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from Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford
Reading Warm-up B
Read the following passage. Then, complete the activities.
Americans are familiar with the early events described
by William Bradford in his magnificent chronicle, Of Plymouth Plantation—the voyage, the Mayflower Compact, the
landing, the Starving Time, the First Thanksgiving. However, Bradford’s book did not end with the events of 1621.
It is comprised of records of Plymouth up to 1647, including tales of remarkable privation and danger. For all the
commendations that history has given Bradford, even
more praise should be given to him for dealing with such
adversity over so many years.
In 1623, for example, some sailors staying in Plymouth
resolved to fight the cold by building a huge fire, deciding
to burn down a number of houses. The fire was set next to
the communal storehouse, which housed the people’s
basic commodities, such as grain, vegetables, and meat.
Only with tremendous effort was the colony’s food supply
saved. Bradford admits that if the storehouse had been
destroyed, the colony would not have survived.
In 1633, an outbreak of smallpox ravaged the community, followed by an attack of locusts that ate everything in
sight. Even the most staunch and devoted of the colonists
began to doubt they could survive plagues of such biblical
proportions. Some perhaps began to question divine
mercy in the face of such cruel disasters. However, misfortune did not relent. In 1635 a hurricane struck, and in
1638 an earthquake shook the area.
Three ships full of pirates landed in Plymouth in 1646.
Each pirate was such a rogue that he would show contempt for the rule of law and scoff at the attempts of the
villagers to keep them under control. Bradford had great
difficulty in maintaining order. After six weeks, the pirates
sailed away to find richer plunder than in Bradford’s fragile but iron-willed community.
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1. Underline the word that
helps explain comprised. The
U.S. Congress is comprised
of two governing bodies;
name them.
2. Circle the words that tell
what the sailors resolved to
do. Name something that
people have often resolved
to do on New Year’s Day.
3. Underline the words that
identify commodities. Name
three commodities you
would find in a supermarket.
4. Circle the word that means
the same as staunch. How
would you expect a staunch
friend to act in a crisis?
5. Tell why the colonists began
to doubt divine mercy. Have
you ever asked for mercy
from someone? Tell about it.
6. Circle the words that show
that nature did not relent.
Use relent in a sentence of
your own.
7. Underline the word that tells
who was a rogue. Give
another word that means the
same as rogue.
8. Underline the words that
explain scoff. Define scoff in
your own words.
Name
Date
from Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford
Literary Analysis: Author’s Purpose and Audience
To understand a nonfiction reading selection, it is helpful to identify the author’s purpose and
audience. What does he or she wish to achieve with the selection, and to whom is he or she
writing? When William Bradford returned to England, he wrote about the events that occurred
during the first journey to Plymouth and the settlement of the colony. He hoped that others would
also want to journey to the New World.
Read this passage from the selection:
Being thus arrived in a good harbor and brought safe to land, they fell upon their
knees and blessed the God of heaven, who had brought them over the vast and
furious ocean, and delivered them from all the perils and miseries thereof, again to
set their feet on the firm and stable earth, their proper element . . .
This passage shows that Bradford is writing for an audience that has a deep belief in a God
who will bless their endeavors and keep them safe. He is also writing to show that although the
trip was perilous, the company made it to shore safely.
DIRECTIONS: Read each passage from Of Plymouth Plantation, and then answer the questions.
What could now sustain them but the spirit of God and his grace? May not and ought not the children of these fathers rightly say: Our fathers were Englishmen which came over this great ocean,
and were ready to perish in this wilderness; but they cried unto the Lord, and He heard their voice,
and looked on their adversity, etc.
1. Who is Bradford’s audience in this passage?
2. What is his purpose in writing this passage?
And of these in the time of most distress, there was but six or seven sound persons, who, . . .
spared no pains, night nor day, but with abundance of toil and hazard of their own health, fetched
them wood, made them fires, dressed them meat . . . ; in a word, did all the homely and necessary
offices for them . . . ; and all this willingly and cheerfully, without any grudging in the least, showing
herein their true love unto their friends and brethren. . . . And I doubt not but that their recompense [reward] is with the Lord.
3. What is his Bradford’s purpose in writing this passage?
4. Of what does he hope to convince his audience in this passage?
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Name
Date
from Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford
Reading Strategy: Breaking Down Sentences
One way to understand complex passages in a selection is to break down sentences to help
unlock their meaning. This strategy is especially useful for reading the work of writers from
centuries past, who tend to write in long, complicated sentences. In the following passage from
Of Plymouth Colony, notice how the vital information telling who and what has been underlined,
while all the less essential material has been bracketed. Breaking down material in this way
helps you analyze clarity of meaning.
After they had enjoyed fair winds and weather for a season, they [were encountered
many times with crosswinds, and] met with many fierce storms, [with which the ship
was shrewdly shaken, and her upper works made very leaky; and one of the main
beams in the mid ships was bowed and cracked,] which put them in some fear that
the ship could not be able to perform the voyage.
DIRECTIONS: Break down the following passages by bracketing less essential material and
underlining the essential information that tells who and what.
1. But that which was most sad and lamentable was that in two or three months’ time, half of
their company died, wanting houses and other comforts; being infected with the scurvy
and other diseases, which this long voyage and their inaccommodate condition had
brought upon them; so as there died sometimes two or three of a day, in the foresaid time;
that of one hundred and odd persons, scarce fifty remained.
2. But after they had sailed that course about half a day, they fell amongst dangerous shoals
and roaring breakers, and they were so far entangled therewith as they conceived themselves in great danger; and the wind shrinking upon them withal, they resolved to bear up
again for the Cape, and thought themselves happy to get out of those dangers before night
overtook them, as by God’s providence they did.
3. At length they understood by discourse with him that he was not of these parts, but
belonged to the eastern parts, where some English ships came to fish, with whom he was
acquainted, and could name sundry of them by their names, amongst whom he had got his
language.
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Name
Date
from Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford
Vocabulary Builder
Using the Word List
adversity
calamity
habitation
peril
relent
subject to
A. Many words have related forms with similar meanings. For example, peril means “danger”; a
related form is the adjective perilous, which means dangerous. Using your understanding of
the Word List words, circle the letter of the best answer to the following questions.
1. Which word most likely means “residents”?
A. inhabitants
B. subjects
C. adversaries
2. Which word most likely means “placing in danger”?
A. subjugating
B. imperiling
C. relenting
3. Which word most likely means “persistent” or “never-ceasing”?
A. subjective
B. uninhabitable C. relentless
B. DIRECTIONS: On the line, write the letter of the definition before the word or phrase it defines.
___
___
___
___
___
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
subject to
calamity
habitation
relent
adversity
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
become more merciful
unfavorable circumstances
disaster
place to live; group of homes or
affected by something
C. DIRECTIONS: On the line provided, write the word or phrase from the Word List that best
completes each of the following sentences. Use each word only once.
1. They fought the high seas and strong winds all day and feared the ship would break up,
but then at dusk the winds began to
and soon the ocean was calm
again.
2. The heavy rains poured for days, which was inconvenient for travel, but then landslides
began to pour down the slopes and the situation turned into a
.
3. The family experienced much financial
their business off the ground and start to show a profit.
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before they were able to get
Name
Date
from Of Plymouth Plantation by William Bradford
Open-Book Test
Short Answer Write your response to the questions in this section on the lines provided.
1. In paragraph 1 of Of Plymouth Plantation, the sailors work to deal with the peril
of storms and threats to the ship. What were they hoping for that means the opposite
of peril?
2. Reread the sentence beginning “And truly there was great distraction and
difference of opinion . . .” in the first paragraph of Of Plymouth Plantation. What is
the difference of opinion, or conflict, among the sailors in this sentence?
3. Reread paragraph 4 in Of Plymouth Plantation, which begins “Being thus arrived
. . .”. What is Bradford’s religious purpose in writing this paragraph?
4. Reread the section beginning “Besides, what could they see but a hideous and
desolate wilderness . . .” through the end of the section from Chapter 9 of Of
Plymouth Plantation. To whom is Bradford addressing his words, and what is his
purpose in writing this section?
5. Break down the passage from Of Plymouth Plantation in this graphic organizer. As you
break it down, fill in the Who, What, and Why boxes. Then, fill in the Main Idea box.
But that which was most sad and lamentable was that in two or three
months’ time, half of their company died, especially in January and
February, being the depth of winter, and wanting house and other
comforts; being infected with the scurvy and other diseases, which this
long voyage and their inaccommodate condition had brought upon them.
Who:
What:
Why:
Main Idea:
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Name
Date
6. Reread the second paragraph under Book 2 of Of Plymouth Plantation. What
message is Bradford giving to his audience about the presence of God in the midst of
sickness and death?
7. Reread the sentence beginning “But now amongst his company there was far
another kind of carriage . . .” in Of Plymouth Plantation. Identify who is being
described in this passage. Then, describe the attitude of these people toward
their companions (1) when everyone is healthy and (2) when illness strikes.
8. The final paragraph in the selection from Of Plymouth Plantation tells you that there
was no want in the summer months because the company fished, hunted, and
grew corn. Elsewhere, Bradford says that they learned these things from Squanto.
What would have been his purpose for writing this information in his narrative?
9. Read statements 1 and 2 in Of Plymouth Plantation of the peace agreement between
Bradford’s company and Massasoit. Do these statements describe a mutual situation? Why or why not?
10. The first paragraph in the selection from Of Plymouth Plantation tells of “desperate
and inevitable peril.” What synonym for the word peril does the context of the paragraph provide?
Essay
Write a brief response to the question of your choice or to the question or questions your
teacher assigns you.
11. In a brief essay, describe why agreements 3 and 4 are the most fair and just of the
six agreements reached by the Native Americans and the Pilgrims in Of Plymouth
Plantation.
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