Question

Read the passage below from Captain John Smith's personal account of his experience in America. As you read, think about how he presents himself in this passage.

When this news reached Jamestown, much was their sorrow for his loss, few having expected him to be captured. For six or seven weeks those Barbarians kept him prisoner, and many strange triumphs conjurations they made of him. He behaved among them in a way that not only diverted them from surprising the Fort, but also procured his own liberty, and made himself and his company so respected among them, that those savages admired him more than their own gods.

What is the BEST description of John Smith's account of himself?
Group of answer choices

He has an inflated view of his importance in the colony.

He portrays a humble view of himself and how others see him.

He portrays himself as frightened, angry, and ready to attack.

He is overconfident about how he will treated among the Native Americans.

Answer 1

A. He has an inflated view of his importance in the colony.

Step-by-step explanation:

Captain John Smith was an English soldier and explorer of the New Continent (America). He is famous as the governor of the first British settlement in America, Jamestown. He wrote down his experiences and they were later published.

However, one could justifiably doubt the credibility of these historical sources.

Here, we see that he writes about himself in third person (which is an indicator of the size of his ego). Also, events portrayed in this excerpt present him as a hero, a saviour of the settlement and a highly respected member of the colony. We can't say for sure that is a lie, but it is safe to say that his descriptions of himself and his actions were, at least, a bit of out-of-proportion.