3. LITERARY ANALYSIS (200-250 words): [60 pts] Analyze the text. Identify the topic of the extract,
discuss the treatment of the topic, etc. You can also briefly quote or paraphrase from the extract
to support your claims.


In this short extract, Robinson describes his first encounter with the savage, whom he later named
Friday[JŠ1] .  He pictures him in great detail and in a rather positive way: “He had a very good
Countenance, not a fierce and surly Aspect…” Considering Crusoe’s white European background, we
could expect a strong aversion towards the savages, yet for the first time, he looks for the
similarities:  “yet he had all the Sweetness and Softness of an European”. This demonstrates the
central message of the extract. [JŠ2]

Crusoe had never looked at the savages as civilised human beings before; he despised them for their
appearance, cannibalism and absence of faith in the one true God. [JŠ3] Again, we can say that this
is the first time he sees a primitive native man and looks at him as a human being. There is still
a prominent aspect of superiority, but he perceives him positively, almost equally. [JŠ4]

In his description of Friday, Crusoe doesn’t use a single negative word and goes to great lengths
to list every detail of his appearance: “The Colour of his Skin was not quite black, but very
tawny; and yet not of an ugly yellow nauseous tawny, as the Brasilians, and Virginians, and other
Natives of America are; but of a bright kind of a dun olive Colour, that had in it something very
agreeable.”

There may be two reasons for this[JŠ5] . Robinson could be pleased to see a human that doesn’t
attack him and, on the contrary, shows signs of subjection, servitude and submission or  Crusoe’s
attitude has changed. After so many years, he sees a potential companion, a friend, someone to talk
to, and his mind and heart open.

________________________________

 [JŠ1]Start with your claim.

 [JŠ2]It needs to be stated and specified.

 [JŠ3]Is there any evidence that you could mention for support?

 [JŠ4]If this is the claim, then it needs to start this piece of writing.

 [JŠ5]State specifically which side you choose, especially at the end.