Exploration Narrative

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The testimonies written in both early exploration narratives and seventeenth century Puritan texts described how a particular explorer viewed the new land of America. Each of these writings had their own deception about the significance of America, both as a physical place and also as an ideal. Christopher Columbus wrote several exploration narratives during his journeys to and from the new land. He offered his own personal definitions and arguments about what he saw and thought about his new discoveries. In the text "Letter to Luis de Santangel", Columbus writes about his crowning achievement, the discovery of new world. I believe that this text helps convey a specific definition of America. Columbus portrayed America as being nothing short of paradise, an unimaginable land that offered great things.

Columbus' "Letter to Luis de Santangel" was written during an exciting time in history, which is why the text reads as though one can feel the anxiety and exhilaration of the writer. Columbus wrote to Luis de Santangel, who was an early supporter for Columbus' voyages, because he knew that de Santangel would appreciate the descriptions he had to offer. Being one of the first documentations about the new world of America, this letter from Columbus was a very significant one, and was printed throughout Europe. The letter begins with an extremely confident and proud remark. "As I know you will be pleased at the great victory with which Our Lord has crowned my voyage, I write this to you." This sentence by Columbus describes how he believes God has labeled his first voyage as being a great victory. I believe the first voyage is a great victory because of the way Columbus describes the new world as being paradise. Colum...

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...from Columbus' "Letter to Luis de Santangel" is "Espanola is a marvel." Espanola is the term Columbus gave to the new world at that time, and he describes it as being a marvel. A marvel is a word which implies beauty and breath taking detail. Columbus' definition of the new world being a marvel is a perfect fit because as he saw, the land was more than he had wished for.

Exploration narratives were used to describe the discoveries of new places and people back in history. Christopher Columbus was one of the first explorers to write one of these narratives. Columbus wrote about his voyage to a new world and his discovery of America. He used great detail in his writings and hoped it would correctly show his views and ideas about the new world. I believe that Columbus wanted to portray America as being a paradise, which had everything an explorer wanted.

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