Exploration and the Early Settlers

from The General History of Virginia

READING 6 Understand
Historical Narrative by John Smith
structural patterns and features
of literary nonfiction. 8 Analyze
author’s purpose in cultural Meet the Author
and historical contexts. Analyze
how style, tone, and diction

John Smith
advance author’s purpose and
perspective. 11B Translate c. 1580–1631
complex factual, quantitative, or
technical information presented The author of one of the earliest works of executed for the deaths of two colonists
in maps. RC-11(A) Reflect on
understanding to monitor American literature continues to inspire on an expedition he led. It also tells us,
comprehension. widely varied reactions among historians. however, that Jamestown thrived under
Called a boastful bully by some and an his command and fell into greed, chaos,
early American hero by others, John and starvation after his departure in 1610.
Smith created a legend around himself
Fact or Fiction? Shortly after arriving
that lasts to this day.
in Virginia, John Smith was captured
Great Adventures At age 16, Smith left by the Powhatan Indians. Smith writes
did you know? England to become a soldier for hire and several times of his 1607 capture and of
John Smith . . . occasional pirate. In 1605, after traveling being brought before the tribe’s leader,
to Austria, Turkey, and North Africa, he Powhatan. Only in the final version, the
• coined the name
“New England”? returned to England. Smith’s military 1624 General History of Virginia, does
experience made him a good leader in the Smith mention his rescue by Powhatan’s
• offered to accompany
the Pilgrims—who eyes of the Virginia Company, the group daughter Pocahontas, who would have
chose Miles Standish of investors hoping for huge profits from been ten years old at the time. The story
instead? their New World venture. They hired him may have been an attempt by Smith to
• wrote a how-to to help run the Jamestown colony, where cash in on Pocahontas’s later fame: she
manual on establishing he arrived in 1607. had visited England in 1616 and become
colonies? a celebrity.
Struggles for Control Conflicts broke
• left the Jamestown
out in Jamestown almost immediately. In the meantime, Smith had fallen on
colony after two years
The first president died and the next two hard times. After one early success, his
and never went back?
were deposed; colonists mutinied and attempts to colonize New England were
deserted the colony, living in the nearby dismal failures. Smith wanted to prove
woods. Smith took control of the colony that hard work was the smartest way to
in 1608. As he tells it, he focused on develop a colony, but he never got his
survival—safety, shelter, and food— chance. He made his living from tales of
and led forcefully, pushing settlers of his adventurous life and died unemployed
all social levels to work as hard as in London in 1631.
he did. History tells us a slightly
different story: Smith was nearly
Author Online
Go to thinkcentral.com. KEYWORD: HML11-92

92
 literary analysis: narrator
A narrator is the voice that tells a story. The voice an author
chooses shapes the way readers perceive the events described.
Most nonfiction authors write about themselves in the first
What makes a
person. John Smith writes about himself mostly in the third
person, using a voice that sounds like an objective observer.
As you read, notice how Smith uses the narrator to portray
leader?
In some societies, like 17th-century
himself and his role in events. Consider how the third-person
Britain, leaders were chosen on the
point of view affects your perceptions of the account.
basis of their social status. But men
used to luxury and privilege didn’t
reading strategy: reading older texts thrive in the Jamestown colony, where
Reading centuries-old texts can be challenging. Use these hard work and scarce supplies were
strategies as you read this selection: facts of daily life. In this context,
• Simplify difficult syntax (word order) by paraphrasing. For where leaders needed common sense
a difficult sentence, first establish who is doing what. Then and determination to succeed, a new
sort out the meaning in the phrases and clauses. standard of leadership emerged.
• Use footnotes or side notes to translate archaic expressions, DISCUSS  Working with a small group,
words, and phrases no longer in use. brainstorm examples of strong leaders
• Note the many contrasts between the historical map on page who demonstrate different leadership
95 and the features of current maps. These differences can styles. Use your examples to debate the
help you to appreciate the challenges of Smith’s text. pros and cons of each style. Is any one
style best in all situations?
In this case, your purpose for reading is to make sense of the
conflicts among the Jamestown colonists. Use a chart like the
one shown to take notes about these key individuals.

Individuals Connection to Smith Actions Leader

President Wingfield
Captain Kendall Style
Robinson and Emry
George Cassen
Pros Cons
• •
vocabulary in context • •
Choose words from the list to complete the phrases below. • •

word depose industry mollify

list entreaty interim

1. a corrupt leader whom they voted to _______

2. a peacemaker trying to _____ the unruly crowd
3. a desperate _____ for our assistance
4. admired by coworkers for her _______

Complete the activities in your Reader/Writer Notebook.

93
 the General History
of Virginia
John Smith

TEKS 11B

background The Jamestown colony was modeled after a military expedition, ANALYZE MAPS
transplanting about 100 hardy men into the Virginia wilderness in May 1607. You need no caption to know the
Five members of Jamestown’s ruling council—Edward Wingfield, Bartholomew map on the opposite page is very
Gosnold, John Ratcliffe, George Kendall, and John Smith—soon found themselves old. Notice two important ways
wrestling for control of the colony. As Smith’s account opens, the colonists’ ships it differs from current maps.
have returned to England for supplies, leaving the men to survive on their own. First, it includes clearly historical
details such as sailing ships and
bows and arrows. Second, the
map lacks proportion. The ships,
The Struggle for Jamestown for example, are out of scale.
Being thus left to our fortunes, it fortuned that within ten days, scarce They are huge by comparison
ten amongst us could either go or well stand, such extreme weakness and with the harbor and the islands.
What additional non-standard,
sickness oppressed us. And thereat none need marvel if they consider the
out-of-proportion map details
cause and reason which was this: While the ships stayed, our allowance was can you identify?
somewhat bettered by a daily proportion of biscuit which the sailors would
pilfer to sell, give, or exchange with us for money, sassafras, furs, or love. But
when they departed, there remained neither tavern, beer-house, nor place
of relief but the common kettle. Had we been as free from all sins as [we 8 common kettle: food that was
were free from] gluttony and drunkenness we might have been canonized available to everyone.

10 for saints, but our President [Edward Wingfield] would never have been
admitted for engrossing to his private, oatmeal, sack, oil, aqua vitae, beef, 11 engrossing to his private: taking
eggs, or what not but the kettle; that indeed he allowed equally to be for his private use; sack: wine; aqua
vitae: brandy.
distributed, and that was half a pint of wheat and as much barley boiled
with water for a man a day, and this, having fried some twenty-six weeks in
a OLDER TEXTS
the ship’s hold, contained as many worms as grains so that we might truly Using the side notes, restate
call it rather so much bran than corn; our drink was water, our lodgings lines 8–12 in modern English.
castles in the air. a What joke is Smith making?

Arrival of the English in Virginia (1585–1588), Theodore

94 unit 1: early american writing de Bry. Engraving © Giraudon/Art Resource, New York.
 With this lodging and diet, our extreme toil in bearing and planting
palisades so strained and bruised us and our continual labor in the extremity 19  palisades: walls made of tall,
20 of the heat had so weakened us, as were cause sufficient to have made us as pointed wooden stakes.

miserable in our native country or any other place in the world.

From May to September, those that escaped lived upon sturgeon and sea
crabs. Fifty in this time we buried; the rest seeing the President’s projects to
escape these miseries in our pinnace by flight (who all this time had neither 24  pinnace: a small sailing ship.
felt want nor sickness) so moved our dead spirits as we deposed him and depose (dG-pIzP) v. to remove
established Ratcliffe in his place (Gosnold being dead), Kendall deposed. from rule
Smith newly recovered, Martin and Ratcliffe were by his care preserved and
relieved, and the most of the soldiers recovered with the skillful diligence of
Master Thomas Wotton our surgeon general. b b   OLDER TEXTS
30 But now was all our provision spent, the sturgeon gone, all helps Reread lines 27–28. Clarify the
pronoun referent for the word
abandoned, each hour expecting the fury of the savages, when God, the
his in line 27. Who is responsible
patron of all good endeavors, in that desperate extremity so changed the for healing Martin and Ratcliffe?
hearts of the savages that they brought such plenty of their fruits and
provision as no man wanted.
The new President [Ratcliffe] and Martin, being little beloved, of weak industry (GnPdE-strC) n. hard
judgment in dangers, and less industry in peace, committed the managing work; diligence
of all things abroad to Captain Smith, who, by his own example, good 37  abroad: outside the palisades.
words, and fair promises, set some to mow, others to bind thatch, some to
build houses, others to thatch them, himself always bearing the greatest task
40 for his own share, so that in short time he provided most of them lodgings,
neglecting any for himself. . . . c c NARRATOR
Reread lines 35–41. Do Smith’s
A Surprise Attack claims sound more or less
Smith, perceiving (notwithstanding their late misery) not any regarded credible than they would if
but from hand to mouth, (the company being well recovered) caused the stated by a first-person narrator?
pinnace to be provided with things fitting to get provision for the year Give reasons for your answer.

following, but in the interim he made three or four journeys and discovered interim (GnPtEr-Gm) n. period in
the people of Chickahominy, yet what he carefully provided the rest between; interval
carelessly spent. 46  Chickahominy (chGQkE-häPmE-nC):
Wingfield and Kendall, living in disgrace strengthened themselves with a river in Virginia.

the sailors and other confederates to regain their former credit and authority,
50 or at least such means aboard the pinnace (being fitted to sail as Smith had
appointed for trade), to alter her course and to go for England.
Smith, unexpectedly returning, had the plot discovered to him, much
52  discovered: revealed.
trouble he had to prevent it, till with the store of saker and musket shot 53  saker: cannon shot.
he forced them [to] stay or sink in the river: which action cost the life of
Captain Kendall.
55  Captain Kendall: Kendall was
These brawls are so disgustful, as some will say they are better forgotten, executed for mutiny in 1607.
yet all men of good judgment will conclude it were better their baseness
57–59  it were . . . disorders: It is
should be manifest to the world, than the business bear the scorn and shame better to reveal the troublemakers
of their excused disorders. than to have the “business” of the
colony get a bad name.

96 unit 1: early american writing

 Illustration of Jamestown Fort, Virginia, about 1608. Getty Images.

60 The President and Captain Archer not long after intended also to have 60  Captain Archer: Gabriel Archer
abandoned the country, which project also was curbed and suppressed by had abandoned the colony and then
returned. He did not support Smith.
Smith.
The Spaniard never more greedily desired gold than he [Smith] victual, 63  victual: food.
nor his soldiers more to abandon the country than he to keep it. But [he
found] plenty of corn in the river of Chickahominy, where hundreds of
savages in divers places stood with baskets expecting his coming.
And now the winter approaching, the rivers became so covered with
swans, geese, ducks, and cranes that we daily feasted with good bread,
Virginia peas, pumpkins, and putchamins, fish, fowl, and divers sort of wild 69  putchamins: persimmons.
70 beasts as fast as we could eat them, so that none of our tuftaffety humorists 70  tuftaffety humorists: unreliable
desired to go for England. lace-wearers.

But our comedies never endured long without a tragedy, some idle
exceptions being muttered against Captain Smith for not discovering the 73  exceptions: objections.
head of Chickahominy river and [he being] taxed by the Council to be too
slow in so worthy an attempt. The next voyage he proceeded so far that
with much labor by cutting of trees asunder he made his passage, but when
his barge could pass no farther, he left her in a broad bay of danger of shot,
commanding none should go ashore till his return, himself with two English
and two savages went up higher in a canoe, but he was not long absent but
80 his men went ashore, whose want of government gave both occasion and 80–82  whose want . . . the rest:
opportunity to the savages to surprise one George Cassen whom they slew the men’s lack of discipline in going
ashore led to the surprise attack on
and much failed not to have cut off the boat and all the rest. Cassen; only by some failure on the
attackers’ side did the others survive.

the general history of virginia 97

 Smith little dreaming of that accident, being got to the marshes at the
river’s head twenty miles in the desert, had his two men [Robinson and 84  desert: wilderness; 85–86 by
Emry] slain (as is supposed) sleeping by the canoe, while himself by fowling fowling . . . victual: hunted birds to
find them food.
sought them victual, who finding he was beset with 200 savages, two of
them he slew, still defending himself with the aid of the savage his guide,
whom he bound to his arms with his garters and used him as a buckler, 88  garters: shirtlaces; buckler:
yet he was shot in his thigh a little, and had many arrows that stuck in his shield.

90 clothes but no great hurt, till at last they took him prisoner. . . . d d NARRATOR
Reread lines 83–90. What details
At Powhatan’s Court does the narrator include that
At last they brought him to Werowocomoco, where was Powhatan, their suggest Smith is not responsible
for the deaths of the two men?
Emperor. Here more than two hundred of those grim courtiers stood
wondering at him, as [if ] he had been a monster, till Powhatan and his train
had put themselves in their greatest braveries. Before a fire upon a seat like 94  greatest braveries: fanciest
a bedstead, he sat covered with a great robe made of raccoon skins and all clothes.

the tails hanging by. On either hand did sit a young wench of sixteen or
eighteen years and along on each side [of ] the house, two rows of men and
behind them as many women, with all their heads and shoulders painted
red, many of their heads bedecked with the white down of birds, but every
100 one with something, and a great chain of white beads around their necks.
At his entrance before the King, all the people gave a great shout. The
Queen of Appomattoc was appointed to bring him water to wash his hands, 102  the Queen of Appomattoc
and another brought him a bunch of feathers, instead of a towel, to dry (BpQE-mBtPEk): the leader of the
nearby village of Appomattoc.
them; having feasted him after their best barbarous manner they could,
a long consultation was held, but the conclusion was, two great stones
were brought before Powhatan; then as many as could, laid hands on him,
dragged him to them, and thereon laid his head and being ready with their
clubs to beat out his brains, Pocahontas, the King’s dearest daughter, when
no entreaty could prevail, got his head in her arms and laid her own upon entreaty (Dn-trCPtC) n. plea
110 his to save him from death, whereat the Emperor was contended he should
live to make him hatchets, and her bells, beads, and copper, for they thought
him as well of all occupations as themselves. For the King himself will make 112  as well . . . themselves: The
his own robes, shoes, bows, arrows, pots; plant, hunt, or do anything so well Indians thought Smith had varied
skills as they did.
as the rest.
Two days after, Powhatan, having disguised himself in the most fearfulest
manner he could, caused Captain Smith to be brought forth to a great
house in the woods and there upon a mat by the fire to be left alone. Not
long after, from behind a mat that divided the house, was made the most
dolefulest noise he ever heard; then Powhatan more like a devil than a man,
120 with some two hundred more as black as himself, came unto him and told
him now that they were friends, and presently he should go to Jamestown to
send him two great guns and a grindstone for which he would give him the 122–123  the country of Capahowasic
country of Capahowasic and forever esteem him as his son Nantaquoud. (cBpQE-houPE-sGkQ) . . . Nantaquoud
(nJnPtE-kwLdQ): Powhatan would
So to Jamestown with twelve guides Powhatan sent him. That night they give Smith control of a nearby village
quartered in the woods, he still expecting (as he had done all this long time and also promised to think as highly
of his imprisonment) every hour to be put to one death or other, for all of him as he did of his own son.

98 unit 1: early american writing

 their feasting. But almighty God (by His divine providence) had mollified mollify (mJlPE-fFQ) v. to soothe; to
the hearts of those stern barbarians with compassion. The next morning reduce in intensity
betimes they came to the fort, where Smith having used the savages with
130 what kindness he could, he showed Rawhunt, Powhatan’s trusty servant,
two demi-culverins and a millstone to carry [to] Powhatan; they found them 131 demi-culverins
somewhat too heavy, but when they did see him discharge them, being (dDmQC-kOlPvEr-Gnz): large cannons.

loaded with stones, among the boughs of a great tree loaded with icicles, the
ice and branches came so tumbling down that the poor savages ran away
half dead with fear. But at last we regained some conference with them and
gave them such toys and sent to Powhatan, his women, and children such
presents as gave them in general full content. e e OLDER TEXTS
Now in Jamestown they were all combustion, the strongest preparing Reread lines 128–137. What
inferences can you make about
once more to run away with the pinnace; which, with the hazard of his life,
how Europeans of the time
140 with saker falcon and musket shot, Smith forced now the third time to stay viewed Native Americans? How
or sink. does the map on page 95 reflect
Some, no better than they should be, had plotted with the President this view?
the next day to have him put to death by the Levitical law, for the lives of 143 Levitical law: According to the
Robinson and Emry; pretending the fault was his that had led them to their Book of Leviticus in the Bible, “He
ends; but he quickly took such order with such lawyers that he laid them by that killeth any man shall surely be
put to death.”
the heels till he sent some of them prisoners for England.
Now every once in four or five days, Pocahontas with her attendants
brought him so much provision that saved many of their lives, that else for
all this had starved with hunger. Language Coach
150 His relation of the plenty he had seen, especially at Werowocomoco, and Synonyms and Antonyms
of the state and bounty of Powhatan (which till that time was unknown), so Plenty and bounty (lines 150
revived their dead spirits (especially the love of Pocahontas) as all men’s fear and 151) are synonyms, words
with similar meanings. What
was abandoned. are their meanings? Lack is an
Thus you may see what difficulties still crossed any good endeavor; and antonym of plenty and bounty:
the good success of the business being thus oft brought to the very period of It means the opposite of plenty
destruction; yet you see by what strange means God hath still delivered it.
and bounty. Define lack. What
have the colonists experienced
a lack of?

TEKS 2B

THEME AND GENRE

In his historical narrative of adventure and adversity in Jamestown, Smith creates an
almost mythic self-portrait of a strong and successful leader. The 2005 film The New
World offers a different portrayal and shows Smith arriving in America as a prisoner
in chains. What other 21st-century films, novels, or plays about a historical subject
reexamine the facts and give a new twist to an old story?

the general history of virginia 99

 After Reading

Comprehension
1. Recall Why does Ratcliffe become the leader of Jamestown? READING 6 Understand
structural patterns and features
2. Recall What leads to the killing of Captain Kendall? of literary nonfiction. 8 Analyze
author’s purpose in cultural
3. Clarify How does Smith become Powhatan’s captive? and historical contexts. Analyze
how style, tone, and diction
4. Summarize What happens to Smith during his stay with Powhatan? advance author’s purpose and
perspective. 11B Translate complex
factual, quantitative, or technical
Literary Analysis information presented in maps. RC-
11(A) Reflect on understanding to
monitor comprehension.
5. Interpret Older Texts Review the character chart you made. Consider Smith’s
connection to each character. What motives might have influenced Smith’s
portrayal of his fellow colonists? Cite details to support your answer.
6. Make Inferences About Historical Context How does the map on page 95
lend to your understanding of John Smith and the events he narrates in this
selection? Support your answer with features and details on the map that
differ from features and details on current-day maps.
7. Examine a Historical Narrative Smith’s account of his explorations along the
Chickahominy River is filled with details that suggest he is a hero. But if you
read closely, he reveals that he was severely criticized for the way he performed.
Reread lines 72–90, and record the
Smith’s Version Accusations Against Him
conflicting information in a chart like the
one shown. What accusations is Smith
defending himself against?
8. Evaluate Narrator Consider Smith’s use of third-person point of view as well
as the motives that influenced his writing. Given these factors, is Smith a
credible narrator? Evaluate the reliability of Smith’s narrative as a source on
the following topics. Give reasons for your answers.
• daily life in Jamestown • Smith’s own actions
• Native American culture • conflicts in Jamestown

Literary Criticism
9. Different Perspectives If Wingfield had written a report, how might it have
differed from Smith’s description of these events? Cite details to support
your answer.

What makes a leader?

What qualities of leadership does John Smith reveal in this selection? Cite
evidence from the text to support your answer.

100 unit 1: early american writing

Vocabulary in Context
vocabulary practice word list
Decide whether the words in each pair are synonyms or antonyms. depose
entreaty
1. depose/appoint
industry
2. interim/gap
interim
3. mollify/anger
mollify
4. industry/diligence
5. entreaty/plea

academic vocabulary in writing

• document • illustrate • interpret • promote • reveal

Write a short paragraph to illustrate the conflict that sprang up among

members of Smith’s expedition. Use details to document your observations.
Include at least two Academic Vocabulary words in your paragraph.

vocabulary strategy: multiple meanings

Many words have more than one meaning. To make sense of what you read,
you need to make sure you understand which meaning a writer intends. This READING 1B Analyze textual context
to draw conclusions about nuances
is particularly true with words that are used as more than one part of speech, in word meanings.
or with words that occur in older texts. For example, the noun industry usually
refers to a specific branch of manufacture or trade. Smith uses it to mean
“dedication to a task.” As you read authors such as Smith, be alert to the nuances
of meaning in the words they use. If you encounter an unfamiliar word or a
familiar word in an unfamiliar setting, examine the context—the surrounding
words, phrases, and sentences—for clues to the writer’s meaning.

PRACTICE Determine the meaning of each boldfaced word as it is used in the

sentence. Refer to a dictionary if you need to.
1. Was John Smith a contemporary of Olaudah Equiano?
2. The gravity of the situation required the presence of several police officers.
3. What accommodations have the two leaders managed to reach? Interactive
4. The governor intends to commute several prisoners’ sentences. Vocabulary
5. At this point we cannot countenance any more delays. Go to thinkcentral.com.
KEYWORD: HML11-101
6. The hotel employees agitated for better working conditions.

the general history of virginia 101