Raleigh: Discovery of Guiana (1596) (download all pages from Blackboard)
- In his Preface (dedication), Raleigh emphasizes how far he has gone to regain the displeasure of the queen, which he lost in 1592 by his secret marriage. In particular, he stresses graphic descriptions of his "travails" and his poverty after the voyage. Detail some of these.
- Because his detractors had accused him of supporting the Spanish Armada, he goes to some trouble in Part 1 to distance himself from the Spanish. Give an example.
- Throughout the voyage, Raleigh communicates by way of an Indian interpreter that he carried out of England. What does Raleigh communicate to the Trinidad captains? How do they come to be there?
- What is the first thing Raleigh keeps from his men ("my company")?
- Part of Raleigh's interest in Guiana stems from the writing of Lopez, whom he quotes. Who was he, and what did he say about the last Incan emperor and their city, which he calls El Dorado?
- In part 2, he quotes several sources about attempts to discover the Incan city of El Dorado. What kinds of information do they impart?
- Raleigh mentions several "Indian" tribes that have brought gold from Guiana. What are some of these tribes?
- Raleigh asks the Orenoqueponi about the truth of the Amazon women. Who are they, and what is he told?
- John Douglas captures some native people with the intention of selling them. How does Raleigh describe them? Why?
- Raleigh says that Berreo (the captured Spanish governor) had sent lots of wealth to Spain. Why?
- Berreo tries to talk Raleigh out of going to Guiana. Why? Why does Raleigh include this part?
- What does Raleigh say about the Tivitivas and the Capuri and Macureo peoples? Why?
- What difficulties does Raleigh encounter on the Amana river, and how does he overcome them?
- What difficulty does Raleigh experience on his journey (advised by the Ciawani pilot) to "a town of the Arawaks"?
- On their return from the Arawak town, Raleigh describes "wonders." List some of them.
- What medicines (doubling as poisons) does Raleigh encounter? What else does he learn about them?
- At the port of Morequito, the King of Aromaia comes to them. What impresses Raleigh about this king?
- What does the King of Aromaia bring him?
- What information does Raleigh gain from the King of Armaia?
- The "Caroli" have two enemies, the Incas and the Spaniards. How does Raleigh use this fact?
- Raleigh describes stones that look like they contain gold and jewels. Why doesn't he bring any of them back to England?
- What wonders does Raleigh report about the people who live on a branch of the Caura? What are these, and how does Raleigh learn of them?
- Although his men debate doing so, Raleigh elects not to make war on the Incas. Why not?
- In part 5, the galley is caught in a storm, so that it can't return to the fleet in Trinidad. What does Raleigh do?
- What does Raleigh relate about the Incan religion and customs?
- Raleigh details several reasons why Elizabeth should undertake to conquer Guiana. These include its stores of wealth and accessibility. Explain and detail.
- In his plast two paragraphs, Raleigh uses both fear, flattery, and logic to move his readers. Explain.