from+The+General+History+of+Virginia

//from// The General History of Virginia
([|text])

As with Cristopher Columbus's Journal of the First Voyage to America, the [|narrative account] of [|John Smith (1580-1631)] gives a firsthand account of his experiences that focus on the economic opportunities to be found in the New World. You can see this especially in contrast to the stories told of America by the native Americans that focused on the inherent worth of the world and nature and man's natural, non-dominant, position ithin it. Unlike the the natives attitudes, the attitudes of Europeans like Smith focuses on a human-centered view of the natural world. To this end, Smith focuses his narrative on himself and the wealth and prestige to be found in the New World.

1. Why does John Smith choose to write a narrative account of his adventures rather than an acctual "history"?
 * Question**

John Smith's attitude toward the new world is especially apparent in his fixation on material items. In almost every paragraph Smith includes a "grocery list" of items.

//"//__Being thus left to our fortunes, it fortuned that within ten days scarce ten amongst us could either go, or well stand, such extreme weakness and sickness oppressed us. And thereat non need marvel, if they consider the cause and reason, which was this:__ //While the ships stayed, our allowance was somewhat bettered by a daily proportion of biscuit, which the sailers would **pilfer to sell, give, or exchange with us, for money, sassafras, furs, or love**. But when they departed, there remained niether **tavern, beerhouse, nor place of relief, but the common kettle**. Had we been as free from all sins as gluttony and drunkenness we might have been canonized for saints; but our President would never have been admitted for engrossing to his **private oatmeal,**// [|**//sack//**]**//, oil,//** [|**//aquavitæ//**]//**; beef, eggs, or what not, but the kettle; that indeed he allowed equally to be distributed, and that was half a pint of wheat, and as much barley boiled with water for a man a day**, and this having fried some twenty-six weeks in the ship's hold, contained as many worms as grains; so that we might truly call it rather so much bran than corn. Our drink was water, our lodgings castles in the air."//


 * Question:**

2. How does the listing of goods in the second section reveal Smith's central focus, especially in light of the underlined section?

Another technique that reveals Smith's self-centered attitude is his choice of narrator.

//"The new President, and Martin, being little beloved, of weak judgment in dangers, and less industry in peace, committed the managing of all things abroad to Captain Smith, who by his own example, good words, and fair promises, set some to mow, others to bind thatch, some to build houses, others to thatch them, himself always bearing the greatest task for his own share, so that in short time, he provided most of them lodings, neglecting any for himself."//


 * Question:**

3. How does Smith's choice of narrator affect the reader's attitude toward Smith in this passage?