Begun in 1630 and completed in 1647, William Bradford’s account of the Pilgrims’ journey, survival, and flourishing in the New World is considered by historians to be one of the most accurate historical accounts of the Plymouth Colony.
Of Plymouth Plantation analysis Literary analysis TWIST William Bradford
Storyboard Text
T - TONE
W - WORD CHOICE
I - IMAGERY
S - STYLE
T - THEME
Bradford’s tone is neutral like a reporter, until he comes to the part where he must report that over half of the company died in the first winter.
difficult, discontents, murmurings, wisdom, patience, faithfully, sad, lamentable
"... in two or three months’ time, half of their company died, especially in January and February, being the depth of winter…”
Bradford uses third person to impart a sense of community, focusing a level of admiration on Governor Carver as someone who was able to quell rebellion and maintain control.
This passage highlights the many struggles that the settlers faced in the first winter, including the initial rumbles of rebellion, the deaths of friends and loved ones, and the depths of winter which are cold and harsh without such simple things as a house. To know that despite all of this, they survived, is admirable.