Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
What thought enters Douglass's mind on the night before the escape?
"We are betrayed!"
knowledge can be gained if you sit back and listen
"a still tongue makes a wise head" (meaning of the maxim)
frederick was lucky to be where he was
"i may be deemed superstitious, and even egotistical, in regarding this event as a special interposition of divine providence in my favor" (meaning of the quote)
frederick was talking about slaves singing because they were unhappy and never would be while enslaved
''crying for joy, and singing for joy, were alike uncommon to me while in the jaws of slavery'' (meaning of the quote)
was considered property and his master never left a will. So the property had to be split.
''i would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing; it had given me a view of my wretched condition, without the remedy; it opened my eyes to the horrible pit, but to no ladder upon which to get out'' (meaning of the quote)
frederick is driven to learn more since his new master doesn't want him to learn
''in learning to read, i owe almost as much to the bitter opposition of my master, as to the kindly aid of my mistress; i acknowledge the benefit of both'' (meaning of the quote)
better to beat the slaves for speaking up so that other slaves don't think they can do it
''it is better that a dozen slaves suffer under the lash, than that the overseer should be convicted, in the presence of the slaves, of having been at fault'' (meaning of the maxim)
frederick says this afte telling the story of witnessing his aunt hester's beating and it was at that moment his view of the worl changed making him realize the hard times were just ahead of him
''it was the blood-stained gate, the entrance to hell of slavery, through which i was about to pass'' (meaning of the quote)
if the overseer or slave owner wasn't happy with a slave that slave would be punished even if they didn't do anything wrong
''to be accused was to be convicted, and to be convicted was to be punished'' (meaning of the quote)
Frederick Douglass
(1817-1895) American abolitionist and writer, he escaped slavery and became a leading African American spokesman and writer. He published his biography, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and founded the abolitionist newspaper, the North Star.
How long on average do children get to spend with their mothers?
12 months
Edward Covey
A notorious slave "breaker" and Douglass's keeper for one year. Slave owners send their unruly slaves to Covey, who works and punishes them (thus getting free labor to cultivate his rented land) and returns them trained and docile. Covey's tactics as a slaveholder are both cruel and sneaky. He is deliberately deceptive and devious when interacting with his slaves, creating an atmosphere of constant surveillance and fear.
What does Douglass gain from The Columbian Orator (a book)?
An understanding of the political argument against slavery
Why is Douglass grateful that Hugh Auld orders Douglass's reading lessons stopped?
Auld unwittingly gives Douglass the key to escape slavery
Why does Douglass move from Baltimore to Thomas Auld's?
Because Auld wants to punish his brother, Hugh (had an argument, but the reason for it is unknown)
Why do the slaves on Covey's plantation call Covey "the snake"?
Because he surprises them by sneaking through the tall grass
Why does Douglass not know his birth date?
Because slave owners keep their slaves ignorant of their birthdays
Why is it worse off to be a child of a slave-owning father and slave mother?
Because they have to face the cruel wrath of the slave-owner's wife
Why is Douglass's attacked by his fellow apprentices at the Baltimore shipyard?
Because they were worried that black workers would take their jobs
Which of the following is not what Douglass interprets slave songs to be?
Calls to Action
What is most likely Douglass's father's name?
Captain Anthony (his first master)
What early on event does Douglass connect with his introduction to the horrors of slavery?
Captain Anthony's (supposed kin) whipping of his Aunt Hester
Lucretia Auld
Captain Anthony's daughter and Thomas Auld's wife. After Captain Anthony's death, Lucretia inherits half his property, including Douglass. Lucretia is as cruel an owner as her husband.
who was lucrieta married to?
Captain Thomas Auld
Who is Mr. Covey's only slave?
Caroline
Who did Mr. Covey use as a "breeder?"
Caroline- 1st female slave he owned.
What does Sandy instruct Douglass to do?
Carry a root on his right side to prevent Covey from whipping him
What plantation did Douglas grow up (for 8 years)
Colonel Lloyd's
What is Mr. Covey's "forte"?
Deception
In what regard is Douglass's August confrontation with Covey a turning point?
Douglass fights back against Covey, proving that slaves will not stand for the treatment they have been given.
Captain Anthony
Douglass's first master and probably his father. Anthony is the clerk for Colonel Lloyd, managing Lloyd's surrounding plantations and the overseers of those plantations. Anthony is a cruel man who takes pleasure in whipping his slaves, especially Douglass's Aunt Hester. He is called "Captain" because he once piloted ships up the Chesapeake Bay.
Betsy Bailey
Douglass's grandmother. Betsy raised Douglass on Captain Anthony's land after Douglass's mother was taken away. Betsy served the Anthony family her whole life and had many children and grandchildren who became slaves for the Anthonys. After seeing Captain Anthony's children from birth to death, Betsy is abandoned to a hut in the woods instead of being allowed to go free.
Harriet Bailey
Douglass's mother. She is separated from Douglass after his birth, but she still attempts to maintain family relations by walking twelve miles to see him at night. She dies when Douglass is young.
What causes Douglass to faint?
Exhaustion from carrying wheat
Who beats Douglass while working at the shipyard?
Free black carpenters
What is Colonel Lloyd's plantation called by the slaves that live there?
Great House Farm
What's Douglass's mother's name?
Harriet Bailey
What is Thomas Auld's overriding problem as a slaveholder?
He did not give his slaves enough food.
Why did Mr. Covey whip Douglass?
He did not take off his clothes
Why does New Bedford surprise Douglas?
He has been led to believe that the North is poverty-stricken
What work does Douglass do under Gardner's authority?
He helps carpenters build ships
What does Douglass do after Covey beat him for fainting?
He ran to Master Thomas's home
What does Douglass do while at Freeland's plantation?
He teaches a Sabbath school
How is Master Freeland different from Master Covey?
He treats his slaves fairly
How does Douglass get enough money to escape?
He works for "Master Hugh" and saved money slowly
What makes Mr. Covey different from the other slaveholders?
He works with his hands
Who were put into jail along with Douglass?
Henry, John, Charles, and Henry Bailey
What does Douglass call "the turning point in my career as a slave"
His fight with Master Covey
What did Douglass often regret?
His own existence
What does Douglass say about religion in the South
It justifies the practice of slavery
what was the horse story paralleled to in the Bible?
Job
What service does Douglass offer his fellow slaves at William Freeland's?
Literacy lessons- learning how to read and write
Captain Thomas Auld
Lucretia Auld's husband and Hugh Auld's brother. Thomas Auld did not grow up owning slaves, but gained them through his marriage to Lucretia. After attending a church meeting in Maryland, Thomas Auld becomes a "pious" man, but he uses his newfound Christianity to be even more self-righteously brutal toward his slaves.
When Captain Anthony died, who did Douglass go to in the dividing of property?
Lucrieta- who soon after died as well. However, this would only apply if the Hugh's were to die. While this never occurred, Thomas Auld eventually took Douglass as means of punishing his brother.
How does Douglass get out of jail?
Master Thomas sends him back to Baltimore
Which of the following is not one of the overseers under whom Douglass grows up?
Mr. Auld
Who was Douglass's new master after Thomas?
Mr. Covey
Who did Douglass only stay one year with?
Mr. Covey- started on Jan 1, 1833.
Who was Douglass's first overseer?
Mr. Plummer
Who forced the Sabbath school to close?
Mr. West and Mr. Fairbanks
who replaced mr. hopkins as overseer?
Mr. austin gore
who was Captain Lloyd's overseer?
Noah Willis, eventually Mr. Severe
Colonel Lloyd
Owner of the large plantation in Maryland where Douglass was born
Once in New York, who helps Douglas?
Ruggles
What reminds Douglass of his wretched condition?
Sail ships in the bay
Who is the slave that Douglass meets while hiding in the cornfield?
Sandy Jenkins
What is the reason for Sophia Auld's transformation?
She becomes cruel with the irresponsible power of owning another person
Sandy Jenkins
Superstitious slave who believed in a root that would prevent beatings. A slave acquaintance of Douglass. The highly superstitious Sandy stands in the Narrative as a representative of all uneducated, superstitious slaves. Sandy is kind to Douglass when Douglass runs away from Covey's, but the Narrative also implies that Sandy may have informed William Freeland about Douglass's plans to escape.
Which of the following is not a reason Douglass is happy about the prospect of moving to Baltimore?
The Aulds are described as a kind couple
Who is Captain Hugh Auld?
The brother of Captian Thomas Auld (Lloyd's son-in-law)
Aunt Hester
The first real violence that Frederick was exposed to. He describes how is Aunt Hester would be tied up and whipped. This was because Aunt Hester had left the farm to be with Ned (her slave boyfriend). She had not only snuck out of the farm she had also left to be with ned. Captain anthony stated his main purpose as that he didn't want her to be out with ned. But Frederick believed that he was not at all concerned with her innocence. She would be stripped naked and whipped her.
What did Mrs. Sophia Auld give Douglass?
The key which he would later use to escape (reading and writing).
What is Mr. Covey's nickname?
The snake
Why does Douglass think that city slaveholders are usually less cruel than rural slaveholders?
They are aware of the disapproval of their non-slaveholding neighbors
What happens to Douglass and the others when their escape plan is betrayed?
They are placed in jail
What happens after Douglass and his fellow slaves are ratted out?
They are taken to Easton jail
Hugh Auld
Thomas Auld's brother and Douglass's occasional master. He lives in Baltimore with his wife, Sophia. Thomas and Lucretia Auld allow him to borrow Douglass as a servant for his son, Thomas. He is well aware that whites maintain power over blacks by depriving them of education, and he unwittingly enlightens Douglass in this matter. He is not as cruel as his brother Thomas, but he becomes harsher due to a drinking habit in his later years. He seems to suffer some consciousness that slavery and the law's treatment of blacks are inhumane, but he does not allow this consciousness to interfere with his exercising power over Douglass.
What escape plan does Douglass devise?
To paddle a canoe north during the Easter holidays
Why does Douglass think Covey did not punish him for fighting back?
To protect his reputation as a slave-breaker
What is the purpose of holidays for the slaves?
To release feelings of rebelliousness
Sophia Auld
Transformed from kind and caring who owned no slaves to an excessively cruel slave owner. Sophia started helping Douglass how to read until her husband interferred saying "you give a slave an inch, they will take a mile."
Where was Douglass born?
Tuckahoe, Maryland
Who was not a source for Douglass learning how to read and write?
Two Irish dockworkers
What did Douglass parallel the Demby/Gore story to?
When the wife of Mr. Giles Hick killed Douglass wife's cousin.
What is Douglass's main point about Gore shooting Demby?
Whites are not punished for killing blacks
Who is Douglass's new master after Covey
William Freeland
William Freeland
William Freeland is another slaveholder whom Douglass works for in the St. Michael's area of Maryland. However, he is far more open and prudent than any other slaveholder Douglass has known. He never professes to be heavily religious or pious, nor does he work slaves to complete exhaustion. Freeland also owns only two slaves, Henry Harris and John Harris. In the year that Douglass works for him, he never receives one blow.
Who is the new master that Douglass is rented to
William Gardner
From what source does Douglass learn the meaning of "abolition"?
a newspaper
What was promised to protect Douglass?
a root
Why was "Aunt Harriet" whipped?
because she was caught with another man. truly out of jealously.
Turbid
cloudy, opaque, or thick with suspended matter
What did those who were pious equal in Douglass's mind?
evil, cruel
How long did Douglass live with the Hughs?
for 7 years
colonel lloyd put tar on the fences and would whip slaves that were marked with it
how did colonel lloyd keep the slave boys from taking the fruit?
mrs auld changed because she got a slave for the first time and is finally realizing how she should treat them (not like a regular human being)
how did mrs auld change and why did she change?
begging or theft
how did the slaves get food?
the newspaper
how does frederick learn the meanings of the words abolition and abolitionist?
copying the letters at the shipyard, writing the letters on the sidewalk, stealing tommy's (master's son) old books
how does frederick learn to write?
challenged the boys by claiming he could write the word better than they could
how does frederick trick the white boys into teaching him new letters?
learning more caused frederick to want freedom even more
how does master auld's prediction about frederick and learning come true?
sends him to mr covey to break his will
how does master thomas propose to ''break'' frederick?
frederick's grandmother was in a way released from slavery; her master built a hut for her and left her in the forest to die showing that slaves are only valuable if they can complete labor; slaves are disposed when they get older and are treated like animals; an example of this is an oxen, once the animal can no longer till the field, it is killed/released into the wild to die
how does this anecdote help explain the value of slaves? how are slaves valued when compared to livestock? (the ironic comparison of slaves to livestock is a continuous theme of the narrative)
slaves are ranked in value with animals (horses, swine, sheep)
how was the value of the master's property determined? how were the slaves valued?
Where was Demby going when he was shot?
into a creek to relieve himself of the stinging from getting whipped.
Ague
malaria or some other illness involving fever and shivering
who replaced mr. severe as overseer?
mr. hopkins
What was the importance of chapter 3? (the story about the horses)
shows that animals are wanted to be in better condition than actual human beings.
only some slaves got better jobs that came with less hard labor than others
was there a pecking order among slaves?
master thomas auld becomes much more harsh since he uses the bible as an excuse for his actions
what according to frederick happens to master thomas auld after his conversion to christianity? why?
power and treatment of slaves
what changes sophia auld according to frederick?
frederick learned about abolitionists, the abolishing of slavery, and that slaves had the ability to escape
what did frederick learn from the book "the columbian orator"?
run up north so that they could catch him trying to escape and get a reward for it
what do the two irishmen encourage frederick to do?
plummer was a drunkard, sweared a lot, savage monster, and got pleasure from beating slaves
what do we learn about the overseer (plummer)?
never having a slave
what does frederick attribute the kindness of sophia auld to?
freedom
what does frederick hope to gain by learning how to read?
lived alone in a hut in the woods and fended for herself
what happened to frederick's grandmother after the death of both lucretia and andrew?
the slave was sold to another master in georgia
what happened to the slave that told colonel lloyd the truth about his master?
a christian country should want to teach people who aren't and are uneducated
what irony does frederick find in this statement: ''it is almost an unpardonable offence to teach slaves to read in this christian country?''
a short statement expressing general truth or conduct
what is a maxim?
frederick bailey
what is frederick's real name at birth?
austin gore's name is ironic because he is strict, cruel, a horrible human being, and is a gory person who makes slaves bleed constantly
what is ironic about austin gore's name?
colonel lloyd treats them very well (even though horses are animals) by making sure they are taken care of which is unlike the slaves (who are people)
what is ironic about colonel lloyd's treatment of his horses compared to the treatment of the slaves?
captain anthony was an employee of colonel lloyd and ran an estate for him
what is the relationship of colonel lloyd to frederick's master?
the slaveholder is the owner of farms and owner of slaves; the overseer watches over the farms and the slaves; the slaves work on the farm
what is the relationship of the slaveholder to overseer to the slave on the plantation?
the overseer made sure slaves are working and doing the tasks the master instructs them to do; the overseer makes sure no slave tries to escape and keeps the slaves from acting up
what is the role of the overseer on the plantation?
thomas auld had shot a slave that stepped over the line for food; mr thomas lanman killed two slaves (one with a hatchet); mr giles hick mangles a 15-16 year old girl
what other examples does frederick give of his statement ''that killing a slave, or any colored person,... is not treated as a crime, either by the courts or the community"?
frederick tricked little boys into teaching him
what plan did frederick adopt to learn how to read now that mrs auld was no longer teaching him?
he says if one slave can get away with doing something bad than the others will follow
what reason does mr gore give for killing demby the slave?
hugh auld (new master) was the brother of captain anthony's son-in-law captain thomas auld (old master)
what relationship did his new master have to his old master?
master thomas auld gave the slaves to little food
what rule of slaveholding does master thomas auld violate?
frederick had it better than other slaves since he didn't have to work because he was too young
what was life like for fredreick on the plantation?
frederick thought sophia was kind because she allowed him to look her in the eyes and allowed him to answer her
what were frederick's initial impressions of his new mistress (sophia auld)?
captain anthony
who is frederick's first master?
harriet bailey and father is unknown but is possibly captain anthony (his mother's master)
who is frederick's mother and father?
master thomas auld
who is frederick's newest master?
master thomas auld
who owns frederick by the end of chapter eight?
mr auld
who teaches frederick why black men are not taught to read?
lucretia auld (daugter), thomas auld (son-in-law), andrew lloyd (son), richard lloyd (son)
who were the family members of colonel edward lloyd (frederick's master)?
he was kept uneducated of everything (including time)
why did frederick (7 or 8 years old) not know the month or year of his sailing?
frederick heard that it was nice in baltimore
why did he particularly want to go to baltimore?
he unwittingly gives him the key to mental freedom
why does frederick call mr auld's forbidding his learning of how to read "invaluable instruction"
the slave owners were newborn religious people but yet they didn't want to the slaves to follow the religion
why does frederick find ironic in the fact that the slaves sabbath school is discontinued?
frederick can get more food at the plantation when he goes to retrieve the horse
why does frederick let master thomas's horse run away?
the wife of the father would be mad for treating the slave better than his own kids and he doesn't want to look weak
why does frederick make the point that a slaveholder that fathered a child is likely to to be tougher on that child?
because he thinks that they will catch him and return him to their master
why does frederick not trust the irishmen?
frederick can read
why does frederick now know the date?
harriet bailey (passed away) worked on another plantation miles away and frederick only saw her when she made the journey down to his plantation
why does frederick rarely see his mother?
to show that it's still bad and brutal in the city
why does frederick relate the story of the slaves henrietta and mary?
adopted slaveholers don't know how to be good slaveholders which makes them the worse
why does frederick say that "adopted slaveholders are the worst"?
slaves didn't have anything that was happy to sing about
why does frederick suggest that slaves sing out of sorrow rather than out of joy?
it was colonel lloyd's slave ned that led frederick's aunt hester to a brutal beating, the wanting to show results of disobeying his master, and the consequences that the people would have to live with
why does frederick tell the story of lloyd's ned?
if you teach slaves that will end up being unfit for them and that doensn't benefit the owner since the slave will want to know more
why does inability to read keep men enslaved according to frederick and mr auld?
he is considered a "first-rate" overseer because he gets the job done but is cruel and horrible to the slaves
why is austin gore a "first-rate overseer"? what is the irony of this description of austin gore?
slaves were not told the date of their birth
why is frederick not sure when he was born?
most slaves have never seen their mother or dont know who they are and frederick knows his mother and met her
why is frederick's relationship with his mother not typical as of other slave children?
master thomas said he would never let douglas return to baltimore because of an argument
why is fredreick forced to leave baltimore?
slaves couldn't read or write so it wasn't possible to document these songs
why is it difficult to find copies of slave songs?
you wouldn't expect a slave to be better off than a white boy at the time
why is it ironic that he bribed the little white boys to teach him to read?
slaves aren't supposed to learn
why is mr auld angry when he learns mrs auld teaching frederick his letters?
city slaves have more freedom, clothes, food, and don't have to do hard labor as if on a plantation
why is the life of a city slave so much better than the life of a plantation slave?
frederick realizes that education and knowledge give him power
why is this lesson so important to him?
frederick was considered property and his master never left a will so the property had to be split
why was frederick forced to return to the plantation after the death of his master?
frederick was happy because it was a chance for his situation to become better
why was frederick so happy to be leaving the plantation?
the slaves always did something wrong when in charge of the horses because colonel lloyd would always find something imperfect
why was it particularly difficult to be slaves in charge of colonel lloyd's horses?
mr covey acquired young help for free
why was mr covey's reputation for breaking slaves of great value to him?
he acted cruel, strict, and severe to slaves
why was severe an appropriate name for an overseer?
master andrew was very cruel and dreaded
why was the division of property between mistress lucretia and master andrew so horrifying to the slaves?
fear of the south
why would a slave on a plantation fear being sold to a slave-holder?
takes away their sense of being human
why would slaveholders want to keep a slave ignorant of their date of birth?
