Multiple Choice
Who is the main character in Twelve Years a Slave?
A) Bass
B) Solomon Northup
C) Epps
D) Tibeats
5 seconds
b) Solomon Northup
"Mr. Tibeats, I will not!"
10 seconds
Solomon Northup
Who was described as religious and read the Bible to his slaves?
10 seconds
Ford
What made it difficult for Solomon to prove who he really was?
15 seconds
He had no papers, and people only knew him as Platt.
“Even though Solomon spoke the truth, his voice didn’t matter in the eyes of the law.”
Which Essential Question does this reflect most?
A) Why is justice not equal for everyone?
B) What does identity mean when it’s taken away?
C) How do stories shape our view of the past?
D) Why do people believe lies instead of truth?
20 seconds
A) Why is justice not equal for everyone?
What job did Solomon do before being kidnapped?
A) Slave
B) Lawyer
C) Musician
D) Teacher
5 seconds
c) musician
10 seconds
Epps
Who believed slavery was wrong and helped Solomon?
10 seconds
Bass
Why did Bass risk his own safety to help Solomon, even though he was a white man in the South?
15 seconds
Because he believed slavery was morally wrong and believed in equality of all men.
Does Epps care about what is fair or right? Why or why not? How does he use his power in a wrong way?
20 seconds
No, he only cares about money and control.
He does not listen to the truth about Solomon.
He controls everything and uses violence.
He thinks he is better than others because he is white and rich.
What was the name Solomon was forced to use while enslaved?
A) Patsey
B) Platt
C) Paul
D) Peter
10 seconds
B) Platt
15 seconds
Chapin
Who betrayed Solomon by telling Epps about the letter?
10 seconds
Armsby
What types of work did enslaved people like Solomon do on the plantation, and how did it affect their daily lives?
20 seconds
Picking cotton, planting, harvesting, carpentry, and physical labor from sunrise to sunset; caused exhaustion, stress, and lack of freedom.
Tibeats is protected after trying to kill Solomon, while Solomon is punished for defending himself.
Which essential question does this connect to?
A) What gives people the strength to survive?
B) Why do some people stay silent in unfair systems?
C) How can systems be unfair to certain groups?
D) What does freedom really mean?
30 seconds
C) How can systems be unfair to certain groups?
What was the Underground Railroad?
A) A real train
B) A secret escape route for slaves
C) A music group
D) A law office
10 seconds
B) A secret escape route for slaves
"Throw down that sack, your cotton-picking days are over."
15 seconds
Who travelled from New York to Louisiana with official papers to rescue Solomon?
15 seconds
Henry B. Northup
How does being called “Platt” instead of “Solomon” affect Solomon’s identity during his time in slavery? Give two reasons.
20 seconds
It erased his real name and personal history.
It made him feel like he lost part of who he truly was.
It was a way for enslavers to control and dehumanize him.
It prevented others from recognizing him as a free man.
Why is it unfair to judge people by their skin color, like the slaves were in the story? Speak about it for 30 seconds.
30 seconds.
In Twelve Years a Slave, we see that Solomon and others were treated unfairly just because of the color of their skin. This shows how discrimination worked — people were judged and punished not for what they did, but for who they were. Slavery wasn’t just about hard work; it was about control, fear, and treating some people as less than human. Judging someone by their race takes away their identity and rights. It’s important to learn about this so we understand why treating everyone equally really matters — both in history and today.
Why is Twelve Years a Slave an important historical text?
A) It’s a fictional adventure
B) It shows how hard it was to travel in the 1800s
C) It gives a true account of slavery from a kidnapped free man
D) It talks about the American Revolution
15 seconds
C) It gives a true account of slavery from a kidnapped free man
Throw down that sack. Your cotton-picking days are over.
The Sheriff
Who was the lawyer in Louisiana who helped verify Solomon's identity and supported his freedom claim in court?
15 seconds
Mr. Waddill
How does Solomon’s story show that being born a free Black man did not protect him from slavery and discrimination?
20 seconds
Even though Solomon was born free, he was kidnapped, sold into slavery, and no one believed his story because of his race. This shows how deeply racism and discrimination affected the justice system and society.
Why is it dangerous when a society defines someone’s identity without listening to their truth?
30 seconds
Solomon’s identity was erased when he was renamed “Platt” despite being a free man.
No one believed his story because of systemic racism and power imbalance.
This reflects how discrimination silences individuals and reinforces injustice.
Identity becomes something given by others, not something you own.