A Comparison of Early American Texts

A detailed Summary of A Comparison of Early American Texts

A Comparison of Early American Texts

When the Europeans first came to the Americas in the late 15th - early 16th century, they brought with them a distinctive style of literature that was a complete contrast to the Native Americans' who inhabited the land. The Europeans' system of literature was based on writing, which was a technique unheard of by the Native Americans, whose system of literature was based on oral traditions since they did not use alphabetic writing. Despite this variance in styles, both European and Native American literature constructs a definite description of an author's personality. I plan to present how the texts of Christopher Columbus, Bartolome de Las Casas, Felipe Guaman Poma de Ayala, and Garcilaso de La Vega reveal a distinctive personality in each of these authors and the significance of this presentation.

Christopher Columbus presents himself as a compassionate, magnanimous and dutiful voyager in the texts contributed. Christopher Columbus' texts seem to exhibit the author as an adherent to his "Highnesses", King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Throughout these texts Columbus repeatedly declares of his actions as restrictively for the favor of his king and queen. For example, in t

Despite their variance in styles, both European and Native American literature constructs a definite description of an author's personality. Through the use of documentation, writers of the early Americas were able to apply their own characteristics and identities to their accounts of the Spaniards' conquest to the New World. This presentation of self has ultimately led to our modern culture's style of writing, which has remained unchanged in documentary literature for over 500 years.

If I were to parallel any of these authors' style of writing with an author from an earlier text, I would compare Bartolome de Las Casas' History of The Indies (1564, Spain) with Francois Villon's Hanged Men (c. 1450, France.) Both of these authors present a form of guilt in their previous actions and a desire to pay homage to God in hopes of exoneration. In Las Casas' text, this transformation is best exemplified in his ability to admit of his involvement in the Spanish conquest and evolve into a disciple for God, opposing and rebuking the Spaniards' actions. This transformation is equally presented in Villon's text when Villon describes the hanging of six men for their misdeeds. Villon is the voice for these six men, who state, "Don't be insulted that we call you brothers, even if it was by Justice we were put to death, for you understand not every person has the same good sense...we are dead, may no one taunt us, but pray God that he absolve us all." This statement shows Villon's capability of being able to confess to his past misdeeds and his appeal for God to absolve him for his lack of "good sense."

he passage "The people of the new world greet Columbus,"

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Approximate Word count = 1122
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: History