MIDTERM EXAM QUOTE GUIDE
English 211: American Literature I (Spring 2009)
Your mid-term exam will take place during class on Thursday, March 6, 2009. You will have to identify four out of
six quotes for the exam (selected from the quotations submitted by you and redistributed in class by me). You will
need to give the title of the piece, the author of the piece, and give two or three thoughtful sentences on the quote
explaining its importance in the context of the course. In addition, you will need to prepare an essay exam prep card
using the following specifications:
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The card may be no bigger than 5" x 8".
Your name must appear in the upper right corner of the card (with a horizontal orientation so that the
longest side is at top).
A clear space at the top left corner should be left blank for stapling.
You may record quotes on the card, but each quote on the card needs to appear in the essay. Listing other
quotes in an attempt to have the answers to the ID section. Quotes are expected in the essay since you can
prepare ahead of time.
You may not write out the essay on the card, but you may outline the key points.
Failure to follow these directions will result in the card not being allowed during the exam.
I will inspect the card before the exam starts. You may wish to show up early to get my approval.
You may choose from one of the following questions for your essay:
Essay Option 1:
Early American Literature is often described as “first contact” literature: descriptions of what happens when two
cultures meet for the very first time. Pick a particular first contact experience and analyze how one side of the
encounter attempts to deal with the other group. What cultural knowledge or standards do they use to evaluate the
behavior or cultural position of the other? How do they attempt to interact with the other group? What justifications
do they use to explain this kind of interactions? What does this suggest about that particular colonial encounter? You
may use several texts or focus on one text closely.
Essay Option 2:
We’ve read a lot of the traditional “founding literature” of the United States—and a lot that you may never have
heard of. Using several key texts, I would like for you to engage in an activity that is as old as the United States
itself: attempt to describe the American character as envisioned by the founding fathers and mothers. What qualities
do our earliest writers idealize—and how do those ideas agree with or differ from their actions? What do these
observations suggest about the American character?
Essay Option 3:
Many of the repressed groups we’ve read about attempt to argue against the colonial power’s dominance by using
the colonial power’s own ideology against it. Pick two examples of oppressed people’s attempts to argue their way
out of repression (or to at the very least subvert their political or cultural dominance) and show how these arguments
work. What does this suggest about colonial powers?
Essay Option 4:
The role of religion in the development of the American character is one of the timeless debates that various factions
argue, even today. Given the scope of the readings in the course, how religious philosophies helped shape American
culture.
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Quote Options:
On the exam, I will give 13 quotes. You will need to identify 7 of the quotes, giving the author, title, and several
sentences detailing the significance of the quotes. Below are the quotes you submitted as a class for consideration.
The exam quotes will come from this list.
Quote: It was out upon the ocean. Some sea-foam formed against a big log floating there. Then a person emerged
from the sea foam and crawled out upon the leg. He was seen sitting there. Another person crawled up, on the other
side of the log. It was a woman. They were whites.
Source: Yuchi. Creation of the Whites. Vol. A. (pg 65)
Quote: They had a box with them and asked the Indians for some earth to fill it. (pg. 65)
Source: Yuchi, Creation of the Whites. (pg. 65)
QUOTE: Wherefore, as best we can, we ask and require that you consider what we have said to you, and that you
take the time that shall be necessary to understand and deliberate upon it, and that you acknowledge the Church as
the ruler and superior of the whole world, and the high priest called Pope, and in his name the king and queen Dona
Juana our lords, in his place, as superiors and lords and kings of these islands and this mainland by virtue of the said
donation, and that you consent and permit that these religious fathers declare and preach to you the aforesaid.
SOURCE: Palacios Rubios. Requerimiento. Vol A. (Pg. 115)
QUOTE: But if you do not do this or if you maliciously delay in doing it, I certify to you that with the help of God
we shall forcefully enter into your country and shall make war against you in all ways and manner that we can , and
shall subject you to the yoke and obedience of the church and of their highnesses; we shall take you and your wives
and your children and shall makes slaves of them, and as such shall sell and dispose of them as their highnesses may
command; and we shall take away your goods and shall do to you all the harm and damage that we can, as to vassals
who do not obey and refuse to receive their lord and resist and contradict him; and we protest that the deaths and
losses which shall accrue from this are your fault, and nit that of their highnesses, or ours, or of these soldiers who
come with us.
SOURCE: Palacios Rubios. Requerimiento. Vol A. (Pg. 115)
Quote: Thus he arrived where we were, the natives remaining a little way back, seated on the shore. Half an hour
after, they were supported by 100 other Indian bowmen, who, if they were not large, our fears made giants of
them…
Source: Cabeza de Vaca. Relation of Alavar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca. Vol A. pg 145
Quote: That same night of our arrival, some Indians came to Castillo and told him that they had great pain in the
head, begging him to cure them. After he made over them the sign of the cross, and commended them to God, they
instantly said that all the pain had left, and went to their houses bringing us prickly pears, with a piece of venison, a
thing to us little known.
Source: Cabez de Vaca, Relation of Alavar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca. (pg. 146)
Quote: After they have fought, or had out their dispute, They take their dwellings and go into the woods, living
apart from each other until the heat has subsided.
Source: Cabez de Vaca, Relation of Alavar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca (pg. 147)
QUOTE: All the Indians whom we saw have the custom from the time in which their wives find themselves
pregnant, of not sleeping with them until two years after they have given birth. The children are suckled until the age
of twelve years, when they are old enough to get support for themselves.
SOURCE: Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Veca. Relation of Alavar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca.Vol. A. Pg.147
Quote: We told the natives that we were going in search of that people, to order them not to kill nor make slaves of
them, nor take them from their lands, nor do other injustice. Of this the Indians were very glad.
Source: Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca. Relation of Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca. Vol. A. Pg.149
QUOTE: The Indians cared little or nothing for what was told them; and conversing among themselves said the
Christians lied: that we had come whence the sun rises, and they whence it goes down: we healed the sick, they
killed the sound; that we had come naked and barefooted, while they had arrived in clothing and on horses with
lances; that we were not covetous of anything, but all that was given to us, we directly turned to give, remaining
with nothing; that the others had the only purpose to rob whomsoever they found, bestowing nothing on any one.
SOURCE: Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca. Relation of Alavar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca. Vol A. Pg.151
QUOTE: Even to the last, I could not convince the Indians that we were of the Christians; and only with great effort
and solicitation we got them to go back to their residences. We ordered them to put away apprehension, establish
their towns, plant and cultivate the soil.
SOURCE: Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca . Relation of Alavar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca . Vol A. (Pg.152)
Quote: All this trouble was a heavy burden on them and they thought it was on account of this that they were having
a heavy drought at this time. They thought their gods have given them up because they weren’t worshiping they
way they should.
Source: Hopi. The Coming of the Spanish and the Pueblo Revolt. Vol. A. (pg 205)
QUOTE: If you have this power, then blow me out into the air; my gods have more power than you have. My gods
have put a heart into me to enter your home. I have no weapons. You have your weapons handy, hanging on the
wall. My gods have prevented you from getting your weapons.
Source: Hopi. The Coming of the Spanish and the Pueblo Revolt. Vol. A.
QUOTE: Pocahontas the Kings dearest daughter, when no intreaty could prevaile, got his head in her armes, and
laid her owne upon his to save him from death: whereat the Emperor was contented he should live.
SOURCE: John Smith. The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles. Vol A. Pg.258
QUOTE: Not long after from behinde a mat that divided the house, was made the most dolefullest noyse he ever
heard; then Powhatan more like a devill then a man, with some two hundred more as blacke as himselfe, came unto
him and told him now they were friends, and presently he should goe to James towne, to send him two great gunnes,
and a gryndstone, for which he would give him the County of Capahowosick, and for ever esteeme him as his sonne
Nantaquoud.
SOURCE: John Smith. The Generall Historie of Virginia, New-England, and the Summer Isles Vol A. (Pg. 259)
Quote: “Now that Carpenter, Mason, Gardiner, Taylor, Smith, Sailer, Forgers, or what other, may they not make this
a pretty recreation though they fish but an houre in a day, to take more then they can eate in a weeke? Or if they will
not eate it, because there is so much better choice; yet sell it, or change is, with the fisher men, or marchants, for any
thing they want,” (265).
Source: John Smith. A Description of New England. Vol A. Pg. 265
Quote: But, to conclude, Adam and Eve did first begin this innocent work, to plant the earth to remaine to posteritie,
but not without labour, trouble, and industrie. Noe, and his family, beganne again the second plantation; and their
seede as it is still increased, hath still planed New Countries, and one countrie another: and so the world to that
estate it is.
Source: John Smith. A Description of New England. Vol A. pg 266
QUOTE: Any many a score of the worst of winter moneths [have] lived in the fields: yet to have lived neere 37.
yeares in the midst of wars, pestilence and famine, by which many an hundred thousand have died about mee, and
scarce five living of them [that] went first with me to Virginia: and [yet to] see the fruits of my labours thus well
begin to prosper: though I have but my labour for my paines, have I not much reason both privately and publikely to
acknowledge it and give God thankes, whose omnipotent power onely delivered me, to doe the utmost of my best to
make his name knowne in those remote parts of the world, and his loving mercy to such a miserable sinner.
SOURCE: John Smith. Advertisements for the Unexperienced Planters of New England. Vol A. Pg. 269
QUOTE: This is to let you understand that I your child am in a most heavy case by reason of the nature of the
country, [which] is such that it causeth much sickness, as the scurvy and the bloody flux and diverse other diseases,
which maketh the body very poor and weak.
SOURCE: Richard Frethorne. from Richard Frethorne, to His Parents (Virginia, 1623). Vol A. (Pg. 270)
Quote: There is indeed some fowl, but we are not allowed to go and get it, but must work hard both early and late
for a mess of water gruel and a mouthful of bread and beef. A mouthful of bread for a penny loaf must serve for
four men which is most pitiful…
Source: Frethorne, Richard. To His Parents (Virginia, 1623) Vol.A (270)
Quote: “But it please God before they came half seas over, to smite this young man with a grievous disease, of
which he died in a desperate manner, and so was himself the frist that was thrown overboard,” (327).
Source: William Bradford. Of Plymouth Plantation. Vol A. 327
Quote: I shall a little return back, and begin with a combination made by them before they came ashore; being the
first foundation of their government in this place. Occasioned partly by the discontented and mutinous speeches that
some of the strangers amongst them had let fall from them in the ship: That when they came ashore they would use
their own liberty, for none had power to command them, the patent they had being for Virginia and not for New
England, which belonged to another government, with which the Virginia Company had nothing to do.
Source: William Bradford. Of Plymouth Plantation. Vol A. pg 329
Quote: Yea, let them which have been redeemed of the Lord, show how He hath delivered them from the hand of
the oppressor. When they wandered in the desert wilderness out of the way, and found no city to dwell in, both
hungry and thirsty, their soul was overwhelmed in them. Let them confess before the Lord His loving kidness and
His wonderful works before the sons of men.
Source: William Bradford. Of Plymouth Plantation. Vol A. pg 329
QUOTE: Having undertaken, for the Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith and Honour…, do by
these presents solemnly and mutually in the presence of God and one of another, Covenant and Combine ourselves
together into Civil Body Politic,…, and frame such just and equal Laws, Ordinances, Acts, Constitutions and
Offices,…, for the good of the Colony, unto which we promise all due submission and obedience. (Italics in original)
SOURCE: William Bradford. Of Plymouth Plantation. Vol A. Pg 330.
Quote: All this while the Indians came skulking about them, and would sometimes show themselves aloof off, but
when any approached near them, they would run away; and once they stole away their tools where they had been at
work and were gone to dinner. But about the 16th of March, a certain Indian came boldly amongst them and spoke to
them in broken English, which they could well understand but marveled at it.
Source: William Bradford. Of Plymouth Plantation. Vol A. pg 331-332
QUOTE: I would rather think thus, than that Satan hath more power in these heathen lands, as some have thought,
than in more Christian nations, especially over Gods servants in them.
SOURCE: Bradford, William. Of Plymouth Plantation
Quote: There was a youth whose name was Thomas Granger. He was servant to an honest man of Duxbury, being
about 16 to 17 years of age. (His father and mother lived at the same time at Scituate.) He was this year detected of
buggery, and indicted for the same with a mar, a cow, two goats, five sheep, two calves and a turkey.
Source: William Bradford. Of Plymouth Plantation. Vol. A. Pg.342
QUOTE: I asked him who was a good man; His answere was, hee that would not lye, nor steale.
SOURCE: Thomas Morton from New English Canaan
QUOTE: According to humane reason, guided onely by the light of nature, these people leades the more happy and
freer life, being voyde of care, which torments the mindes of so many Christians: They are not delighted in baubles,
but in useful things
SOURCE: Thomas Morton New English Canaan, Vol. A, pg. 299
Quote: The separatists, envying the prosperity and hope of the plantation at Ma-re Mount, (which they perceived
beganne to come forward, and to be in a good way for the gaine in the beaver trade,) conspired together against mine
host especially, (who was the owner of that Plantation,) and made up a party against him; and mustred up what aide
they could, accounting him as a great monster.
Source: Thomas Morton. New English Canaan. Vol A. pg 303
QUOTE: All men being thus (by divine providence rancked into two sortes, riche and poore; under the first , are
comprehended all such as are able to live comfortably by theire owne meanes duely improved; and all others are
poore according to the former distribution. There are two rules whereby wee are to walke one towards another:
JUSTICE and MERCY.
SOURCE: John Winthrop. A Modell of Christina Charity. Vol. A. (Pg. 310.)
QUOTE: The next consideracion is how this love comes to be wrought; Adam in his first estate was a perfect model
of mankinde in all theire generacions, and in him this love was perfected in regard of the habit, but Adam Rent in
himselfe from his Creator, rent all his posterity allsoe one from another, whence it comes that every man is borne
with this principle in him, to love and seeke himselfe onely and thus a man continueth till Christ comes and takes
possession of the soule, and infuseth another principle, love to God and our brother.
SOURCE: John Winthrop. A Modell of Christian Charity. Vol A. Pg. 313
QUOTE: the Lord will be our God and delight to dwell among us, so that wee shall see much more of his wisdom,
…when he shall make us a prayse and glory, that men shall say of succeeding plantacions: the lord make it like that
of New England: for wee must consider that wee shall be as a City upon a Hill, the eyes of all people are upon us, so
that if wee shall deale falsely with our God in his worke wee have undertaken and soe cause him to withdraw his
present help from us, wee shall be made a story and a by-word through the world, wee shall open the mouthes of
enemies to speake evill of the ways of god and all professours for Gods sake; wee shall shame the faces of many of
gods worthy servants, and cause theire prayers to be turned into Cursses upon us till we be consumed out of the
good land whether wee are goeing.
SOURCE: John Winthrop. A Modell of Christian Charity. Vol A. Pg. 317
QUOTE: Who can tell but that this Poor Creature may belong to the Election of God! Who can tell, but that God
may have sent this Poor Creature into my Hands, that so One of the Elect mat by my means be Called; & by my
Instruction be made Wise unto Salvation!
SOURCE: Cotton Mather. from The Negro Christianized. Vol A. (Pg. 527)
Quote: One Table of the Ten Commandments, has this for the Sum of it; Thou shalt Love thy Neighbour as thy self.
Man, Thy Negro is thy Neighbour. T’were an Ignorance, unworthy of a Man, to imagine otherwise.
Source: Mather. The Negro Christianized. Vol. A. (528)
QUOTE: Masters, give unto your Servants, that which is Just & Equal, knowing that ye also have a Master in
Heaven. Of what Servants is this Injunction to be understood? Verily, of Slaves.
SOURCE: Cotton Mather. The Negro Christianized. Vol A. Pg. 528
Quote: Well; But if the Negroes are Christianized, they will be Baptized; and their Baptism will presently entitle
them to their freedom; so our Money is thrown away.
Source: Cotton Mather, The Negro Christianized. (pg. 530)
Quote: “And we have now with horror seen the discovery of such withcraft! An army of devils is horribly broke in
upon the place which is the center, and after a sort, the firstborn of our English settlements,”
Source: Cotton Mather. The Wonders of the Invisible World. Vol A. Pg 510
Quote: If the devil now can strike the minds of men with any poisons of so fine a composition and operation, that
scores of innocent people shall unite, in confessions of a crime, which we see actually committed, it is a thing
prodigious, beyond the wonders of the former ages, and it threatens no less than a sort of dissolution upon the world.
Source: Cotton Mather. The Wonders of the Invisible World. Vol A. pg 511
Quote:
I am obnoxious to each carping tongue
Who says my hand a needle better fits,
A poet’s pen all scorn I should thus wrong
For such despite they cast on female wits:
If what I do prove well, it won’t advance,
They’ll say it’s stol’n, or else it was by chance.
Source: Bradstreet, Anne. The Prologue [To Her Book]. Vol. A. (397)
QUOTE:
Spirit: Be still thou unregenerate part,
Disturb no more my settled heart,
For I have vowed (and so will do)
Thee as a foe still to pursue.
And combat with thee will and must,
Until I see thee laid in th’ dust.
Sisters we are, yea, twins be,
SOURCE: Anne Bradstreet. The Flesh and the Spirit. Vol A. Pg. 404.
Quote:
Cropt by th’ Almighty’s hand; yet is He good.
With dreadful awe before Him let’s be mute,
Such was His will, but why, let’s not dispute.
Source: Anne Bradstreet. On My Dear Grandchild Simon Bradstreet, Who Died on 16 November, 1669 being but a
Month, and One Day Old. Vol A. Pg.408
QUOTE:
Yet by His gift is made thine own;
There’s wealth enough, I need no more,
Farewell, my pelf, farewell my store.
The world no longer let me love,
My hope and treasures lie above.
SOURCE: Anne Bradstreet. Upon the Burning of Our House July 10th, 1666. Vol A. (Pg. 410)
QUOTE: I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold
Or all the riches that the East doth hold.
My love is such that rivers cannot quench,
Nor ought but love from thee, give recompense
SOURCE: Anne Bradstreet. To My Dear Loving Husband. Vol A. pg 406
Quote: I have no sooner felt my heart out of order, but I have expected correction for it, which most commonly hath
been upon my own person in sickness, weakness, pains, sometimes on my soul, in doubts and fears of God’s
displeasure and my sincerity towards Him; sometimes He hath smote a child with a sickness, sometimes chastened
by losses in estate, and these times (through his great mercy) have been the times of my greatest getting and
advantage; yeah, I have found them the times when the Lord hath manifested the most love to me.
Source: Anne Bradstreet. To My Dear Children. Vol. A. Pg.411
Quote: “There is the dreadful pit of the glowing flames of the wrath of God; there is hell’s wide-gaping mouth open;
and you have nothing to stand upon, not any thing to take hold of; there is nothing between you and hell but the air;
it is only the power and mere pleasure of God that holds you,” (671).
Source: Jonathan Edwards. Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Vol A. Pg. 671
QUOTE: God has so many different unsearchable ways of taking wicked men out of the world and sanding them to
hell, that there is nothing to make it appear that God had need to be at the expense of a miracle, or go out of the
ordinary course of His providence, to destroy any wicked man at any moment.
SOURCE: Jonathan Edwards. Sinners in the hands of an Angry God. Vol A. Pg. 669
QUOTE: O sinner! Consider the fearful danger you are in: it is a great furnace of wrath, a wide and bottomless pit,
full of the fire of wrath, that you are held over in the hand of that God, whose wrath is provoked and incensed as
much against you, as against many of the damned in hell.
SOURCE: Jonathan Edwards. Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God. Vol A. (Pg. 672)
QUOTE: It contained, however the three great articles of natural religion: the belief of a god, the moral distinction
betwixt good and evil, and the expectations of rewards and punishments in another world.
SOURCE: Byrd,WIlliam. The History of the Dividing Line.
Quote: Gentleman, we are at last arriv’d at this dreadful place, which til now has been thought unpassable. Tho’ I
make no doubt but you will convince every Body, that there is no difficulty which may not be conquer’d by Spirit
and constancy. You have hitherto behaved with so much Vigour, that most I can desire of you, is to preserve unto
the end; I protest to You the only reason we don’t Share in Your Fatigue, is, the fear of adding to Your Burthens,
while we are Sure we can add nothing to your Resolution. I shall say no more, but only pray the Almighty to
prosper you Undertaking, and grant we may meet on the other Side in perfect Health and Safety.
Source: William Byrd II. The History of the Dividing Line betwixt Virginia and North Carolina and The Secret
History of the Line. Volume A pg. 619
QUOTE: For they count this the most just cause of war, when any people, holdeth a piece of ground void and
vacant, to no good or profitable use, keeping others from the use and possession of it, which notwithstanding by the
law of nature ought thereof to be nourished and relieved….
SOURCE: Thomas More. Utopia. Vol A. (Pg. 109)
QUOTE: But if the inhabitants of that land will not dwell with them, to be ordered by their laws, then they drive
them out of those bounds which they have limited and appointed out for themselves.
SOURCE: Thomas More. Utopia. Vol A. Pg.109
QUOTE: In short, at the frontier the environment is at first too strong for the man. He must accept the conditions
which it furnishes, or perish, and so he fits himself into the Indian clearings and follows the Indian trails. Little by
little he transforms the wilderness, but the outcome is not the old Europe…The fact is that here is a new product that
is American.
SOURCE: Frederick Jackson Turner. The Significance of the Frontier in American History.
Quote: One coinage that recurs throughout the book is the term “contact zone,” which I use to refer to the space of
colonial encounters, the space in which people geographically and historically separated come into contact with each
other and establish ongoing relations, usually involving conditions of coercion, radical inequality, and intractable
conflict.
Source: Pratt, Mary Louise . Imperial Eyes: Travel Writing and Transculturation. Vol. A. (pg 136)