Contribution of Bradford and Columbus in Shaping American Literature

Name: Naga Musaed
Professor’s Name: Filer Janice
ENG 251 W03
07/04/2019
Literature
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Musaed 1
Introduction
The English settlers initially had no idea regarding the new world of the American mainland.
There was only verbally spread knowledge about the world and no concrete idea prevailed. At
the same time some English settlers were fascinated for new form of adventure and their demand
for a new land and new ways of life were also showcased. The quest was quenched when they
were able to discover America. This essay discusses the contribution of Bradford as well as
Columbus in shaping the primary phase of American literature and also reflects how they
influence the later aspects of literature also.
Discussion
The shipping experiences of the early sailors were recorded by them in their own voice
and these became the key assets of early American literature. Firstly, mention might be made of
Captain John Smith who made epoch making work in early colonization. As evidenced by
Holsinger his discoveries and experiences were recorded in the general History of Virginia. We
find that in spite of the early conflict of the natives with him, there were valuable record of the
indigenous people as well as culture and that laud the foundation of the American literature
setting a specific genre of literary works where the knowledge and the experience of these sailors
were considered as valuable content.
Similarly, we should also consider the role played by William Bradford, who was himself
a writer from early colonial America. His experiences of the Mayflower made him gather
valuable experiences that went in to many of his famous writings. Some of his exquisite works
include the Mayflower Compact as well as the Of the Plymouth Plantation that occurred in 1622.
As per McKenna, the contributions of Bradford are unique from the perspective that he was not

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very adventurous. His fame does not rest on the dint of his experiences of being captured by the
Indians as of John Smith or that of the exploring voyages of Columbus. He became famous as
the governor of the Massachusetts Colony. Other eminent aspects of his writings include the
regulations of the land that were set by him and that is why the latter generations were able to get
a first hand idea of governance in America after the foundation of civil society in America. As
specified by Ruland, before the advent of Bradford, there were no specified rules or forms of
government regulations, that is why, we find that in the writings of Bradford in Of Plymouth
Plantation there is discussion of why he left England. Here, other than the aspect of governance,
he also delivers the conceptions regarding his early religious beliefs. He had left his land purely
for the religious reasoning as well as its outcomes. The English people did not accept the
Puritans. In this context, in the book, he also draws relevance with the belief and perceptions of
the native people and the new world of America as well. His attitude towards the Americans in
his verses is although not very tentative. The use of coarse language is very evident, when he
says about the natives that:
“Should be in continual danger of the savage people who are cruel, barbarous, and most
treacherous being most furious in their rage and merciless” (Bardford 1622). Tennenhouse
reports that he acquired most fame for his account of the American history and it is evident that
there were specifications of the perceptions of the English settlers and that of the Native
Americans.
So far as the contributions of Columbus is concerned, there have been the specifications of the
contributions of the letters of explorers like him that carried valuable information regarding the
life and work as well as their first hand exploration evidences. In order to please the monarchs
they did offer letter to them explaining how they missed their motherland and explaining their