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The Double Life of Pocahontas: Discussion Questions
Book Title: The Double Life of Pocahontas
Author: by Jean Fritz
Grade Level: 5
Type: Nonfiction
Topic: Biography/Native American
Lexile: 910
Discussion Questions
- What was the attitude of the English settlers at Jamestown toward the native people they found in Virginia?
- The English thought they were better than the native people because they were Christians and the native people were not.
- The English did not respect the native people?s ownership of the land because Powhatan?s people did not have the kinds of villages and farms that Europeans were accustomed to; the English considered the native people to be no more civilized than deer.
- The English wanted the food that the Indians could provide but did not want to understand their culture or become their friends.
- What were the different strategies of Captain John Smith and Captain Newport in trading with Powhatan?s people? Which man was more skillful, and why?
- John Smith was a shrewd negotiator who made sure that Jamestown got ample food supplies without giving up much in return. He was unwilling to give Powhatan any weapons that might eventually be used against the English.
- Captain Newport was friendly and cooperative and gave Powhatan whatever he wanted, even swords and hatchets.
- John Smith was more skillful in trade; he understood the power game that was being played and made sure the English gained the advantage.
- Why did Powhatan declare John Smith his enemy?
- John Smith had not held up his end of the bargain he had made when Pocahontas saved his life; he did not treat Powhatan as his "father."
- Powhatan was sick of the English who could make guns but couldn?t? even feed themselves; he was convinced that in order to get rid of the English, he would have to get rid of John Smith.
- Powhatan came to believe that John Smith had lied about his intentions; he had come not to trade but to invade Powhatan?s people and possess his country.
- John Smith had begun to fight the Indians and to destroy their houses and canoes in order to get food for the English.
- Compare Pocahontas?s experiences with the English when she was a young girl and her experiences later in life. How were they different?
- When Pocahontas was a young girl, she delighted in playing with English children, getting gifts from John Smith, and learning little phrases in English. She was free to come and go between the two peoples.
- Later, when she was kidnapped and held captive by the English, she was forced to adopt English ways and to receive daily instruction in their religion. She was expected to give up her Indian ways and beliefs.
- She was a link between the two worlds, first as a young girl who had "adopted" John Smith into her tribe, and later as a young wife whose marriage brought about a temporary peace between the English and her people.
- In what sense did Pocahontas live a "double life"? Why was she reluctant to return to her homeland after living less than a year in England?
- As a child, Pocahontas lived happily in her father?s world and also in John Smith?s. She loved people in both worlds.
- Pocahontas was raised according to the customs of her own people, but she later learned and adapted to the ways of the English.
- Pocahontas was reluctant to return to her homeland from England because she knew that she would be expected to try to convert her own people to Christianity and to English ways--something she did not believe was the right thing to do.
- Pocahontas knew that if she went back to America her loyalties would be torn between her husband, who did not respect Indian ways, and her people.
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