PUR - The Captivity Narrative Lesson
The Captivity Narrative Lesson
Mary Rowlandson
Mary Rowlandson is the author of a captivity narrative, a story of one's experience during imprisonment, usually by a group the narrator considers to be uncivilized or lacking moral virtue. In this case, Rowlandson is a Puritan kidnapped by Native Americans. Captivity narratives became a popular form of writing during the colonial era, especially in religious communities in the New World and in Europe. In Puritan New England, these horrifying, and yet entertaining, tales were also used to steer readers into living more religiously and staying true to the laws of God.
Rowlandson's Captivity
Please watch the video from Crash Course U.S. History "The Natives and the English." This video is entertaining and will give you a better understanding of King Philip's War and the settler-Native American relations that form the background of Rowlandson's kidnapping. Rowlandson's kidnapping took place during what the colonists called King Philip's War, but is now generally referred to as the Great Narragansett War. From 1675-1676, English settlers fought the Narragansett Indians, the largest group of Native Americans in that area. The Narragansett were led by Metacom (called King Philip by the colonists), who was the son of Massasoit, the Wampanoag leader who had helped the settlers at Plymouth survive the winter.
Lancaster was attacked in February 1676, and the Rowlandsons' house became the site of a siege, as many people from the town had retreated there for safety when the attack began. Rowlandson tells of the fire, slaughter, and capture of 24 settlers. Many members of her family were killed, and her three children were captured. Her six-year-old daughter was wounded and died in her arms nine days later; her other two children are captured but separated from her. After three months of traveling with various Indian groups, using her skill at sewing to trade for food, and even meeting Metacom himself, Rowlandson was ransomed to her husband for £20. Her two surviving children were returned shortly thereafter. Two years later, around the time of her husband's death, she wrote an account of her captivity for her children.
This tale, titled The Sovereignty and Goodness of God, Together with the Faithfulness of His Promises Displayed: Being a Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson, became popular in New England and Europe after its publication in 1682. It was so popular that it was reprinted four times that year and has been considered a classic since.
"The Natives and the English" Video Link Links to an external site.
Reading Assignment
You are now ready to read excerpts from Narrative of the Captivity and Restoration of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson. As you read, look for evidence of Rowlandson's Puritan thinking and writing style. Ask yourself these questions:
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- What does Rowlandson think has caused this war and her captivity?
- How does she portray her Native American captors?
- What lessons does she learn from this experience?
- How are her Puritan beliefs expressed through her story?
- What advice does she offer the reader, directly and indirectly?
- What makes a captivity narrative like this so engaging?
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Mary Rowlandson Review
Complete the review activity below:
RESOURCES IN THIS MODULE ARE OPEN EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES (OER) OR CREATED BY GAVS UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED. SOME IMAGES USED UNDER SUBSCRIPTION.