There are various things that make up a piece of literature. For example: choice of diction, modes of discourse, and figurative language. Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano were great examples of authors that used these elements of literature. There are similarities and differences in A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson and From Africa to America. Though Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano shared similarities in experiences, they had different writing personalities, purposes, attitudes, tones, and relations with their communities. There are four main modes of discourse: expository, narrative, descriptive, and persuasive. In Mary Rowlandson’s A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, it is apparent in the title that it is a narrative. Like Mrs. Rowlandson’s literature, Olaudah Equiano’s From Africa to America is a narrative. A narrative form of literature is a story, account of events, or experiences, whether it is true or fictitious. In this case their stories were their real experiences and they gave the reader actual facts and information, also making it expository. "The closeness of the place and the heat of the climate, added to the number in the ship, which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us." (73) This is a perfect example showing that Olaudah Equiano’s narrative is also descriptive, giving the reader vivid images in his mind, whereas Rowlandson’s narrative rarely has descriptive content. These works of literature may also be portrayed as persuasive by the quote of, "..Overwhelmed with the thoughts of my condition.." (7) Mary Rowlandson was overwhelmed with her emotions. This quote may persuade the reader ... ... middle of paper ... ...aves. Olaudah’s story may be seen as a reminder that people in the latest generation have things easy compared to the time he was alive. People should not take what they have for granted, for example freedom. The people of today have the most freedom than ever before. Although two different authors wrote these works of literature, A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson and From Africa to America, both stories possessed similar and different elements of writing. These tales were worthy of comparing because they had various things to review, contrast, and realize, such as the worship they had or didn’t have for God, their experiences, and their styles. Mary Rowlandson and Olaudah Equiano were remarkable writers whose works will always be a part of America’s history for the various styles and purposes they had to share with their readers.
On February 10, 1675, Mary Rowland was captured in Lancaster, Massachusetts. While being held captive, she narrated her experiences and tried to affirm her Puritan beliefs throughout her survival of being in captivity. She’d rather go with the “ravenous Beasts” than die because she wanted to “declare” of what was happening to her throughout her journey (70). Mary Rowlandson believed God was omniscient, forgiving, and omnipotent and it shaped her perception of the world in an affirmative way throughout all the chaos and suffering.
Authors have the ability justify the worst actions. Authors have a way of romanticizing certain situations in order to convey a specific message. A good author has power to influence the reader into believing whatever it is the author wants. When it comes to the story of Hannah Dustan, authors such as John Greenleaf Whittier have romanticized her captivity story along with the actions she took throughout her journey.
Christianity played a large role in both of their lives. They both looked to God to help them through dark times. They also both believed that their good fortunes were because of the Lord. Mary Prince admits that “if the Lord had not put it into the hearts of the neighbours to be kind to me, I must, I really think, have lain and died.” Olaudah Equiano also thanks God for his good luck. He recognized that he was luckier than most slaves and thanks God for this. “I had all the opportunity I could wish for to see the dreadful usage of the poor men- usage that reconciled me to my situation, and made me bless God for the hands into which I had fallen” . Both Mary and Olaudah found hope in Christianity that helped them survive the often horrendous conditions they
Even though these books were written a little over a hundred years apart, there are several similarities and differences. Both de Vaca and Rowlandson went through similar struggles such as starvation and dehydration, different weather conditions and troubles with the Indians. God was a factor in keeping both of them uplifted in their treacherous journeys. They both mention numerous times how God aided them. One slight difference is in Mary Rowlandsons book religion is more evident. She had access to a Bible which enabled her give quotes unlike de Vaca who barely had clothes on his back.
Rowlandson, Mary “A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson.” The Norton Anthology of American Literature, Vol. A. Ed. Nina Baym. New York: W. W. Norton & Company, 2012. 257-88. Print.
"The Life of Olaudah Equiano” is a captivating story in which Equiano, the author, reflects on his life from becoming a slave to a freeman during the 19th century. Through his experiences and writing, Equiano paints a vivid picture of the atrocities and cruelties of European slavery. Ultimately through his narrative, Equiano intends to persuade his audience, the British government, to abolish the Atlantic slave trade as well as alert them of the harsh treatment of slaves. He successfully accomplishes his goal by subtly making arguments through the use of character, action, and setting.
...ve Indians. From the copious use of examples in Winthrop's work, and the concise detail in Rowlandson's narrative, one can imbibe such Puritans values as the mercy of God, place in society, and community. Together, these three elements create a foundation for Puritan thought and lifestyle in the New World. Though A Model of Christian Charity is rather prescriptive in its discussion of these values, Rowlandson's captivity narrative can certainly be categorized as descriptive; this pious young woman serves as a living example of Winthrop's "laws," in that she lives the life of a true Puritan. Therefore, both 17th century works are extremely interrelated; in order to create Winthrop's model community, one must have faith and closely follow Puritan ideals, as Rowlandson has effectively done in her A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson.
Rowlandson, Mary. A True History of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson.In Women’s Indian Captivity Narratives. Ed. Kathryn Zabelle Derounian-Stodola. New York: Penguin Books, 1998.
Isn’t it great to have stories that share a similar outline but are completely different with their point of views and experiences? The stories of “of Plymouth Plantation and “The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano”, is a perfect example of that situation. “Of Plymouth Plantation” is about the voyage of the pilgrims, “…the life of Oulaudah equiano” is about the voyage of the Africans during the slave trade, yet both share many similarities and differences about their voyages and perspectives are described below.
In the 17th century, many Puritans emigrated to the New World, where they tried to create a brand new society. They moved to New World because they were being persecuted in England for their religious beliefs, and they were escaping to America. The women were immigrating to America to be the wives of the settlers this demonstrates that women were expected to live in the household for the rest of their lives. Women in Puritan society fulfilled a number of different roles. History has identified many women who have had different experiences when voicing their beliefs and making a step out of their echelon within society’s social sphere. Among these women are Anne Hutchinson, and Mary Rowlandson. And in this essay I will
A Narrative of Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson by Mary Rowlandson tells the story of Rowlandson as she is taken into captivity by Native Americans. Rowlandson’s narrative is made up of multiple elements, some being survival, food, religion, and civilization. Calvinism is one of the major elements seen throughout Mary Rowlandson’s narrative. As Calvinism is a major theme discussed throughout the narrative, Rowlandson’s captivity and the beliefs of Calvinism and redemption are expressed through a similar lens. The theme of religion, more specifically Calvinism and redemption play a key role in the story of Mary Rowlandson’s survival from captivity. Rowlandson tells a story in which she loses countless family members, faces starvation,
In her account, A Narrative of the Captivity and Restauration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, Rowlandson
In “A Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson,” Mary Rowlandson, a Puritan mother from Lancaster, Massachusetts, recounts the invasion of her town by Indians in 1676 during “King Philip’s War,” when the Indians attempted to regain their tribal lands. She describes the period of time where she is held under captivity by the Indians, and the dire circumstances under which she lives. During these terrible weeks, Mary Rowlandson deals with the death of her youngest child, the absence of her Christian family and friends, the terrible conditions that she must survive, and her struggle to maintain her faith in God. She also learns how to cope with the Indians amongst whom she lives, which causes her attitude towards them to undergo several changes. At first, she is utterly appalled by their lifestyle and actions, but as time passes she grows dependent upon them, and by the end of her captivity, she almost admires their ability to survive the harshest times with a very minimal amount of possessions and resources. Despite her growing awe of the Indian lifestyle, her attitude towards them always maintains a view that they are the “enemy.”
Mary Rowlandson was a pretentious, bold and pious character. Her narrative did not make me feel sorry for her at all, which is strange since she really did go through a lot. During the war, the Narragansett Indians attacked Lancaster Massachusetts, and burned and pillaged the whole village. During the siege Mary and her six year old child were shot, she watched her sister and most of her village either burn or get shot. She was kept as a captive, along with her three children and taken with the Narragansett’s on their long retreat. The exposition of the story is set immediately. The reader is perfectly aware of Missus Rowlandson’s status and religious beliefs. She constantly refers to the Narragansetts in an incredibly condescending way, to the point that you know that she does not even consider them human. She paints them as purely evil pe...
Mary Rowlandson was a captive of the natives who clung to her Christian beliefs in order to survive and remain hopeful. Although she was not directly maltreated in captivity, she continually referred to the Native Americans as, “merciless enemies” “barbarous creatures” “ravenous beasts” staying true to the New England Puritan colonial mindset. (Rowlandson 259) Rowlandson mentions the natives eat horse meat and bear, live in wigwams and the outdoors unlike the Europeans so she speculates they are violent savages, illuminating the ideology of the Europeans and how they feared the anything that went against their idea of the norm. She continues to refer to the natives as if they were an unknown species and not human when she sees them dance in celebration, “made the place a lively resemblance of hell”. Rowlandson believed that by being pure G-d would deliver her safely from the daunting ordeal. She alludes to many books in the bible about times of struggle, captivity, and salvation such as the book of Job: “And I only am escaped alone to tell the News” (Rowland...