Analysis
When Douglass says, “I have often wished myself a beast,” what point is he making about his life as a slave?
Answers may vary.
Sample Answer: He means that animals don’t understand their condition and therefore don’t suffer mentally. His knowledge made him aware of his situation, which caused him pain.
**DAILY DOUBLE**
Describe the initial relationship between Frederick Douglass and 'mistress'. How does it change over time?
Answers may vary.
Sample: Initially, she is kind and begins to teach Douglass the alphabet, treating him with humanity. Over time, influenced by the institution of slavery, she becomes harsh and forbids his education, illustrating the corrupting power of slavery.
Commence
Definition: The act of beginning or starting something.
What does it mean to “annotate” a text?
Answers may vary.
Sample Answer: Writing notes, comments, or symbols in the margins to show your thoughts, questions, or important details.
What is Douglass’s view of slaveholders, and how does he support this view?
Answers may vary.
Sample Answer: He sees them as cruel and corrupted by power. He supports this by showing how slavery turned Mrs. Auld from a kind woman into a harsh slaveholder.
Why does Douglass say Hugh was correct?
Answers may vary.
Sample Answer: Hugh was right in believing that learning to read would make Douglass want freedom more than ever.
Frederick Douglass's narrative heavily contributed to the signing of what historical document?
The Emancipation Proclamation
Emancipation
Definition: the fact or process of being set free from legal, social, or political restrictions; liberation.
Why is annotation important when reading?
Answers may vary.
Sample Answer: It helps you remember key ideas, keep track of your thinking, and makes it easier to study or discuss later.
Did Mrs. Auld’s early kindness or her later cruelty have a greater effect on Douglass? Why?
Answers may vary.
Sample Answer: Her early kindness had the greatest effect because it introduced him to reading. Even though she later turned cruel, the knowledge she started gave him the determination to keep learning.
How does learning to read affect Douglass's view of his own condition as a slave?
Answers may vary.
Sample: Douglass describes literacy as both a blessing and a curse. It opens his eyes to the injustices of slavery, leading to a profound awareness of his condition but also to deep anguish because he sees no immediate escape.
Identify a conflict we see in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and identify which type of conflict is present.
Several answers:
Man vs. Man: Douglass vs. Slaveowners
Man vs. Himself: Frederick Douglass's personal battle for freedom/growth
Prudence
Definition: The wise handling of practical matters.
What is the difference between close reading and regular reading?
Answers may vary.
Sample Answer: Regular reading is for general understanding, but close reading means paying attention to details, word choice, and deeper meaning.
When Douglass calls knowledge “the more valuable bread of knowledge,” what does he mean by comparing knowledge to bread?
Answers may vary.
Just as bread is necessary for physical survival, knowledge is necessary for freedom and personal growth. Douglass believed knowledge could “feed” his mind and spirit.
What role do the neighborhood boys play in Douglass's education?
Answers may vary.
Sample: The neighborhood boys become informal teachers for Douglass, helping him improve his reading skills in exchange for bread, thereby playing a crucial role in his self-education.
Why does Douglass describe learning to read as both a blessing and a curse?
Answers may vary.
Sample answer: Douglass sees literacy as a double-edged sword: it enlightens him about the evils of slavery and his desire for freedom but also torments him with the realization of his bondage and the lack of immediate solutions.
Unabated
Definition: Continuing with full force without weakening.
Name two things you might look for or mark when annotating a passage.
Answers may vary.
Sample Answer: Key vocabulary, main ideas, figurative language, questions you have, or important quotes.
What is Douglass’s main purpose in writing this passage?
Answers may vary.
Sample Answer: His purpose is to show how slavery dehumanizes both enslaved people and slaveholders, while also showing the power of education. Passages that support this include: Mrs. Auld’s transformation, the description of “bread of knowledge,” and his wish to be a beast.
Discuss the significance of "The Columbian Orator" and its impact on Douglass.
Answers may vary.
Sample: "The Columbian Orator" provides Douglass with arguments against slavery and introduces him to ideas of freedom and human rights, fueling his desire for emancipation
What genre is Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass? Why is this particularly significant?
Autobiography
At the time, people thought enslaved people did not have the potential, let alone the right, to learn to read and write. Frederick's publishing of his own autobiography alone served as a physical testament to the falsity of these perceptions.
Denunciation
Definition: Public condemnation of something as wrong or evil.
How can annotation and close reading help you on a test or when writing about a text?
Answers may vary.
Sample Answer: They give you evidence and details you can use in your answers or essays, and they help you understand the text more deeply.