A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia (1590) - Assignment Example

A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of Virginia A Briefe and True Report of the New Found Land of VirginiaThe description was reproduced in the original language and spelling (except that the Old English B was converted to the modern s). What does this example of sixteenth-century English tell you about the language and the culture that used it?The description is telling me that the language and culture of the English during that time was more like either a sloppy one or one where people are rather in a hurry to get their thoughts down to writing.

The words are definitely hard to read because the /u/ and /v/ sounds are represented only by “u,” but then sometimes “v” represents the /u/ sound as in “vnto.” Definitely, however, the culture did not care about the sound as much as they cared about the spelling. On the other hand, since the same word is spelled consistently like “watche” and “solemne,” it only seems that English culture may not be sloppy but may be one that favors someone in a hurry to take down notes.What does the engraving reveal about the artist’s talent and the engraver’s skill and tools?

Due to the intricacy of the picture in terms of detail, it is possible that the engraver’s skill and tools were satisfactory. The artist’s skills may also be good enough as he was able to draw the Indian village using third-dimensional point of view. How may people’s imaginations and perceptions of the New World have been shaped by such publicists?Through the publicists, people may learn that the people of the New World are rather peace-loving and united as a community. They will also be thought of as organized and religious.

However, some Europeans may view them either as primitive because of their use of fire, or as fit to be used as slaves as they cultivate good plants like tobacco and corn.What kinds of crops did the Indians cultivate? The Indians cultivated tobacco, corn, and pompions.What were some of the activities described and illustrated by Harriot and White?The Indians gather around a broad plot to meet with their neighbors, to celebrate their solemn feasts and to engage in merrymaking after the feast. The Indians also assemble themselves together to say their solemn prayers.

There is also a place where they make fire to light up their feasts.Why did these two observers particularly mark these activities? How were such products or activities significant to an understanding of Native American life or to European plans? The two observers made such observations and clearly and carefully documented the activities of the town of Secota because they wanted to somehow get a blueprint of what it is like to live among the Native Americans. The observers did this because they themselves wanted to establish a settlement in that place.

To the Europeans, a clear understanding of the life of Native Americans is essential to building a long-lasting and harmonious relationship with them.Did Harriot and White provide idealistic or realistic portrayals of Indian culture? Why or why not?The two observers provided realistic portrayals of Indian culture because they made such claims from an ordinary observer’s point of view. There were no details or explanations as to why the Indians were meeting their neighbors or conducting their feasts and prayers.

Everything was documented based only on mere observation.BibliographyHarriot, Thomas & White, John. “A Briefe and true report of the new found land of Virginia (1590)”.