Frederick Douglas.
Sylvia Cervantes American lit 220 Professor Cormier 12 November, 2013
Frederick Douglass Guide Questions
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave NOTE: Before beginning this reading, it would be a good idea to refresh your memory on the causes of the Civil War. What were the arguments for and against slavery? 1. Why do you think Douglass chose to include the graphic details in the first chapter? I think it was all to show that he really just didn’t have knowledge of which he was other than he lived throughout his days. 2. What kind of voice or tone does the author use? I would have to say that the kind of voice he uses is just simply a straight out kind of tone. He’s really not trying to make anyone feel bad for him in any way, but he’s really more trying to let everyone know how slavery really was, and that he just wasn’t going to put up with it. He learned and grew smarter and became who he wanted to be. Cold, reserved, angry, yet emotional at the same time.
"You are loosed from your moorings, and are free; I am fast in my chains, and am a slave! You move merrily before the gentle gale, and I sadly before the bloody whip! You are freedom's swift-winged angels, that fly round the world; I am confined in bands of iron! O that I were free! O, that I were on one of your gallant decks, and under your protecting wing! Alas! betwixt me and you, the turbid waters roll. Go on, go on. O that I could also go! Could I but swim! If I could fly! O, why was I born a man, of whom to make a brute! The glad ship is gone; she hides in the dim distance. I am left in the hottest hell of unending slavery. O God, save me! God, deliver me! Let me be free! Is there any God? Why am I a slave? I will run away. I will not stand it. Get caught, or get clear, I'll try it. I had as well die with ague as the fever. I have only one life to lose. I had as well been killed running as die standing. Only think of it; one
Frederick Douglass Guide Questions
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave NOTE: Before beginning this reading, it would be a good idea to refresh your memory on the causes of the Civil War. What were the arguments for and against slavery? 1. Why do you think Douglass chose to include the graphic details in the first chapter? I think it was all to show that he really just didn’t have knowledge of which he was other than he lived throughout his days. 2. What kind of voice or tone does the author use? I would have to say that the kind of voice he uses is just simply a straight out kind of tone. He’s really not trying to make anyone feel bad for him in any way, but he’s really more trying to let everyone know how slavery really was, and that he just wasn’t going to put up with it. He learned and grew smarter and became who he wanted to be. Cold, reserved, angry, yet emotional at the same time.
"You are loosed from your moorings, and are free; I am fast in my chains, and am a slave! You move merrily before the gentle gale, and I sadly before the bloody whip! You are freedom's swift-winged angels, that fly round the world; I am confined in bands of iron! O that I were free! O, that I were on one of your gallant decks, and under your protecting wing! Alas! betwixt me and you, the turbid waters roll. Go on, go on. O that I could also go! Could I but swim! If I could fly! O, why was I born a man, of whom to make a brute! The glad ship is gone; she hides in the dim distance. I am left in the hottest hell of unending slavery. O God, save me! God, deliver me! Let me be free! Is there any God? Why am I a slave? I will run away. I will not stand it. Get caught, or get clear, I'll try it. I had as well die with ague as the fever. I have only one life to lose. I had as well been killed running as die standing. Only think of it; one