Study
Questions
LÈry,
Voyage to the Land of Brazil
- Where
does Christianity fit into this writing? Why would Professor Shank pick
this writing for the topic: "Christians and Heretics, Europeans and
Savages?"
- On
page 58, LÈry writes with regard to body piercing, "I leave you to
judge whether it is pleasant to see them do that, and whether that deforms
them or not." Is he really letting the reader judge regarding body
piercing or any other aspect of the Tupinamba? Does his writing reflect
his own value judgments? If so, how and where?
- How
does he depict Tupinamba men and women (and children) differently? How does
he compare them to Europeans?
- How
does LÈry perceive himself? His fellow travelers? The Tupinamba? How does
he define himself in terms of his encounters with: fellow travelers/shipmates,
Spaniards/Portuguese, Tupinamba men and women, etc.?What do his depictions
of others reveal about himself? (i.e. Who is he and how does he define himself
in relation to those around him?)
- What
qualities/characteristics does he tend to emphasize? What are specific physical
aspects, eating practices, rituals/customs, activities, etc. that he focuses
on?
- Does
LÈry depict the Tupinamba or anyone else "objectively," without
anything else attached to it?