1. Captivity Narratives Most popular and profitable of Puritan Literature
Tells the story of one individual
Usually a passive participant (doesn’t fight back)
Who awaits delivery from evil by a rescue from the grace of God
Faces tests and temptations—any action that might be considered “Indian” or “savage” represented a win for the Devil
Compares what happens to him/her to the trials and tribulations of Biblical characters

2. Captivity Narratives
Between , approximately 1,700 Colonists were taken captive by Native Americans
Why?
Revenge
Ransom
To replace lost tribe members (usually Colonial Women were taken as wives of Native Americans to repopulate tribe)

3. Captivity Narratives Literary Elements
Rhetorical Purposes
Reinforced stereotypes about “savage” Indians
Reinforced Puritan belief that Satan (in the form of Indians) was threatening the religious society
Justified the killing of Indians and the taking of their lands
Other types of Captivity Narratives—Slave Narratives

4. Mary Rowlandson Background King Phillip’s War: 1675-1678
Phillip=Metacomet, Chief of Wampanoag
First Indian War after treaty between Bradford and Squanto in 1621
Rowlandson—wife of Puritan Minister
Captivity lasted 11 weeks
Credits her survival during captivity to her sustained faith in God

5. A Narrative of the Captivity
Book is broken into 20 removes, or journeys, the Wampanoag took MR on
First American best seller
Purpose: to thrill, to titillate, to reinforce notions of “savage Indian”
In what way would this benefit the colonists?
Themes in narrative
Fear and revulsion of New World
Adaptation is the only way to survive.
Reinforcement of negative stereotypes regarding Native Americans
But is Rowlandson’s final assessment of the tribe really a negative one??

6. A Narrative of the Captivity--Tablework
How does Rowlandson learn to adapt and survive while with the Native Americans? Where is there evidence(textual) that she does learn to adapt?
In what ways does the tribe seem to allow Rowlandson some freedom, either mental or physical, during her captivity? What does this tell us about her captors?
Follow Rowlandson’s changing attitudes toward her captors
During initial kidnapping and 1st &3rd Removes
During 5th and 6th Removes
Ashuelot Valley
*For each instance, have a marked text reference
What do you think was the primary reason for Rowlandson’s change in attitude toward her captors? Explain your answer.
ANY TIME I ASK FOR TEXTUAL EVIDENCE, QUOTE THE TEXT!