I have used the following slides in class to help present the idea that John Smith may not have been the most reliable source. We look at his “A General History of Virginia” excerpt in the Prentice Hall Junior American Literature textbook to analyze what actually happened at Jamestown. Part of these slides also refer to video clips. We look at Disney’s distorted version of the Pocahontas story and compare it to other clips from adaptations throughout the ages. The 1953 film “Captain John Smith and Pocahontas” is available at the public library or you can purchase an online version through YouTube. (I point out to my students that they actually paint Jody Lawrence brown to appear Native American in this video). We then compare this to the newest version of the story “The New World” from All together students are able to analyze the clips and we’ve had great discussions on the distortion of the story and questioning the narrator.

Based on your reading of “The General History of Virginia” what did you learn about John Smith’s personality? Is he a trustworthy source? How do you know?

Pocahontas Born around 1595, 10 or 12 when John Smith came into the picture She did place herself between John Smith and Powhatan Visited Jamestown frequently, Powhatan encouraged this—why? Studied with John Rolfe in Jamestown, was baptized as “Rebecca” and married in 1614

Pocahontas Abroad Traveled back to England with John and infant son, Thomas in 1616 Became a popular and well sought after public figure among Royalty and commoners in England Before traveling back to Virginia, she got sick and died, she was buried in England in 1617

Pocahontas and John Smith loved each other and she rescued him from certain death The Reality Pocahontas most likely played a role in a ritual adoption of John Smith directed by Powhatan Pocahontas played no significant role in the capture and subsequent release of John Smith The Myth of Pocahontas

December 1607, John Smith is captured Powhatan “adopts” the English into the Powhatan Confederacy. Enacted in the ritual involving Pocahontas. From Powhatan’s perspective, John Smith becomes a werowance, or subordinate chief.

Rank the video clips we have watched on a scale of being the most accurate and 3 being the least Be able to explain your reasoning

Clip 1: “Captain John Smith and Pocahontas” 1953 Starring Anthony Dexter and Jody Lawrence Directed by Lew Landers v=D50kDVYwO7M

Clip 2: Disney’s “Pocahontas” 1995 Starring Mel Gibson, Irene Bedard, and Christian Bale (as Thomas) Directed by Mike Gabriel and Eric Goldberg

Clip 3: “The New World” 2005 Starring Colin Farrell, Q ’ orianka Kilcher, and Christian Bale (as John Rolfe) Directed by Terrence Malik

How has this story become so distorted?

“ Six or seven weeks those barbarians kept him prisoner…” “and his savage with him” “On either hand did sit a young wench of sixteen…” “Powhatan, more like a devil than a man…” “And being ready with their clubs to beat out his brains, Pocahontas, the kings dearest daughter, when no entreaty could prevail, got his head in her arms and laid her own upon his to save him from death…”