Conventions to Travel With In the years when explorers and settlers traveled to the undiscovered land of the Americas, travel narratives became a hallmark of the area’s literature. Feeding the hunger for excitement and adventure, their popularity skyrocketed. Not only do these stories inspire wonder in the reader, they provide insights into life and events of the time. Two famous narratives, in particular, remain an essential part of learning about such travels. John Smith’s The General History of Virginia, New England, and the Sumer Isles and William Bradford’s Of Plymouth Plantation recount the founding of two unique settlements. John Smith was an influential member of the Jamestown settlement. Further north, William Bradford assisted in founding the Plymouth settlement along with the Pilgrims. While these are not the only authors of earlier American travel narratives, certainly their books contribute an essential part to the study of this genre.
A travel narrative contains certain elements that differentiate them from other works. They serve to easily distinguish a travel narrative. These common characteristics have been compiled into eleven conventions which include: …show more content…
Survive ‘difficult ocean passage,’ 2. Deride earlier reports from other explorers/discoverers, 3 Report ‘advantages of European technology,’ 4. Describe geography of the New World, 5. Mix ‘practical advice with rhetorical landscape definitions,’ 6. Encounter ‘nature and ‘savages’ as friendly and ferocious,’ 7. Show an ‘expedition plagued by intrigue and disunity,’ 8. Emphasize ‘flaws and virtues of the expedition leaders,’ 9. Compare ‘virtues of life in a strange land with the idleness and corruption of the old world,’ 10. Catalog ‘New World plenitude,’ 11. Recount ‘initial successes followed by defeats.’
A travel narrative contains certain elements that differentiate them from other works. They serve to easily distinguish a travel narrative. These common characteristics have been compiled into eleven conventions which include: …show more content…
Survive ‘difficult ocean passage,’ 2. Deride earlier reports from other explorers/discoverers, 3 Report ‘advantages of European technology,’ 4. Describe geography of the New World, 5. Mix ‘practical advice with rhetorical landscape definitions,’ 6. Encounter ‘nature and ‘savages’ as friendly and ferocious,’ 7. Show an ‘expedition plagued by intrigue and disunity,’ 8. Emphasize ‘flaws and virtues of the expedition leaders,’ 9. Compare ‘virtues of life in a strange land with the idleness and corruption of the old world,’ 10. Catalog ‘New World plenitude,’ 11. Recount ‘initial successes followed by defeats.’