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MIDTERM EXAM QUOTE GUIDE
English 211: American Literature I (Fall 2008)

Your mid-term exam will take place during class on Thursday, October 16, 2008. You will have to identify four out of six quotes for the exam (selected from the quotations submitted by you and redistributed in class by me). You will need to give the title of the piece, the author of the piece, and give two or three thoughtful sentences on the quote explaining its importance in the context of the course. In addition, you will need to prepare an essay exam prep card using the following specifications:

  • The card may be no bigger than 5" x 8".
  • Your name must appear in the upper right corner of the card (with a horizontal orientation so that the longest side is at top).
  • A clear space at the top left corner should be left blank for stapling.
  • You may record quotes on the card, but each quote on the card needs to appear in the essay. Listing other quotes in an attempt to have the answers to the ID section. Quotes are expected in the essay since you can prepare ahead of time.
  • You may not write out the essay on the card, but you may outline the key points.
  • Failure to follow these directions will result in the card not being allowed during the exam.
  • I will inspect the card before the exam starts. You may wish to show up early to get my approval.

You may choose from one of the following questions for your essay:

Essay Option 1:

Early American Literature is often described as “first contact” literature: descriptions of what happens when two cultures meet for the very first time. Pick a particular first contact experience and analyze how one side of the encounter attempts to deal with the other group. What cultural knowledge or standards do they use to evaluate the behavior or cultural position of the other? How do they attempt to interact with the other group? What justifications do they use to explain this kind of interactions? What does this suggest about that particular colonial encounter? You may use several texts or focus on one text closely.

Essay Option 2:

We’ve read a lot of the traditional “founding literature” of the United States—and a lot that you may never have heard of. Using several key texts, I would like for you to engage in an activity that is as old as the United States itself: attempt to describe the American character as envisioned by the founding fathers and mothers. What qualities do our earliest writers idealize—and how do those ideas agree with or differ from their actions? What do these observations suggest about the American character?

Essay Option 3:

Many of the repressed groups we’ve read about attempt to argue against the colonial power’s dominance by using the colonial power’s own ideology against it. Pick two examples of oppressed people’s attempts to argue their way out of repression (or to at the very least subvert their political or cultural dominance) and show how these arguments work. What does this suggest about colonial powers?

Essay Option 4:

The role of religion in the development of the American character is one of the timeless debates that various factions argue, even today. Given the scope of the readings in the course, how religious philosophies helped shape American culture.

Quote Options:

On the exam, I will give 13 quotes. You will need to identify 7 of the quotes, giving the author, title, and several sentences detailing the significance of the quotes. Below are the quotes you submitted as a class for consideration. The exam quotes will come from this list.

It was out upon the ocean. Some sea-foam formed against a big log floating there. Then a person emerged from the sea-foam and crawled out upon the log. He was seen sitting there. Another person crawled up, on the other side of the log. It was a woman. They were whites. Soon the Indians saw them, and at first thought that they were sea-gulls, and they said among themselves, “Are they not white people?” Then they made a boat and went out to look at the strangers more closely.

(pg. 65) Native American Oral Narrative "Creation of the Whites" (Yuchi)

Any man in power that was in this position the Hopi called Tota-achi, which means a grouchy person that will not do anything himself, like a child.

SOURCE: The Coming of the Spanish and the Pueblo Revolt (Hopi). Vol. A. Pg. 205

If you have this power, then blow me out into the air; my gods have more power than you have. My gods have out a heart into me to enter your home, I have no weapons. You have your weapons handy, hanging on the wall, My gods have prevented you from getting your weapons.(206)

SOURCE: The Coming of The Spanish and the Pueblo Revolt (Hopi)

Of all these nations God our lord gave charge to one man called St. Peter, that he should be lord and superior to all the men in the world, that all should obey him, and that he should be the head of the whole human race, wherever men should live, and under whatever law, sect, or belief they should be; and he gave him the world for his kingdom and jurisdiction.

Palacios Rubios, Requerimiento, Vol. A, Pg. 114

But if you do not do this or if you maliciously delay in doing it, I certify to you that with the help of God we shall forcefully enter into your country and shall make war against you in all ways and manners that we can, and shall subject you to the yoke and obedience of the Church and of their highnesses; we shall take you and your wives and your children and shall make slaves of them, and as such shall sell and dispose of them as their highnesses may command; and we shall take away your goods and shall do to you all the harm and damage that we can, as to vassals who do not obey and refuse to receive their lord and resist and contradict him; and we protest that the deaths and losses which shall accrue from this are your fault, and not that of their highnesses, or ours, or of these soldiers who come with us.

Palacios Rubios, Requerimiento, Vol. A, Pg. 115 (p 3, line1).

We gave them beads and hawk-bells, and each of them gave me an arrow, which is a pledge of friendship. They told us by signs that they would return in the morning and bring us something to eat, as at the time they had nothing.

Source: Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca. Relation. Vol. A. ( Pg. 144.)

When they dispute and quarrel in their towns, they strike each other with fists fighting until exhausted, then separate.

CabezadeVaca. Relations ofAlvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca.Vol A. Pg. 147

Although these showed themselves greatly delighted with us, we feared that on our arrival among those who held the frontier and fought against the Christians, they would treat us badly, and revenge upon us the conduct of their enemies; but when God our Lord was pleased to bring us there, they began to dread and respect us as the others had done, and even somewhat more, at which we no little wondered. Thence it may at once be seen, that to bring all these people to be Christians and to the obedience of the Imperial Majesty, they must be won by kindness, which is a way certain, and no other is….

Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, Relacion, Vol A, Pg. 150 (p 1, line 11).

So great were the fear and distraction of these people, some to reach us sooner than others, that they might touch us, they pressed us so closely that they lacked little of killing us; and without letting us put our feet to the ground, carried us to their dwellings. We were so crowded upon by numbers, that we went into the houses they had made for us. On no account would we consent that they should rejoice over us any more that night. The night long they passed in singing and dancing among themselves; and the next day they brought us all the people of the town, that we should touch and bless them in the way we had done to others among whom we had been.

Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca. Relation of Alvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca. (Vol. A. Pg 148)

Our countrymen became jealous at this, and caused their interpreter to tell the Indians that we were of them, and for a long time we had been lost; that they were the lords of the land who must be obeyed and served, while we were persons of mean condition and small force. The Indians cared little or nothing for what was told them; and conversing among themselves said the Christians lied; that we had come whence the sun rises, and they whence it goes down; we healed the sick, they killed the sound; that we had come naked and barefooted, while they had arrived in clothing and on horses with lances; that we were not covetous of anything, but all that was given to us, we directly turned to give, remaining with nothing; that the others had the only purpose to rob whomsoever they found, bestowing nothing on any one. In this way they spoke of all matters respecting us,

Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca. Relation of Alvar Nunez Cabeza De Vaca.Chapter XXXIV, Of Sending For The Christians.Pg. 151-152.

He who does not work shall not eat.

Source: John Smith. The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the SummerIsles. Vol. A. ( Pg. 256.)

Here more than two hundred of those grim Courtiers stood wondering at him, as he had beene a monster; till Powhatan and his trayne had put themselves in their greatest braveries.

Source: John Smith. The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the SummerIsles. Vol. A. ( Pg. 258.

If I performe what I say, I desire but that reward out of the gaines [which] may su[i]te my paines, quality and condition. And if I abuse you with my tongue, take my head for satisfaction.

John Smith a Description of New England pg 264

What pleasure can be more, then (being tired with any occasion a-shore, in planting Vines, Fruits, or Hearbs, in contriving their owne Grounds, to the pleasure of their owne minds, their Fields, Gardens, Orchards, Buildings, Ships, and other works, &c.)

SOURCE: John Smith. A Description of New England. Vol A. Pg. 265

The Warres in Europe, Asia, and Affrica, taught me how to subdue the wilde Salvages in Virginia and New-England, in America; which now after many a stormy blast of ignorant contradictors, projectors, and undertakers, both they and I have beene so tossed and tortured into so many extremities, as despaire was the next wee both expected, till it pleased God now at last to stirre up some good mindes, that I hope will produce glory to God, honour to his Majesty, and profit to his Kingdomes. ...

SOURCE: John Smith. Advertisements for the Unexperienced Planters of New-England, or Anywhere, Or the Path-way to Experience to Erect a Plantation. Vol. A Pg 267

Any many a score of the worst of winter moneths [have] lived in the fields: yet to have lived neere 37. yeares [1593-1630] in the midst of wars, pestilence and famine, by which many an hundred thousand have died about mee, and scarce five living of them [that] went first with me to Virginia: and [yet to] see the fruits of my labours thus well begin to prosper: though I have but my labour for my paines, have I not much reason both privately and publikely to acknowledge it and give God thankes.

SOURCE: John Smith. Advertisements for the Unexperienced Planters of New-England, or Anywhere, Or the Path-way to Experience to Erect a Plantation. (Vol. A. Pg. 269)

A mouthful of bread for a penny loaf much serve for four men which is most pitiful…. People cry out day and night-Oh! that they were in England without their limbs-and would not care to lose any limb to be England again, yea, though they beg from door to door. For we live in fear of the enemy every hour.

Richard Frethrone fl. Richard Frethorne, to His Parents. (Virginia, 1623) (Vol. A. Pg 270)

But for God’s sake send beef and cheese and butter, or the more of one sort and none of another. But if you send cheese, it must be very old cheese; and at the cheesemonger’s you may buy very good cheese for twopence farthing or halfpenny, that will be liked very well. But if you send cheese, you must have a care how you pack it in barrels; and you must put cooper’s chips between every cheese, or else the heat of the hold will rot them.

SOURCE: Richard Frethorne. Richard Frethorne, to His Parents. Vol A. Pg 271.

Therefore if you love or respect me as your child, release me from the bondage and save my life. Now you may save me, or let met be slain with infidels. Ask this man- he knoweth that all is true and just that I say here.”(272)

Richard Frethorne. Richard Frethorne, to His Parents.

Oh, that you did see my daily and hourly sighs, groans, and tears, and thumps that I afford mine own breast, and rue and curse the time of my birth, with holy Job. I thought no head had been able to hold so much water as hath and doth daily flow from mine eyes.

Source: Richard Frethorne. Richard Frethorne, to His Parents. Vol. A. Pg. 273.

And thus I end, praying to God to send me good success that I may be redeemed out of Egypt (272).

Richard Frethorne. Richard Frethorne, to His parents (Virginia, 1623). Vol A. Pg. 272.

As not only bitter contentions and heartburnings, schisms, with other horrible confusions; but Satan took occasion and advantage thereby to foist in a number of vile ceremonies, with many unprofitable canons and decrees, which have since been as snares to many poor and peaceable souls even to this day…

Source: William Bradford. Of Plymouth Plantation. Vol. A. Pg. 327

But it pleased God before they came half seas over, to smite this young man with a grievous disease, of which he died in a desperate manner, and so was himself the first that was thrown overboard.

SOURCE: William Bradford. Of Plymouth Plantation. Vol A. Pg.327

After his they fell to great licentiousness and led a dissolute life, pouring out themselves into all profaneness. And Morton became Lord of Misrule, and maintained (as it were) a School of Atheism. And after they had got some goods into their hands, and got much by trading with the Indians, they spent it as vainly in quaffing and drinking, both wine and strong waters in great excess (and, as some reported) ￡10 worth in a morning. They also set up a maypole, drinking and dancing about it many days together.

Bradford. Of Plymouth Plantation. Vol A. Pg. 334

Oh! (saith he) you, I now see, show your love like christians indeed one to another, but we let one another lie and die like dogs.

Source: Bradford. Of Plymouth Plantation. Vol A. Pg. 331

If they died, let them die.

William Bradford. Book II Chapter XI The Remainder of Anno 1620. Vol A. (p.331)

He directed them how to set their corn, where to take fish, and to procure other commodities, and was also their pilot to bring them to unknown places for their profit, and never left them till he died….

Source: William Bradford. Of Plymouth Plantation. Vol. A. ( Pg. 333.)

God, it seems, would have all men to behold and observe such mercies and works of His providence as these are towards His people, that they in like cases might be encouraged to depend upon God in their trials, and also to bless His name when they see his goodness towards others.

Source: William Bradford. Of Plymouth Plantation.Vol. A. Pg. 344

And having thus instructed them, he employed some of them to hunt and fowl for him, so as they became far more active in that employment than any of the English, by reason of their swiftness of foot and nimbleness of body, being also quicksighted and by continual exercise well knowing the haunts of all sorts of game. So as when they saw the execution that a piece would do, and the benefit that might come by the same, they became mad (as it were) after them and would not stick to give any price they could attain to for them; accounting their bows and arrows but baubles in comparison of them.

William Bradford, Of Plymouth Plantation, Vol A. Pg. 335 (p. 2, line 7).

According to humane reason, guided onely by the light of nature, these people leades the more happy and freer life, being voyde of care, which torments the minds of so many Christians: They are not delighted in baubles, but in useful things.

SOURCE: Thomas Morton.New English Canaan.Vol. A. Pg. 299

The Seperatists, envying the prosperity and hope of the Plantation at Ma-re Mount, (which they perceaved beganne to come forward, and to be in a good way for gaine in the Beaver trade,) conspired together against mine Host especially, (who was the owner of that Plantation,) and made up a party against him; and mustered up what aide they could, accounting of him as a great Monster.