ENGLISH LITERATURE (CBSE/UGC NET)

Detailed explanation-1: -During the winter of 1675/76 many New England frontier towns experienced American Indian raids in a series of conflicts later known as King Philip’s War. On 10 February of that year, Rowlandson was taken captive by Nipmuck Indians in an attack on her hometown of Lancaster, Massachusetts.

Detailed explanation-2: -Captivity Narrative Mary Rowlandson, was published first in London, then in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1682. She became the founder of a significant literary and historical genre, the captivity narrative, which was also the first book in English published by a woman in North America. Mary’s book became a bestseller.

Detailed explanation-3: -Rowlandson and her three children, Joseph, Mary, and Sarah, were among those taken in the raid. Rowlandson’s 6-year-old daughter, Sarah, succumbed to her wounds after a week of captivity.

Detailed explanation-4: -While a prisoner, Mary Rowlandson travelled some 150 miles, from Lancaster to Menamaset then north to Northfield and across the Connecticut river to meet with King Philip/Metacomet himself, sachem of the Wampanoags.