Jacobb Steendam

When asked to present a response paper, I took it as any other assignment and thought nothing of it. However, it wasn't until I delved into the assigned reading that I realized this assignment is different. I had to force myself to get past the seventh stanza of the poem by Jacob Steendam. It was this realization that made me look up the definition of "response." If a response paper is what was assigned then a response paper is what I will present.

To start with, the poem by Jacob Steendam, "The Praise of New Netherland", is deadly. I cannot imagine being able to finish the poem and actually understanding it or even appreciating it. So there will be no response to his poem.

Earlier we had spoken about advertisements and how most of what was written acted as advertisements for this 'new world'. The piece of writing by Adriaen Van der Donck is an advertisement for New Netherland. Also, 'Spurring Voices' should be right along side Van der Donck's piece of writing because it is an advertisement as well.

In Van der Donck's piece he writes and writes and writes about how plentiful the land is in wood. He also writes about the great rivers, the great fish, and the exciting hunting that can be done on this land.

One thing I did find interesting was when he completely excluded the fact that the Natives were on that land first. He writes, "we hold certain proof that the Netherlanders were the first finders or discoverers and possessors of New Netherland."

But what better way to attract people to this new land than to write a catchy poem that sorta rhymes. Steendam's poem is meant to catch the attention of people seeking a new beginning and this is especially evident in the first line, "You poor, who know not how your living to obtain." Steendam even compares the new land to Eden and, in a way, tells his audience that this land was