Mary Rowlandson Resources
  Captivity Narrative

Study Questions

1. How does the Narrative demonstrate Puritan theology and thinking at work?

2. In what ways does Rowlandson use her experience to reaffirm Puritan beliefs? How does she view herself and her fellow Christians? How does she see the Indians? What do her dehumanizing descriptions of the Indians accomplish?

3. Are there any instances where she seems to waver in her faith?

4. Why does Rowlandson distrust the “praying Indians”?

5. How does she use the Bible and varied scriptural allusions in her analysis of her captivity and restoration?

6. Does her world view change at all during her eleven weeks of captivity? Why or why not?

How does the preface, perhaps written by Increase Mather, frame the narrative and/or Rowlandson’s character? What does it establish about her and her text and why?

Notice the treatment of the following in the preface and the narrative proper: Does each offer the same reading of Rowlandson’s experience? Specifically, compare their depictions of Indians, the captivity experience, and Rowlandson herself.

Based on her narrative, who do you think Rowlandson’s audience was and how do you think they viewed her? What evidence leads you to this conclusion?

When and at what points do you feel as if you have access to Rowlandson’s feelings or inner self? What enables and prevents this access?

Keep track of when Rowlandson uses scripture? What patterns can you generate from this use? What do these patterns suggest about how the narrator wants us to view Rowlandson and her captors?

In what ways does her narrative play out what it means to be a Puritan? a woman in Puritan culture?

What, if anything, do you make of her insomnia once rescued?

Comprehension

1. What is Mary Rowlandson’s main intention in writing this story?

o To arouse hatred toward the Wampanoag
o To show how her experience revealed God’s purpose
o To analyze another culture

2.  Why is the Indian group that captures Rowlandson forced to keep moving?

o They are being pursued by the English
o Because of their religious practices
o They need food

3.  What is Rowlandson’s attitude toward her children?

o She cares passionately about them and grieves about being apart from them.
o She misses them but believes that it builds character to live separately.
o She treats them as if they were adults capable of taking care of themselves.

4.  From where does Rowlandson primarily draw her strength?

o Her desire to avenge the death of her child.
o Her belief in God’s ultimate purpose.
o Her desire to return and tell her story to the Puritans.

5. What does Rowlandson exchange for food with several members of the tribe?

o Washing clothes
o Gathering firewood
o Sewing and knitting

Chronological Order

6.  Put these events in chronological order:

1. Mary Rowlandson’s master leads her to her son.
2. Mary Rowlandson’s child dies.
3. Mary Rowlandson enters a wigwam.
4. Mary Rowlandson helps carry an American Indian on a bier.

7.  Put these events in chronological order:

1. Mary Rowlandson is reunited with her daughter.
2. Mary Rowlandson learns to eat bear meat.
3. Mary Rowlandson cares for her sick baby.
4. One of the American Indians gives Mary Rowlandson a Bible.

The psalms: http://lonestar.texas.net/~mseifert/rowlandson2.html
spark notes: http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/sovereignty/themes.html