Of Plymouth Plantation

1
Of Plymouth Plantation

• By William Bradford

2
The Landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth

• In 1620, the Puritans (Pilgrims) sail in
  treacherous seas from Holland to Virginia. A
  storm blows the Mayflower off course, and the
  ship lands in present day Massachusetts. A few
  months after their arrival, nearly half of the
  100 Pilgrims have died of disease. Native
  Americans befriend the Pilgrims and return the
  tools they had previously stolen. Squanto
  becomes an interpreter, guide, and teacher to the
  Pilgrims, who learn to provide for themselves,
  and celebrate the first Thanksgiving after the
  harvest.

Study the picture and describe how you think
these people feel.
3
A Guide to Puritan Life

• The Puritans were a serious group of people who
  put God and hard work first in their lives. They
  rarely had any time for fun or good times. They
  believed in strict conformity and a very strict
  version of God. They wore very simple clothes and
  did not allow dancing, which they saw as sinful
  against God. They believed that witches were
  real, and that they make a deal with the devil
  for their magic powers. They worked together as a
  community to build their towns, but this often
  led to a fear of outsiders and nonconformity.
  People who dared to threaten this world order
  were either banished into the woods or were
  killed, sometimes accused of witchcraft. The
  Puritans believed in a "fire and brimstone"
  method of preaching, and led lives in fear of an
  angry God. Sometimes their strictness led to
  horrific things happening in their community,
  like the Salem Witch Trials.

4
Some of Our First Immigrants

• What would be some of the hardships that would
  accompany an extended sea voyage as well as the
  difficulties in building a colony?  What
  hardships would the colonists face? What do you
  think would get them through those hardships?

5
The Time and Place

• Ocean travel in 17th century England was
  hazardous. Ships were made of wood and easily
  damaged if they hit shoals (sandbars or shallow
  spots in the water). Sometimes, strong waves
  caused ships to seele, or lurch suddenly from
  side to side. In fierce winds, sails were
  lowered by heavy ropes called, halyards, and
  ships would have to hull or drift at sea.
  Storms and wind shifts sometimes made it
  necessary for the Mayflower to change directions
  (tack about) and to head for (or stand for) a
  different course. Destined for Virginia, the
  Mayflower eventually landed on the coast of what
  is now Massachusetts.
• The passage you are about to read is taken from
  William Bradfords historic Of Plymouth
  Plantation. It gives an account of the pilgrims
  experiences on board the Mayflower and in the
  Plymouth colony in the 1620s.

6
Historical Note

• The Puritans held to a strict work ethic. They
  believed the devil finds work for idle hands. In
  England the calendar year included about 240
  working days, but the Puritans worked at least
  365 days a year, taking holidays only on the
  Sabbath, election day, Harvard commencement day,
  and public Thanksgiving days. The Pilgrim
  calendar did not include Christmas as a holiday
  because it was viewed as a pagan remnant.

7
Beginnings and Change
On the Lighter Side Puritanism American writer
H.L. Mencken said in 1949, Puritanism is the
haunting fear that someone, somewhere, may be
happy.

• If you had been living during the seventeenth
  century and given the opportunity to come to this
  new land, would you have come? Give reasons why.

8
Important Literary Terms

1. Diction - A writers choice of words is called
   diction. It contributes greatly to Bradfords
   writing style and voice. How would you describe
   his style on the basis of his choice of words in
   the opening paragraph?
2. Allusion A reference to a well known piece of
   work, in literature, art or documented history is
   called Allusion. In this passage, Bradford
   refers, or alludes to the scriptures from the
   Bible. Find them.
3. Point of View Throughout the selection,
   Bradford writes as if he were not present during
   these experiences. What might be his reason for
   using the third person plural they instead of
   writing this as a first person narrative?

9
Why is this different?

• Pre-Colonial Times

• Modern Times

Discuss what has changed in Americans perception
of immigrants and what makes one iconic and the
other problematic.