William Bradford

Thesis: Although the Puritans experience hardship in their voyage to America, in their initial arrival and in their dealings with the Indians, they still maintain their reverence to God and to one another.

Impressive Passage: "Thus it pleased God to vanquish their enemies and give them deliverance; and by His special providence so to dispose that not any one of them were either hurt or hit, though their arrows came close by them and on every side [of] them; and sundry of their coats, which hung up in the barricade, were shot through and through. Afterwards they gave God solemn thanks and praise for their deliverance, and gathered up a bundle of their arrows and sent them into England afterward by the master of the ship, and called that place the First Encounter."

Reflection of the Impressive Passage: This passage impressed me because it gave insight on the mentality of the Puritans in that they thought all of their actions, wheather it be the lusty profane man dying abored the ship, or having a screw from Holland that repaird their shp's main mast, pleased God, although they have no way of knowing if it actually did or not.

Diary Entry: It pleased God that we defeated our enemies and that none of us were injured. Afterwards we gave God solemn thanks and praise for our deliverance. We gathered up a bundle of their arrows and sent them to England.

Political Cartoon: Becoming an American, whether someone is coming to the country or is viewed as an American by others, is a difficult process that many immigrants face. The cartoon illustrates a man entering a maze with the banner "Welcome To America". This exaggeratedly portrays the difficulty it can take one to get to America, much like in "Of Plymoth Plantation". Another detail of the image is the sub-title on the banner "this way for green cards". This shows that not only is it a difficult process for getting in, but also a difficult process for being seen, and accepted, as an American. This cartoon is a look inside the mind of an immigrant coming to America, whether it be modern times, or the settlers in "Of Plymoth Plantation".

Anne Bradstreet

Most Important Poem: The Anne Bradstreet poem I found most impressive was "To My Dear and Loving Husband". I liked this poem because of the use of paradoxes to convey the narrator's tone. Here's what I mean, she, the narrator, is deeply in love with her husband, and I mean real love, not some daytime soap opera crap. She says how her love for him is "an unquenchable thirst" that only his love can provide. She says how her feelings for him are as thought they are both the same person. It's interesting how she uses contradicting statements that I understand and know what she means. I also think that the poem is...interesting, because she says how she loves him so much, but she doesn't once mention whether he loves her or not. I think that gives this poem a little more depth as to what type of love she's describing.


Diary Entry (Point of view from Burning House): "I...I cannot believe this. How could He let this happen? I would consider myself a good person. I believe I've always lived by His word. Hoe could He do this? How could God burn my house down? Why would he do this? Is it his will that I suffer? Is it his will that I be Left abandoned with nowhere else to go? What will I do? Where will I go? How will I take care of my family?"........."All I can do now is pick my head up and believe that He has a plan for me, and by God that's what I'll do! So what if my house is gone? So what if I no longer own anything? I'm still alive, therefore it's God's will that I be here."

This political cartoon represents women’s struggle to gain political recognition in America. The cartoon is a picture of Hillary Clinton saying "My husband isn't Secretary of State, I am! Don't ask me what HE thinks" followed by her daughter, Chelsea, saying "whatever mom". This represents how often women aren't seen as political leaders, but more as non-respected spokespersons. Anne Bradstreet endured a similar ordeal as an author. Because of the times she lived in she wasn't well received as a poet until years after her death, just as Hillary Clinton isn't always seen as a politician.

Edward Taylor

In the poem "Huswifery", Edward Taylor uses an extended metaphor to convey his thoughts on how he transformed from a sinner do a follower of God.

What impressed me about the poem is that overall the poem is relating a man's progress of turning from a sinner to a follower of God, and how each stanza breaks it up step-by-step and walks you through the narrator's journey.