2. Tell the story of real-life events Not only are they good for literary purposes (people enjoy reading/analyzing them), they are useful to historians and researchers too 2 types: Firsthand and Secondhand Narrative Accounts
3. Created by people who lived through signficant historical events Eyewitnesses, participants Considered primary sources May be subjective or biased May reflect the writer’s one-sided perspective Firsthand Accounts
4. Written by people who researched the events but did not directly witness or experience them Considered secondary sources Usually more objective than firsthand accounts BUT may not be as accurate Secondhand Accounts
5. Blurring the Lines Sometimes an author blurs the distinction between firsthand and secondhand accounts E.g.: The General History of Virginia John Smith refers to himself in the third person as “Captain Smith”
6. Prose writing (not poetry) that tells about real people, places, objects, and events Nonfiction must be true! Therefore, narrative nonfiction has elements in common with autobiographies, biographies, journals, diaries, and news stories Narrative Nonfiction
7. Features of Narrative Accounts Information: The main purpose = to provide information about events and experiences Distinctive Style: Often include the writer’s personal observations and feelings Style- characteristic way of writing Tone- attitude toward audience and subjet
8. Types of Narrative Accounts Exploration Narrative Cabezade Vaca- “A Journey Through Texas López de Cárdenas- “Boulders Taller Than the Great Tower of Seville” Journal Christopher Columbus- Journal of the First Voyage to America Historical Narrative John Smith- The General History of Virginia William Bradford- Of Plymouth Plantation
9. Captivity Narrative Mary Rowlandson- A Narrative of the Captivity, Sufferings, and Removes of Mrs. Mary Rowlandson Slave Narrative OlaudahEquiano- The Interesting Narrative of the Life of OlaudahEquiano Types of Narrative Accounts
10. Explorers recorded European expeditions in Americas in journals Individual’s day-by-day account of events Provides valuable details that only a participant or eyewitness knows Not necessarily a reliable record of facts Author’s POV = his/her attitude about the topic Understand the author’s purpose and you will have a good idea as to why it was written Journals
11. Left Italy, went to sea, shipwrecked near Portugal Studied mapmaking and navigation Sailed to Canary Islands (off coast of Africa) Made lifelong goal reaching Asia by sailing west around the world Christopher Columbus
12. Won the support of Queen Isabella of Spain, got voyage financed in 1492 Allowed to rule any lands he conquered, gets 10% of all wealth August 3, 1492- set sail from Spain with Niña, Pinta, and Santa Maria After 2+ months, landed in San Salvador (thought it was India) Continued to explore Caribbean islands Had no idea there were millions of Natives north & south Christopher Columbus
13. Journal of the First Voyage to America Columbus’ observations/evaluations of San Salvador and its resources States his plans for future exploration Writing this journal to convince Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand to continue funding his explorations Describes things in favorable light to impress them
