Most of us are familiar with the Disney version of the story of Pocahontas. However, as students of history, it is important to reflect on how the story and image of Pocahontas has changed over time. The following interactive will use images of Pocahontas to help build Historical Thinking Skills. As you complete the activity, think about the following question:
- How has the image of Pocahontas changed over time?
- What may have caused the images and stories to change?
Post your responses in the comment section below.
1). Pocahontas has changed over time by the images becoming more ‘accurate’ the more we find out about her life. They become more clear, about her picture, and her way of life.
2). They may have changed because we have learned more about her and her life. We uncover things in the ground, and we have more modern technology to help us. As for the stories, new rumors are simply made up.
the image of Pocahontas changed from the English view of depciting natives as savage and cruel to the 1980s version of them being more atractive.
The image may have changed because of the view of native Americans in that era.
1. She was known as an indian, but over time she turned into an American. She took trips to England, and she did more modern things. She was baptized as a Christian.
2. Over time information about Pocahontas may have changed. Any of the information that we have today could be misleading us. People may have changed the story because they thought it was funny.
A.)
Pocahontas starts out known as an English gentlewoman who used to be an Indian. Than, she is known for saving John Smith’s life, and the Indians around her are known. Afterwards, she is known for getting baptized as a Christian even though she is a Native American. Than she is shown more colorful than ever for saving John Smith’s life once again. Than, she is known as a young woman who dressed very different than an English woman. Than she gets a statue after her. Poems are written after her and to many people today she is known as the cartoon movie character.
B.)
It was over 400 years ago when these stories took place. If you tell people and keep passing stories down over 400 years, obviously some details are going to change unless there is an exact document from her or she is still living and can tell us somehow.