away
Wait, I thought she was allowed to go. Why would it be running away? Also, why does the Native American couple want to run away?
seemed much to rejoice in it; some asked me to send them some bread, others some tobacco, others shaking me by the hand, offering me a hood and scarfe to ride in; not one moving hand or tongue against it.
Are they so happy because they think she will help them? Or are they just happy to get rid of her? Also, I feel like she may choose not to help them because of her biases.
except my husband would come for me,
Does she know for sure he will come?
heathen
Heathens really...
But to return again to my going home, where we may see a remarkable change of providence.
Did they bring her back, or did they happen to pass by her home?
inhumane, and many times devilish cruelty to the English
Like I said before, does he not know or just refuse to acknowledge the horrible torture the English put through the Native Americans?
with their black faces
Why did she feel the need to add this?
and not one week passed without the fury of the enemy, and some desolation by fire and sword upon one place or other.
To her or to Europeans in general? Because if she's talking about it in general, does she not know what has been happening to the Native Americans?
stand in admiration to see the wonderful power of God
Admiration in God for providing, but not in the Natives who are doing the hard work of gathering and surviving.
They would pick up old bones, and cut them to pieces at the joints, and if they were full of worms and maggots, they would scald them over the fire to make the vermine come out, and then boil them, and drink up the liquor, and then beat the great ends of them in a mortar, and so eat them. They would eat horse’s guts, and ears, and all sorts of wild birds which they could catch; also bear, venison, beaver, tortoise, frogs, squirrels, dogs, skunks, rattlesnakes; yea, the very bark of trees; besides all sorts of creatures, and provision which they plundered from the English.
This just shows how they are resilient and don't waste. They eat what they have to to survive.
scourge to His people.
Is she saying that God created or provided for Native Americans that way they can be a punishment for "His people, or the Europeans?
that a hog or a dog would hardly touch
First of all, mean language. Second, when people are starving, they will eat what they have to.
angely did the Lord provide for them
So, she is starting to see that God may be looking out for Native Americans?
if their corn were cut down, they would starve and die with hunger, and all their corn that could be found, was destroyed
Is this talking about the Native Americans' corn being chopped down by Europeans?
our
I can't believe she said "our" when Europeans only recently made it over here and took land from Native Americans. If it is anyone's country, then it is the Native Americans.
slowness, and dullness of the English army, in its setting out
Did she believe it was slow and dull?
and the very next week the enemy came upon our town, like bears bereft of their whelps, or so many ravenous wolves, rending us and our lambs to death
Wait is this talking about before she was captured?
the enemy in such distress for food that our men might track them by their rooting in the earth for ground nuts, whilst they were flying for their lives.
So, the army used where the Native Americans dug up roots for food as a way to track them? Also, why were the Native Americans so low on food? Was it because of European colonizers and the army?
and they told me I disgraced my master with begging
Does her master feed her, or is she expected to find her own food and make something to trade for it
Then I took it of the child, and eat it myself,
No way did she take their food. They may have trouble eating it, but when they don't have access to much food, they will find a way to eat it.
Then I went into another wigwam, where they were boiling corn and beans, which was a lovely sight to see, but I could not get a taste thereof.
Do all captives have the ability to move around freely or only her?
and one of them my own sister’s
Why is her whole family captive? This would make so much more sense if we got a detailed description of what happened when she was taken captive. I wonder why she never told us?
We took up our packs and along we went,
Where are they heading?
So like were these barbarous creatures to him who was a liar from the beginning.
Who is "him?" Who was the liar from the beginning?
I asked him about the welfare of my husband.
So, did she know him before?
kill him; he answered me, they would not
Why not kill him?
asking him many questions
I wonder what questions?
yelping
Another way of dehumanizing. Gives animal characteristics.
God did not leave me to have my impatience work towards Himself, as if His ways were unrighteous. But I knew that He laid upon me less than I deserved.
Is she questioning her faith?
no comfort here neither
This is surprising. God has been with her this entire time, but now she can not find comfort in him.
I thought of the English army, and hoped for their coming, and being taken by them, but that failed.
But would she be saved? Would the army take time to separate the hostages from the Native Americans, or would they just recklessly start their path of destruction?
barbarous heathens,
This wording is crazy when she has seen all of the kindness they have shown her. She is calling the people who have helped her in some ways these awful things. For example, the older couple that sheltered her when she had no where to sleep
I removed a stick that kept the heat from me. A squaw moved it down again, at which I looked up, and she threw a handful of ashes in mine eyes.
I don't understand where she gets the audacity to do things that she does. I don't know if maybe she is just not used to thinking about her actions before she does them, but she does a lot of things that you probably shouldn't as a captive. That being said, throwing ashes into her eyes is crazy. I wonder why moving the stick was such a big deal and why it seemed to be the woman who harmed her.
addictedness to lying
Stereotype?
He answered me that such a time his master roasted him, and that himself did eat a piece of him, as big as his two fingers, and that he was very good meat.
There is no way this is true. It's probably a lie that is making fun of how European Colonizers used to say that Native Americans were cannibals.
sked me to make a shirt for her papoose, for which she gave me a mess of broth,
I find the trading between her and the Native Americans to be very interesting. Although technically a captive, she is constantly asked to do things and not ordered. She also gets things back when she does things. It's not a one-way transaction.
six miles down the river into a mighty thicket of brush; where we abode almost a fortnight
Is there a reason they have to stay here?
squaw gave me some ground nuts; she gave me also something to lay under my head, and a good fire we had;
That is nice of them to offer and almost take care of her. I wonder what the other Native Americans in the tribe thought of her.
Friend Indian, and several others of the like cut.
What does this mean exactly?
company drew his sword, and told me he would run me through
The threat of violence, but again for her unwillingness to cooperate.
home again.
Calling her place there home
and lie somewhere else, for they had company (they said)
Are they back with the rest of the tribe, or are they still on the path from their travel?
walking among the trees, I found six acorns, and two chestnuts
Adapting
who seemed to me the best friend that I had of an Indian,
Sounds like a change of heart to me. She hated Native Americans, and now she calls one her best friend.
well have died as went back; I cannot declare the trouble that I was in about it; but yet back again I must go.
Did she know the reason for turning around? Was she told that she could no longer go back to her husband or are they going to attempt to bring her again?
on a sudden my mistress gives out; she would go no further, but turn back again, and said I must go back again with her, and she called her sannup, and would have had him gone back also,
Why did she want to turn around? Did she see something? it makes no sense for her to go that far and then decide to just go back.
made my burden seem light, and almost nothing at all.
Then why complain
slap in the face,
Actual violence is shown
I complained it was too heavy,
I find it interesting how she complains to the Native Americans, which she seems to do a lot. First of all, if they really are taking her to her husband, you would think she wouldn't mind doing what she had to do to get there. Also, she is technically their captive, so you would think a person would be scared to voice their complaints to their kidnappers. Unless their kidnappers have been treating her pretty fairly so she doesn't feel threatened?
snatched it hastily out of my hand, and threw it out of doors
weird, when a Native American gave it to her in the first place
Nux,” which did much rejoice my spirit.
So, this means yes?
sell me to my husband.
Her husband was not there for the original capture, I believe.
and sell me for powder: for so they had sometimes discoursed.
It's crazy how this was done to people
somebody stole it,
stole what the hat, and is that what she paid for?
hings now he is returned in safety.
Wait was he released?
invited my master and mistress to dinner;
Interesting
There was a squaw who spake to me to make a shirt for her sannup, for which she gave me a piece of bear. Another asked me to knit a pair of stockings, for which she gave me a quart of peas.
Lots of trade
but I thought I never tasted pleasanter meat in my life
Seems like she is starting to adapt.
he bade me keep it
she has her own possessions.
and asked me whether I would smoke it
Why are they being so kind to her?
spoonfuls of meal to comfort me
giving
No,” said he, “none will hurt you.”
Interesting
why I wept
concern
could I not shed one tear in their sight;
Tried to stay strong. Hold onto pride.
, that I wept before them.
no judgement but why now?
I observed they asked one another questions, and laughed, and rejoiced
Definitely a different take on her captors then she had before.
His goodness
She believes God is keeping her safe and will help her survive.
“Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return: the Lord gave, the Lord hath taken away, blessed be the name of the Lord.”
So much about the Lord. She is dedicated.
my son Joseph
Where did he come from?
some to eat, and others to rest
They had time for this?
I must go four or five miles
wait why? Is this why they cried out?
King Philip.
Why are they going to see him?
. God did not give them courage or activity to go over after us. W
Does she want them to find her that way she can escape?
wigwams on fire,
why?
knitting
with what?
yet they were sweet and savory to my taste.
Wait so she ended up liking the food?
filthy trash;
Jeez. Food is food at this point.
spoonful of the meal,
How often does she get to eat compared to others?
favored in my load;
treated nicely
my wound,
still don't know what it is
carried their old decrepit mothers
community
bier
"a movable frame on which a coffin or a corpse is placed before burial or cremation or on which it is carried to the grave."
furiously
interesting word
gone for their live
They know what the English army will do
I got an opportunity
It sounds like she wants to leave them
ndians would let me read? He answered, yes.
Wasn't it a Native American who offered it to her?
if I would have a Bible, he had got one in his basket.
Why did they offer it to her?
destroyed (which was at that time twenty-three)
How did she know?
din
Why does she shorten words?
his dame brought him to see me. I took this to be some gracious answer to my earnest and unfeigned desire.
I wonder why?
hat he was amongst a smaller parcel of Indians, whose place was about six miles off.
How are they able to meet?
Sarah
the baby?
my son came to me, and asked me how I did.
What!? Where are these children coming from?
my condition,
Her physical condition or like the condition that her life is in?
another in the wilderness, I knew not where, the third they would not let me come near to
Where are her children? I'm confused.
taken from the door at first by a Praying Ind. and afterward sold for a gun.
That's crazy. Was she taken before or at the same time as Mary?
I went to see my daughter Mary,
Wait is that also her actual daughter? Why was she not brought up before? Was her mother not worried for her? Like I said before I feel like we are missing so much context.
and there they told me they had buried it.
It's interesting that they took time to bury it. Also why does she keep referring to it as it?
garrison
what does this mean?
but now the case is changed; I must and could lie down by my dead babe, side by side all the night after.
So sad, but it's reassuring that she got time to grieve in private with her child.
It being about six years, and five months old
I thought this was a baby. Also now knowing how old it was it's kind of weird that we don't know its name or even its gender.
my sweet babe like a lamb departed this life on Feb
That's sad
my child being even ready to depart this sorrowful world,
We still don't know what the wounds are. Also, did this child have a name?
master
Who is master?
poor wounded child
Could she heal her child like she did her wounds?
corrupt
interesting word
oaken leaves
Native Americans used to treat bleeding, swelling, and tumors.
was not able some time to go,
To go where? I'm confused. Is he talking about a previous or coming journey?
now a considerable time with the Indians
Why has he been with them for so long?
Captain Beers’s
Who or what is this?
Robert Pepper
Is he a hostage? If so, is he a Christian like her?
how many Sabbaths I had lost and misspent, and how evilly I had walked in God’s sight;
It's crazy that she thinks of this right now.
of refreshing that came within either of our mouths
I wonder if they were withholding food or if they just didn't have food. Did the Native Americans eat?
what with my own wound, and my child’s being so exceeding sick,
She has said this so many time.
hey set me up behind him
Did they have her ride with someone so her and her baby won't fall again?
I could scarce sit down or rise up; yet so it must be
I feel like we are missing so much description on what is happening. She talks about wounds, but we don't know what they are or how she got them. We don't know anything about the attack or why she was taken. I feel like more description would be so much more helpful to understand what she is going through. For example, here she complains of the cold. Was she kidnapped in clothes unsuited for the cold? Does her baby have something to cover with? I just feel like were getting a lot of her complaints and opinions, but not enough actions and explanations.
Christian
She emphasizes on Christian.
being now (through the wound) fallen into a violent fever.
What wound does the baby have? How did it get this wound?
down I must sit in the snow, by a little fire,
I wonder was she the only one sitting in the snow. Are her kidnappers also outside sitting by the fire facing the cold or only her and her baby?
inhumane creatures,
Comes right out and says it. What was done to her was very wrong and those who did it to her are wrong, but what does she think of her own ancestors who mercilessly killed millions of Native Americans.
Then they set me upon a horse with my wounded child in my lap,
Horrible things have been done according to Mary, but consideration is still shown to her and her child from her kidnappers.
“I shall die, I shall die.”
Exaggeration
my poor wounded babe
So it was hers?
God
God to cope
It is not my tongue, or pen, can express the sorrows of my heart, and bitterness of my spirit that I had at this departure:
It is understandable why she is upset, but I want to know what happened? Is there a reason the Native Americans attacked? Was she hurt? Why is she being taken? Where is she being brought? Did her town try to fight back against the Native Americans?
one
Why one?
Those seven that were killed at Lancaster the summer before upon a Sabbath day
Why?
even those that seem to profess more than others among them, when the English have fallen into their hands.
wait, what does this line mean/ What is it trying to say?
savageness and brutishness of this barbarous
Dehumanizing language again
one poor wounded babe,
wait I thought she said her children were gone? Is this child from her town? Is this child hers or someone else's? Why keep the child?
ll was gone (except my life)
Why was she taken? Was she important? Was anyone else taken along with her?
All was gone,
This sounds like what happened to the Native Americans when the colonizers came. Everyone was killed, not even children were spared. The only time they survived was if they were sold into slavery.
my children gone, my relations and friends gone,
Are they dead?
sad bereaved condition
What did she lose? Is she hurt at all?
former day
Was the town that the English deserted the town that she was taken from? Did they just barely leave the town and that was why there was so many animals still there?
dismalness
gloomy and depressing.
waste
She believes it to be a waste only because it is feeding the Native Americans.
we
Who is we?
Oh the roaring, and singing and dancing, and yelling of those black creatures in the night, which made the place a lively resemblance of hell.
There is so much to say. First of all, making singing and dancing a bad thing is crazy. Then proceeding to call people "black creatures" is insanely racist and dehumanizing. Also comparing this scene to hell is wild and so wrong. This sentence was a punch in the gut. Like I understand she was kidnapped, but it's clear to see this language does not come from what happened but strong, longstanding personal beliefs that she has held.
whether I might not lodge
It's weird that she's asking when she is literally being kidnapped.
“What, will you love English men still?”
Not sure what this means? I feel like there are a few ways that this can be taken.
deserted by the English before, for fear of the Indians)
Someone mentioned this being a way to victimized the colonizers, which I agree with. They wouldn't have to have feared the Native Americans if they treated them right in the first place.
hard
?
where they intended to lodge.
Why and how was she kidnapped?
barbarous creatures
Dehumanizing language that we talked about in class.
as we make our voices heard in a public context.
I liked this ending because it showed that this project is to raise awareness. It's not arguing to be the best anthology or have the correct answer. Instead it tells us that it is ever growing and a way for the authors to also learn themselves.
global implications for what defines something as “American.”
I think this is extremely important when thinking about American literature because it allows more voices to be heard.
ven weave some comedy and sass in there
This might make the work more memorable and easier to read.
best to be original
Which can be hard with our own and societies pre conceived biases. Also it's just hard to be original when there are so many people in the world.
important themes and ideas
What makes them important? Does it have to do with history? Or is it more about the people?
people see that
So the purpose is not to solidly define American literature, but show that we are able to choose what makes our own version of American literature?
a free resource for all.
Yes!!
make our own, new anthology
How does one decide what goes in this anthology? How much more diverse will this anthology be?
unexpected combination
What makes a text unexpected? How does one choose the "unexpected works."
underpinnings
A definition I got from online: "a set of ideas, motives, or devices that justify or form the basis for something."
We do not claim to have a “perfect” or “complete” representation of American literature.
As I do not think it is possible for anyone.
wide range of ideas
How would these ideas change if we had a larger group of people? Would the end result stay the same?
multiple famous texts
what about texts that are not as famous as others?
collectively shared identity rather than a set of arbitrary geographical constraints?
What about pieces written outside America but are about America?
with being a resident in such a nation,
What about people who have more complicated histories, are they still American? For example, what about people who have lived almost their entire life in America, but are not technically a citizenship are they not American?
American
How do you define America?
new and provocative ways that fit the modern age.
But will the definition keep changing as time goes on?
questions remain unanswered
How can you answer these questions if the amount of American literature is ever growing and expanding?
global era,
What exactly does this mean?
rethink representations of American culture today?
I think learning about early American literature helps us to find similarities and difference between how life was then and now. For example, who was struggling before and who is struggling now. It also helps us appreciate more of the works that are coming out today, and the many different stories that are able to be told.
Who determines what counts as American literature?
Definitely a valid question, but could it be that we all determine what counts as American literature but only for ourselves?
American literature and American history?
Is American literature a product of history? Is it always a product of history? Is history a product of literature?
The handsome brave, who was known as White Eagle,
In the beginning the skeleton mentioned that Red Shell and him had been in the same sort of situation before he died, but how is that possible? It seems to me that the giants only take children and the skeleton does not seem like he is a child. Also it seems like he died in battle and not from being lured to the island like Red Shell was.
bows and arrows,but some had only one arm, and others only one leg.
Warriors who were killed in a battle.
disappeared were seen to change into lean and hungry wolves.
Metaphor for being ones true self after being freed from a form of ruler or leader?
he snapped in two,
Interesting. Why snapped in two thought?
cranberry swamp to get some children
How many children are around?
moccasins
A heelless shoe made of deer skin or soft leather.
“Cook it yourself, if it doesn’t suit you,
Brave
This boy
Do they only eat boys?
a giant keeps me here
I though the giant was dead? Is there more then one?