pocahontas packet

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Pocahontas Examining the myth essay Ms. McGrath – American Lit Due Mon/Tues Sept. 17 th /18 th 100 points We have now examined one of the earliest key “American stories”, that of Pocahontas, from a variety of different angles. Now you get to organize your thoughts into writing. Please write a short essay (2-3 pages) about the “issue” of Pocahontas. Some questions you may want to consider in your writing are: 1. What are the details of the Pocahontas story as historians know it? How do the various Pocahontas films “get it right”? Where do they fail? Is there a significant difference in perspective between “The New World” and Disney’s “Pocahontas”? 2. What harm might result from Disney's production of "Pocahontas?" What benefit might there be? 3. Discuss the “Disneyfication” of history/literature and its impact on our culture, using specifics from Pocahontas as evidence.

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Page 1: Pocahontas Packet

Pocahontas

Examining the myth essayMs. McGrath – American Lit

Due Mon/Tues Sept. 17th/18th

100 points

We have now examined one of the earliest key “American stories”, that of Pocahontas, from a variety of different angles. Now you get to organize your thoughts into writing. Please write a short essay (2-3 pages) about the “issue” of Pocahontas. Some questions you may want to consider in your writing are:

1. What are the details of the Pocahontas story as historians know it? How do the various Pocahontas films “get it right”? Where do they fail? Is there a significant difference in perspective between “The New World” and Disney’s “Pocahontas”?2. What harm might result from Disney's production of "Pocahontas?" What benefit might there be? 3. Discuss the “Disneyfication” of history/literature and its impact on our culture, using specifics from Pocahontas as evidence. 4. Why do you think the Pocahontas/John Smith story has become one of the most culturally significant stories of American history/literature? Is it, in some ways, a creation story? What does it tell you about American culture?

You do not need to address all the questions on this list, but you do need to develop a thesis statement that embodies your idea about the Pocahontas story. Please see the attached rubric so that you understand my expectations of your essay.

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Pocahontas Essay Rubric

         Student Name:     ________________________________________

PPOINTS / CATEGORY 20 - Above Standards 18- Meets Standards 15 - Approaching Standards 13-Attention Grabber The introductory paragraph

has a strong hook or attention grabber that is appropriate for the audience. This could be a strong statement, a relevant quotation, statistic, or question addressed to the reader.

The introductory paragraph has a hook or attention grabber, but it is weak, rambling or inappropriate for the audience.

The author has an interesting introductory paragraph but the connection to the topic is not clear.

The introductory paragraph is not interesting AND is not relevant to the topic.

Focus or Thesis Statement The thesis statement names the topic of the essay and outlines the main points to be discussed.

The thesis statement names the topic of the essay.

The thesis statement outlines some or all of the main points to be discussed but does not name the topic.

The thesis statement does not name the topic AND does not preview what will be discussed.

Paragraph/Sentence Structure

All sentences are well-constructed with varied structure. Everything makes sense and there is a clear, logical "flow" to the writing.

Most sentences are well-constructed and there is some varied sentence structure in the essay. There may be a few questionable sentences or places where the "flow" is fuzzy.

Most sentences are well constructed, but there is no variation is structure. Some sentences or paragraphs do not "flow" in a natural, logical way.

Most sentences are not well-constructed or varied. Sentences do not make sense, or there is no logical paragraphing structure.

Writing Conventions Author makes no errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.

Author makes 1-3 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.

Author makes 4-6 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.

Author makes more than 6 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content.

Support for Position Includes 3 or more pieces of evidence (facts, statistics, examples, real-life experiences) that support the position statement. The writer anticipates the reader's concerns, biases or arguments and has provided at least 1 counter-argument.

Includes 3 or more pieces of evidence (facts, statistics, examples, real-life experiences) that support the position statement.

Includes 2 pieces of evidence (facts, statistics, examples, real-life experiences) that support the position statement.

Includes 1 or fewer pieces of evidence (facts, statistics, examples, real-life experiences).

Comments:

Page 3: Pocahontas Packet

Pocahontas was an Indian princess, the daughter of Powhatan, the powerful chief of the Algonquian Indians in the Tidewater region of Virginia. She was born around 1595 to one of Powhatan's many wives. They named her Matoaka, though she is better known as Pocahontas, which means "Little Wanton," playful, frolicsome little girl.

Pocahontas probably saw white men for the first time in May 1607 when Englishmen landed at Jamestown. The one she found most likable was Captain John Smith. The first meeting of Pocahontas and John Smith is a legendary story, romanticized (if not entirely invented) by Smith. He was leading an expedition in December 1607 when he was taken captive by some Indians. Days later, he was brought to the official residence of Powhatan at Werowocomoco, which was 12 miles from Jamestown. According to Smith, he was first welcomed by the great chief and offered a feast. Then he was grabbed and forced to stretch out on two large, flat stones. Indians stood over him with clubs as though ready to beat him to death if ordered. Suddenly a little Indian girl rushed in and took Smith's "head in her arms and laid her owne upon his to save him from death.” The girl, Pocahontas, then pulled him to his feet. Powhatan said that they were now friends, and he adopted Smith as his son, or a subordinate chief. Actually, this mock "execution and salvation" ceremony was traditional with the Indians, and if Smith's story is true, Pocahontas' actions were probably one part of a ritual. At any rate, Pocahontas and Smith soon became friends.

Relations with the Indians continued to be generally friendly for the next year, and Pocahontas was a frequent visitor to Jamestown. She delivered messages from her father and accompanied Indians bringing food and furs to trade for hatchets and trinkets. She was a lively young girl, and when the young boys of the colony turned cartwheels, "she would follow and wheele some herself, naked as she was all the fort over." She apparently admired John Smith very much and would also chat with him during her visits. Her lively character and poise made her appearance striking. Several years after their first meeting, Smith described her: "a child of tenne yeares old, which not only for feature, countenance, and proportion much exceedeth any of the rest of his (Powhatan's) people but for wit and spirit (is) the only non-pariel of his countrie.

Unfortunately, relations with the Powhatans worsened. Necessary trading still continued, but hostilities became more open. While before she had been allowed to come and go almost at will, Pocahontas' visits to the fort became much less frequent. In October 1609, John Smith was badly injured by a gunpowder explosion and was

Pocahontas

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forced to return to England. When Pocahontas next came to visit the fort, she was told that her friend Smith was dead.

Pocahontas apparently married an Indian "pryvate Captayne" named Kocoum in 1610. She lived in Potomac country among Indians, but her relationship with the Englishmen was not over. When an energetic and resourceful member of the Jamestown settlement, Captain Samuel Argall, learned where she was, he devised a plan to kidnap her and hold her for ransom. With the help of Japazaws, lesser chief of the Patowomeck Indians, Argall lured Pocahontas onto his ship. When told she would not be allowed to leave, she “began to be exceeding pensive and discontented," but she eventually became calmer and even accustomed to her captivity. Argall sent word to Powhatan that he would return his beloved daughter only when the chief had returned to him the English prisoners he held, the arms and tolls that the Indians had stolen, and also some corn. After some time Powhatan sent part of the ransom and asked that they treat his daughter well. Argall returned to Jamestown in April 1613 with Pocahontas. She eventually moved to a new settlement, Henrico, which was under the leadership of Sir Thomas Dale. It was here that she began her education in the Christian Faith, and that she met a successful tobacco planter named John Rolfe in July 1613. Pocahontas was allowed relative freedom within the settlement, and she began to enjoy her role in the relations between the colony and her people. After almost a year of captivity, Dale brought 150 armed men and Pocahontas into Powhatan’s territory to obtain her entire ransom. Attacked by the Indians, the Englishmen burned many houses, destroyed villages, and killed several Indian men. Pocahontas was finally sent ashore where she was reunited with two of her brothers, whom she told that she was treated well and that she was in love with the Englishman John Rolfe and wanted to marry him. Powhatan gave his consent to this , and the Englishmen departed, delighted at the prospect of the “peace-making” marriage, although they didn’t receive the full ransom.

John Rolfe was a very religious man who agonized for many weeks over the decision to marry a "strange wife," a heathen Indian. He finally decided to marry Pocahontas after she had been converted to Christianity, "for the good of the plantation, the honor of our country, for the glory of God, for mine own salvation ..." Pocahontas was baptized, christened Rebecca, and later married John Rolfe on April 5, 1614. A general peace and a spirit of goodwill between the English and the Indians resulted from this marriage.

Sir Thomas Dale made an important voyage back to London in the spring of 1616. His purpose was to seek further financial support for the Virginia Company and, to insure spectacular publicity, he brought with him about a dozen Algonquian Indians, including Pocahontas. Her husband and their young son, Thomas, accompanied her. The arrival of Pocahontas in London was well publicized. She was presented to King James I, the royal family, and the rest of the best of London society. Also in London at this time was Captain John Smith, the old friend she had not seen for eight years and whom she believed was dead. According to Smith at their meeting, she was at first too overcome with emotion to speak. After composing herself, Pocahontas talked of old times. At one point she addressed him as "father," and when he objected, she defiantly replied: "'Were you not afraid to come into my father's Countrie, and caused feare in him and all of his people and feare you here I should call you father: I tell you I will, and you shall call mee childe, and so I will be for ever and ever your Countrieman."' This was their last meeting.

After seven months Rolfe decided to return his family to Virginia, In March 1617 they set sail. It was soon apparent, however, that Pocahontas would not survive the voyage home. She was deathly ill from pneumonia or possibly tuberculosis. She was

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taken ashore, and, as she lay dying, she comforted her husband, saying, "all must die. 'Tis enough that the child liveth." She was buried in a churchyard in Gravesend, England. She was 22 years old.

Pocahontas played a significant role in American history. As a compassionate little girl she saw to it that the colonists received food from the Indians, so that Jamestown would not suffer the fate of the "Lost Colony." She is said to have intervened to save the lives of individual colonists. In 1616 John Smith wrote that Pocahontas was "the instrument to pursurve this colonie from death, famine, and utter confusion." And Pocahontas not only served as a representative of the Virginia Indians, but also as a vital link between the native Americans and the Englishmen. Whatever her contributions, the romantic aspects of her life will no doubt stand out in Virginia history forever.

Copyright 1997, 2000 by The Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities

Our Mother, Pocahontas by Vachel Lindsay

(Note: — Pocahontas is buried at Gravesend, England.)

"Pocahontas' body, lovely as a poplar, sweet as a red haw in November or a pawpaw in May — did she wonder? does she remember — in the dust — in the cool tombs?" CARL SANDBURG.

I

Powhatan was conqueror,Powhatan was emperor.He was akin to wolf and bee,Brother of the hickory tree.Son of the red lightning strokeAnd the lightning-shivered oak.His panther-grace bloomed in the maidWho laughed among the winds and playedIn excellence of savage pride,Wooing the forest, open-eyed,In the springtime,In Virginia,Our Mother, Pocahontas.

Her skin was rosy copper-red.And high she held her beauteous head.Her step was like a rustling leaf:Her heart a nest, untouched of grief.She dreamed of sons like Powhatan,And through her blood the lightning ran.Love-cries with the birds she sung,BirdlikeIn the grape-vine swung.The Forest, arching low and wideGloried in its Indian bride.Rolfe, that dim adventurerHad not come a courtier.

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John Rolfe is not our ancestor.We rise from out the soul of herHeld in native wonderland,While the sun's rays kissed her hand,In the springtime,In Virginia,Our Mother, Pocahontas.

II

She heard the forest talking,Across the sea came walking,And traced the paths of Daniel Boone,Then westward chased the painted moon.She passed with wild young feetOn to Kansas wheat,On to the miners' west,The echoing cañons' guest,Then the Pacific sand,Waking,Thrilling,The midnight land....

On Adams street and Jefferson —Flames coming up from the ground!On Jackson street and Washington —Flames coming up from the ground!And why, until the dawning sunAre flames coming up from the ground?Because, through drowsy Springfield spedThis red-skin queen, with feathered head,With winds and stars, that pay her courtAnd leaping beasts, that make her sport;Because, gray Europe's rags augustShe tramples in the dust;Because we are her fields of corn;Because our fires are all rebornFrom her bosom's deathless embers,FlamingAs she remembersThe springtimeAnd Virginia,Our Mother, Pocahontas.

III

We here renounce our Saxon blood.Tomorrow's hopes, an April floodCome roaring in. The newest raceIs born of her resilient grace.We here renounce our Teuton pride:

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Our Norse and Slavic boasts have died:Italian dreams are swept away,And Celtic feuds are lost today....

She sings of lilacs, maples, wheat,Her own soil sings beneath her feet,Of springtimeAnd Virginia,Our Mother, Pocahontas.

Myths Abound in "The New World"By Cathy Schultz

It would be logical to assume that Terrence Malick's The New World, the latest retelling of the Pocahontas-John Smith story, would share little in common with Disney's 1995 animated feature, Pocahontas. Malick, after all, is a legendary auteur, while Disney is, well, Disney.

Logical, perhaps, but wrong. For though stylistically the films are worlds apart, there are uncomfortable similarities in the romanticized history each offers.

Take the costume notions, for one. In both movies, Pocahontas sports a cute, midriff-baring little number, complete with strategic slits to show off her toned thighs. Sexy? Quite. But historical? Um, no.

And while Malick's film doesn't have a chatty Grandmother Willow and a cuddly raccoon buddy, Pocahontas still cavorts. A lot. In fact, according to these films, Pocahontas apparently had little else to do than gambol around with John Smith, teaching him to appreciate nature.

Here are other ways The New World romanticizes early America history.

Q. Was John Smith such a pensive, introspective chap?A. Hardly. The real John Smith was an opinionated, forceful soldier, who is credited with saving the Jamestown settlement by cracking down on lazy settlers who would rather hunt for gold than grow food.

Smith also had a wide self-promoting streak. He penned thrilling adventure stories of his exploits, with himself as the swashbuckling hero. It worked, though. We still know his name today, while contemporaries like Christopher Newport (who?) are forgotten.

Q. In the film, the Indians are said to "lack guile, treachery, or greed." Is that true?A. Far too romanticized. The movie depicts the Indians living in harmony with nature and one another. They're peaceful, except when the English goad them. And they all do lots of playing and dancing.

In reality, Powhatan, Pocahontas's father was an astute and tough chief, who ruled by conquest over the surrounding tribes. Politically savvy and fierce in battle, his people were far from the innocent, childlike creatures we see in the film.

Nor were they primitive environmentalists. Indians worked the earth the same way the English did, only with different tools. They farmed, felled trees, reshaped the land around them. And rather than cavorting all day, everyone in the tribe worked. Hard.

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Q. How did Smith get along with the Indians?A. It was a complex relationship. On the one hand, Smith admired Powhatan, and may even have been ritually adopted into his tribe. And since the English were greatly outnumbered, and starving to boot, Smith had no choice but to negotiate with the tribes for food.

But Smith could be sneaky, promising muskets for food, for example, with no real intention of providing them. And his own letters proposed a dire fate for the natives, suggesting that the best way to treat Indians was to force them to do "all matter of drudgery worke [sic] and slavery."

Q. Did Pocahontas really save John Smith when her tribe captured him?A. Probably not. The famous tale of Smith's capture by Powhatan and his subsequent release was one Smith told many times. But interestingly, he never added the bit about Pocahontas's "rescue" until 1624, seventeen years after it purportedly occurred, and years after Pocahontas herself died.

Smith also liked to exaggerate. It's suspicious, for instance, that apparently Pocahontas wasn't the only beautiful woman to save Smith from almost certain death. According to his writings, a Turkish noblewoman, a Cossack chieftain's wife, and a lovely Frenchwoman (among others) also rescued him during his various globe-trotting adventures. Most of them, of course, then fell madly in love with him.

Q. So Pocahontas and John Smith didn't fall in love? Say it ain't so!A. One big obstacle to the Romeo and Juliet love story presented by Malick is that when they met, Smith was about twenty-seven, and Pocahontas probably only eleven.

But she was a precocious child by all accounts, and she and Smith did build a friendship, despite the age difference, and taught one another their languages. But their great love affair almost certainly didn't happen. Two years after they met, John Smith was headed back to England, and Pocahontas was married to Kocoom, an Indian who died soon after.

Q. Was Pocahontas kicked out of her tribe for helping the English?A. Never occurred. She did end up living in Jamestown, though. But only because she had been kidnapped at fifteen by the English, and was held there as a royal hostage.

Her captors allowed her much freedom, however. And it was in Jamestown that she met and married John Rolfe. And as the film shows, she traveled with him to London, and was feted by the King as a princess.

Thus Pocahontas cast her lot with the English. The sources suggest that she did love Rolfe. But her marriage was also designed to forge an alliance, and foster a peace between her people and her husband's. It worked, at least in her lifetime.

Q. Where to find more information about her?A. Try Camilla Townsend's wonderful Pocahontas and the Powhatan Dilemma