No Sources and Citation Style required
write 3 paragraphs based on the files
paragraph 1 In the Phillis Wheatley hand out, they include a statement from the colonial Governor, Thomas Hutchinson (168), assuring readers of Wheatleys first published book of poems that she was, in fact, the author of the book. Why do you think he and the other leaders of colonial Boston would feel the need to do this? What were the political and social considerations they were trying to address?
paragraph 2 In the opening line of Wheatleys To the University of Cambridge, in New England (170-171), June Jordan admires Wheatleys claim that an intrinsic ardor prompted her to become a poet.(170) After reading the entire poemand keeping in mind the social dynamics between the author and her white audiencefind some other passages in the poem that Jordan might approve of as examples of Wheatley asserting an independent black voice.
paragraph3 In Jupiter Hammons An Address to Miss Phillis Wheatley, (Links to an external site.) he expresses the common 18th century Christian view that the enslavement of Africans was a sign of Gods mercy since it provided the enslaved the opportunity to become Christians and hence attain eternal salvation of their souls. Find the one stanza that seems to depart from that view and explain why you think it does.