Now that you have finished reading the works in this unit, consider the ideals, values, and themes that early American writers considered to be important and worthy of inclusion in their journals, sermons, and poems. What are these ideals and values? Why were they important? How do different writers incorporate them into their works? Did certain values or ideals seem to become more or less important over time? If so, why? Cite specific examples from the writings of Bradford, Winthrop, Bradstreet, and Edwards in your response.

Read the excerpt from act iv, scene iv of romeo and juliet. capulet: good faith! ’tis day: the county will be here with music straight, for so he said he would. [music within.] i hear him near. nurse! wife! what, no! what, nurse, i say! 30 re-enter nurse. go waken juliet, go and trim her up; i’ll go and chat with paris. hie, make haste, make haste; the bridegroom he is come already: make haste, i say. [exeunt.] 35 this scene is an example of dramatic irony used to create suspense since the audience knows that the musicians will not arrive on time. capulet approves of the match to paris. romeo is already married to juliet. the nurse will be unable to rouse juliet.