Question

But to omit other things after a long beating at sea they fell with that land which is called Cape Cod; 5 the which being made and certainly known to be it, they were not a little joyful. After some deliberation had amongst themselves and with the master of the ship, they tacked about and resolved to stand for the southward (the wind and weather being fair) to find some place about Hudson's River for their habitation. 6 But after they had sailed that course about half the day, they fell among dangerous shoals and roaring breakers, and they were so far entangled therewith as they conceived themselves in great danger.

Which of the following best describes the effect that point of view has on the reader in this passage?
a-By writing in first person, Bradford gives credibility to his account of what happened because he was there witnessing the events first hand.
b-By making it known that he is the leader, he makes it clear that he is responsible for all of the troubles the ship is having.
c-By not injecting himself or his emotions into the crisis, Bradford seems impartial and not bias, so therefore more reliable to the reader.
d-By speaking dramatically, emotionally, and involving the reader, he is inviting the reader to truly understand and personally feel the danger of the situation

Answer 1

Option a is the most accurate as it refers to the credibility imparted by the first-person point of view used by William Bradford, giving the reader a sense of immediacy and reliability in the narrative of the travelers' sea journey.

Step-by-step explanation:

The passage provided describes the challenges and emotions experienced by travelers at sea. Option a, which underscores the credibility of the account given by the first-person narrative style, appears to be the most accurate effect of point of view on the reader. William Bradford, who was a witness and participant in the events, writes in the first person and his account injects the narrative with a sense of immediacy and personal involvement, enhancing its reliability and engaging the reader directly. The other options don't align with the detailed excerpts as they either assign leadership responsibilities, state impartiality without bias, or deal with dramatic emotional involvement, which are not directly supported by the excerpts provided.