What might the strong emphasis on conflicts between brothers tell us about life on the Polynesian islands, and about the reasons for the many migrates from them?

1. What might the strong emphasis on conflicts between brothers tell us about life on the Polynesian islands, and about the reasons for the many migrates from them? What else do we find out about the Polynesian ancestors who reshapes the stories in line with their own values and concerns?
2. In what way do you think a story like this could help establish tribal rights to land and status?
3. During thus journey James Cook circumvented and mapped the entire coastline of New Zealand. How can we tell that this is a text, and an expedition, of the Enlightenment era? Why do you think the name Endeavour was chosen for Cook’s famous ship?
4. What connections can you find between the instructions Cook was given, and his journal?
5. What attitude towards the Maori people is displayed in the above account? How does Cook seem to view the “Natives” and his own relation to them? What might a word like “Chastise” imply?

1. Jones was very dependent on the Indian experts. How do you understand his relation to them?

1. Is this crippling impact anything you can notice in the quotes from Tagore?
2. Tagore created his own university, which attracted students from all over India. Here he wanted to educate a freedom of mind and used the arts to strengthen free thought, joy and imagination. Why, according to Tagore, is the Orientalist way of describing Indian history so negative for the purpose of education?

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