Making Connections

  1. Most of what we know of the “historic” Pocahontas comes from the writings of Captain John Smith. Compare the perspectives of historian Daniel Richter (p. 306) and biographer Paula Gunn Allen (p. 330) with what Captain John Smith reports (p. 315).

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Making Connections: - Most of what we know of the “historic” Pocahontas comes from the writings of Captain John Smith. Compare the perspectives of historian Daniel Richter (p. 306) and biographer Paula Gunn Allen (p. 330) with what Captain John Smith reports (p. 315).
  2. The poem by George P. Morris (p. 319) and the painting by John Gadsby Chapman (p. 318) are almost exactly contemporaneous. What features do they share? What values do they esteem? What do the similarities between the two suggest about American attitudes at that time?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Making Connections: - The poem by George P. Morris (p. 319) and the painting by John Gadsby Chapman (p. 318) are almost exactly contemporaneous. What features do they share? What values do they esteem? What do the similarities between the two suggest about American attitudes at that time?
  3. What similarities and differences do you see among the visual representations of Pocahontas by Simon van de Passe (p. 315), Chapman, and Howard Chandler Christy (p. 321)? How can you account for such radically different portrayals? How do the earlier portrayals compare with the later ones?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Making Connections: - What similarities and differences do you see among the visual representations of Pocahontas by Simon van de Passe (p. 315), Chapman, and Howard Chandler Christy (p. 321)? How can you account for such radically different portrayals? How do the earlier portrayals compare with the later ones?
  4. Look carefully at the portrayals of Pocahontas in the verses by Morris and Allen (p. 321), and in “Colors of the Wind” (p. 325). What similarities and differences do you find? Which verses idealize and romanticize Pocahontas? Which are critical? Which one or two do you like more? Why? How might Allen respond to those written by the others?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Making Connections: - Look carefully at the portrayals of Pocahontas in the verses by Morris and Allen (p. 321), and in “Colors of the Wind” (p. 325). What similarities and differences do you find? Which verses idealize and romanticize Pocahontas? Which are critical? Which one or two do you like more? Why? How might Allen respond to those written by the others?
  5. Morris, author of “The Chieftain’s Daughter,” has written, “Every part of the brief but glorious life of Pocahontas is calculated to produce a thrill of admiration, and to reflect the highest honor of her name.” Which of the selections reflect Morris’s perspective?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Making Connections: - Morris, author of “The Chieftain’s Daughter,” has written, “Every part of the brief but glorious life of Pocahontas is calculated to produce a thrill of admiration, and to reflect the highest honor of her name.” Which of the selections reflect Morris’s perspective?
  6. Pocahontas: Medicine Woman, Spy, Entrepreneur, Diplomat, by Allen, appeared two years after Richter’s book Facing East from Indian Country: A Native History of Early America. How might Richter respond to Allen’s account of the Pocahontas story?

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Making Connections: - Pocahontas: Medicine Woman, Spy, Entrepreneur, Diplomat, by Allen, appeared two years after Richter’s book Facing East from Indian Country: A Native History of Early America. How might Richter respond to Allen’s account of the Pocahontas story?
  7. Write a response to “Pocahontas to Her English Husband, John Rolfe” in Rolfe’s voice.

    Question

    ALMF/kS1zzW73MouRsoXk1h0lKY=
    Making Connections: - Write a response to “Pocahontas to Her English Husband, John Rolfe” in Rolfe’s voice.