1. It was a solemn sight to see so many Christians lying in their
blood, some here and some there, like a company of sheep torn by
wolves.
Rowlandson uses these words in the opening section of her narrative
when she describes the chaos and devastation of the Indian attack on
Lancaster. In one sentence, she conveys the gravity and seriousness of the
situation. More important, however, is the simile Rowlandson chooses to
describe the scene. In Christian imagery, Jesus is traditionally compared to
a shepherd, and his followers are a flock of innocent sheep. By drawing from
this imagery, Rowlandson situates her narrative in a biblical framework. By
then comparing the Indians to wolves, Rowlandson introduces opposition and
dichotomy into her text. The Puritans are innocent, civilized, and
domesticated, while the Indians are wild animals.
