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Literary Analysis: ‘John Smith’ Work
Liberty University
Amanda Anderson
11/09/2020
Professor Koshy
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Literary Analysis: ‘John Smith’ Work
John Smith was an explorer and author famous for establishing the first per-
manent colony for the English at Jamestown, Virginia, during the colonial period. John
Smith's journals were published in 1612 as a book, and they reveal most of what is known
about him. The book comprises a letter he wrote in 1608 and a map of Jamestown, which was
sent to England on a supply ship, and journals of his voyages on which his books about the
Chesapeake Bay are based. Years later, Smith wrote two additional books: ‘The General His-
tory regarding Virginia, the Summer Isles, and New England’ (1624), and ‘The True Adven-
tures and Observations of Captain John Smith,’ in 1630. Most of Captain Smith's work fo-
cused on New England and the entire colonial enterprise. While other literary works argue
otherwise, John Smith captures a compelling picture of the Chesapeake Bay during the colo-
nial period through his books. He clarifies the colonial period in the new world.
Identification of Themes
The themes identified by ‘John Smith in; ‘The General History regarding Virginia, the
Summer Isles, and New England’ (1624) set pace for literature on Inborn America (Belasco
and Linck, 2013). The book focuses on themes of self-reliance, adventure, and the struggle
between man and nature. The theme of self-reliance is evident in John Smith's narration of
the settlers' journey into unfamiliar territory. They needed to build their own houses and rely
on the natural resources around them for sustenance. The settlers had to be self-reliant to sur-
vive in the new territory since they could not depend on the people left in England for help.
The settlers' excitement at exploring the region was evident in John Smith's description of
their trip.
John Smith's narrative captures the sense of adventure he and the settlers experienced
as they embarked on their journey and their expectation of the opportunities they would en-
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counter in Jamestown. The trip to Jamestown evoked senses of mystery and exhilaration in
the settlers.
John Smith's narrative also depicted the challenge of surviving in Jamestown due to
the severe environmental conditions presented to the settlers. Smith narrates how the settlers
starved as their crops failed to produce viable yields and how the winter cold plagued them in
the new world (Smith & Jay, 1907). The settlers' fight to survive the challenging circum-
stances they found themselves in is emphasized throughout Smith's narrative and elaborates
on the theme of man's struggle against nature.
Characteristics of the Colonial Period
Smith's work gave a clear picture of American colonial history by giving depictions of
various colonial period characteristics, such as the colonists' attitude toward the natives and
the native's resistance to colonial rule. ‘The General History regarding Virginia, the Summer
Isles, and New England’ portray how the Inborn Americans were viewed by American set-
tlers during the colonial period. Smith's description of the Native American's clothing and
their lack of technological knowledge showed that he considered them barbaric. He also de-
scribed Native Americans as a dangerous and primitive community (Essay Examples, 2019).
Smith's attitude was prevalent in all the American settlers during the colonial period. Smith's
work also illustrated the conflicts between the natives and the colonists (Larson, 2006). Smith
describes how the Native Americans captured him and were prepared to kill him until Poca-
hontas rescued him. This was a portrayal of the natives' attempts to resist colonial rule.
Narrative devices
John Smith uses tonal variation and repetition within ‘The General History of Virginia,
New England, and the Summer Isles,’ to effectively narrate his experience (Michaelson,
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2013). He uses a pessimistic tone to describe his and the settlers' hardships in the new world,
which helps his readers identify his dissatisfaction with Jamestown's life. A hostile manner
can also be detected, where Smith refers to the American Indians as barbarians. The use of
repetition stands out where he keeps referring to the Native Americans as savages. By using
such words repetitively, the reader gets a picture of the hostility between the settlers and the
natives.
Conclusion
John Smith's work is a classic example of historical American literature. The themes
portrayed in his book and his use of tone and repetition as the primary narrative devices take
the reader into his world and make it easier to understand the colonial period. Smith's work
is, without a doubt, relevant up to date for anyone who wishes to get a clear picture of Chesa-
peake Bay during the colonial period and to understand the entire colonial enterprise.
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References
Belasco, S., & Linck, J. (2013). The Bedford Anthology of American Literature: Beginnings
to 1865 (2nd ed.). Bedford/St. Martin's Publishers, 1.
Essay Examples. (2019, August). John Smith Analysis in the General History of Virginia.
HTTP://benjaminbarber.org/john-smith-analysis-in-the-general-history-of-virginia/
Larson, J. L. (2006). John Smith: A Literary Pioneer. Documenting the American South.
HTTP://docsouth.unc.edu/highlights/smith.html
Michaelson, C. A. (2013). A hero’s hero: John Smith and The General History of Virginia,
New England, and the Summer Isles. American literature3.
HTTP://www.academia.edu/4821684/American_literature3
Smith, J. & Jay, I. (1907). The general histories of Virginia, New England & the Summer
Isles: together with The True travels, adventures and observations, and A sea grammar. Mac-
millan. HTTP://www.loc.gov/item/705320262/.
