1a. Describe the people present at Werowocomoco when John Smith is brought there. Who are they, and what do they look like?
2a. Who orders John Smith's execution? Who saves Smith from death? How does she save him?
3a. What does Pocahontas bring to Smith and his fellow colonists regularly after the rescue? How do her gifts help the colonists?
4a. What qualities did it take to be an early colonist in Virginia? What qualities of character did Powhatan and Pocahontas show in their first meeting with a European?
5a. It is possible that Smith was never in danger from Powhatan at all, that he misunderstood a custom of Powhatan's people and mistakenly assumed he was in mortal danger. He also may have exaggerated the story. Why do you think Smith told this story over and over again and included it in his history fifteen years later? Do you think Smith believed his interpretation of the events fifteen years later, or might he have had other reasons for telling the story?
1b. Why do you think Powhatan dresses himself in his "greatest braveries" to speak with John Smith? Why does Smith feel that the courtiers treat him "as if he had been a monster"? Explain why this is a natural reaction to Smith's presence in the village.
2b. Smith's account explains very little about Pocahontas, leaving the reader free to build a story around the bare facts he presents. Why do you think Pocahontas saves Smith's life?
3b. Why is the meeting with Powhatan crucial to the survival of the colony of Jamestown?
4b. How would you describe the relationship between the colonists and Powhatan's people? How do you think the two groups regard each other, both before and after Smith's encounter with Powhatan? Explain, using details from the selection to support your answer.
5b. Describe a time in which you exaggerated a story. Why did you do so?
Chronological Order. Do you think chronological order was an effective choice of order for this selection? Why, or why not? What other method of organization might be used for telling Smith's story, or part of the story?
Next, create a time line like the one below that plots the sequence of events in John Smith's account.
Point of view. What point of view does Smith use in recounting his story? Why do you think he chose to use this point of view? Compare the point of view used by John Smith to the point of view used by de las Casas in the previous selection. Why do both authors use this point of view?
1. Imagine you are a colonist who has just learned of the riches of Powhatan. Write a letter back home to your relatives in England telling them of Powhatan's wealth and what you hope to gain from it. Use your own paper as necessary.
2. In your journal, compose a speech that Pocahontas might have given in defense of John Smith, persuading her people to spare his life. Give reasons why Smith should be saved. Use your own paper as necessary.
3. Imagine you are one of Powhatan's people and you are present at the capture of John Smith and his meeting with Powhatan. Write a journal entry describing your feelings toward John Smith, including your observations about his character and appearance. Use your imagination when describing him, or consult pictures of American colonists from the 1600s for reference on the clothing of the day. Do you view Smith as a monster, a successful pioneer, or in what other way do you see him?
Historical Research. With a partner, research an element of John Smith's story.
Historical Research:
Sources used:
Critical Analysis of Interpretations.Compare Smith's factual account of his dealings with Pocahontas with fictional or dramatic interpretations of the Pocahontas story, such as the Disney movie Pocahontas. What fictional elements were added to these interpretations?
