"This book is a modest attempt to examine how and why American speech came to be the way it is, and in particular where our words come from,"" writes Bryson of his aim in writing this book.
First of all, the first chapter of the book is entitled "The Mayflower and Before-. The first purpose of this chapter is to recount the history of America during the time that the Mayflower sailed and before. The second purpose is to examine the changes in the English language during this period. The third purpose of this chapter and of the whole book is to correct the errors in history as commonly accepted. For example: Bryson states: .
" The one thing the Pilgrims certainly didn't do was step ashore on Plymouth Rock. Quite apart from the consideration that it may have stood well above the high-water mark in 1620, no prudent mariner would try to bring a ship alongside a boulder in a heaving December sea when a sheltered inlet beckoned nearby. If the Pilgrims even noticed Plymouth Rock, there is no sign of it,"" (2). .
In addition to that, there are two ways that Bryson gets across his ideas in the first chapter. The first way he gets his points across is by using poetry. This poem, in Made in America, entitled "The Landing of the Pilgrim Fathers- begins:.
The breaking waves dashed high.
On a stern and rock-bound coast,.
And the woods, against a stormy sky,.
Their giant branches toss'd.
And the heavy night hung dark.
The hills and water o'er, .
When a band of exiles moor'd their bark.
On the wild New England shore. (1).
One peculiar feature of this poem is Bryson writes before the poem, "But inspired as only a mediocre poet can be,"" (1) which strikes me as an odd thing to say.
Another way he gets his point across is writing down words in Algonquian and then their translations in English. In the first chapter Bryson writes, .
Nquitpausuckowashwmen- There are a hundred of us.
Chénock wonck cuppee-yeumen?- When will you return?.
Americans have been envied since they have evolved. ... That's why Americans comes in different colors. ... Foolish to think that way, but the pain I felt made me even more proud to be a Filipino. ... Americans has a reputation of being lazy and rude. ... In his essay "What is an American" he states that all Americans are of European descent and that people who comes to America lives a better life. ...
Should cigarettes be made illegal? ... Yet, one perfectly legal product manages to seize over 400,000 American lives annually (American Lung Association, "American"). ... In fact, "smoking costs the United States approximately $97.2 billion each year in health-care costs and lost productivity" (American Lung Association, "American"). ... First of all, cigarettes contain nicotine, "an addictive drug, which when inhaled in cigarette smoke reaches the brain faster than drugs that enter the body intravenously" (American Lung Association, "American"). ... A very costly government owned service i...
Fear has consumed the United States of America. ... To Manson the idea of music being blamed while the government is involved in heavy violence made no sense. ... America's violence was committed by America's people. This made it easier to handle because it is one thing to be attacked by fellow Americans; but, to be attacked by foreigners brings on a more intense sense of fear. ... It is important that Americans overcome their fears. ...
Let America Be America Again Langston Hughes The Poem "Let America Be America Again" is a very emotional and moving poem. It was most likely written around the same time slavery ended in America. ... The character speaks of how he is not even free in his country and he makes oh how he made America for he was the one that worked it and put his blood, sweat, faith and pain into it. ... America is supposed to be a land of freedom and opportunity but this was not the America so many experienced. ... The character does say though that "America will be" to him meaning he is determined ...
A Changing America The 1920's, one of the most important era's in American history. ... Since the 1920's made people feel important because of new found income and entertainment, it made people believe that any time there was a problem in America it was not because of an American. ... The boom of consumerism in America reflected the way America had changed economically. ... Also transportation allowed city workers to move away from the slums of urban society and into the quiet suburban areas, because it made their commute to and from work much quicker. ... The newly discover...
A Changing America The 1920's, one of the most important era's in American history. ... Since the 1920's made people feel important because of new found income and entertainment, it made people believe that any time there was a problem in America it was not because of an American. ... The boom of consumerism in America reflected the way America had changed economically. ... Also transportation allowed city workers to move away from the slums of urban society and into the quiet suburban areas, because it made their commute to and from work much quicker. ... The newly discover...
An American Utopia Is it possible? ... "Utopia" has presented many usable ideas in creating a new society that has fewer social and political problems although some of the presented ideas may not be as useful in modern societies because of advancements made throughout time. ... Most of the laws that have been made regarding what happens to inmates for what crimes they have committed, stems from a fear that the American public has of the inmates somehow committing more serious crimes against them next time. ... If there was this sort of equality in America then we would have no proble...
The African Americans living in America who went there for working and living conditions were not considered to be a very good race in the beginning. ... These speeches and movements made America do something about the blacks and their positions. ... There are a lot of important black people in the American society who work for America and are respected and liked too. ... This progress was the result of some black Leaders such as Malcolm X and Martin Luther King have made it possible for black people to progress in all areas of life. ... Secondly; Blacks are considered as harmful to so...
In the film "An American Tail" there is a song that includes the lyrics, " there are no cats in America and the streets are paved with cheese". ... In the first part of the lyrics they describe an America were there are no cats. One of the ways I took this as was that there is no war in America. ... This of course was a lie the children were taken and made to work outrageous hours. ... This is why I think that their actions were truly American....
