The Interesting Narrative of Olaudah Equiano

How does Equiano use sensory details and anecdotes to send his message?

Equiano uses sensory details and anecdotes throughout his narrative so he could bring his experiences to life. He uses sensory details to appeal to our five senses. In addition, he uses anecdotes to support his points.

What is a slave narrative and what is it's purpose?

A slave narrative is a story of a person who survived slavery. The purpose of a slave narrative is to help us understand the grim realities of surviving slavery.

Analyze: One white man in particular I saw, when we were permitted to be on deck, flogged so unmercifully with a large rope near the foremast, that he died in consequence of it; and they tossed him over the side as they would have done a brute.

-An anecdote -Gave this anecdote to show how they treated their own and they should fear how they would be treated

Analyze: One day they had taken a number of fishes; and when they had killed and satisfied themselves with as many as they thought fit, to our astonishment who were on deck, rather than give any of them to us to eat, as we expected, they tossed the remaining fish into the sea again, although we begged and prayed for some as well as we could, but in vain; and some of my countrymen, being pressed by hunger, took an opportunity, when they thought no one saw them, of trying to get a little privately; but they were discovered, and the attempt procured them some very severe floggings. One day, when we had a smooth sea and moderate wind, two of my wearied countrymen who were chained together (I was near them at the time), preferring death to such a life of misery, somehow made through the nettings and jumped into the sea;

-Another anecdote -Showing how slaves aren't even worthy of leftovers (the brutalities) -They rather choose death than to be on the ship

What does Equiano mean when he refers to "nominal Christians"

-Equiano means that they are Christians who say they are Christians, but in actuality they don't obey God. -Call themselves Christians But not acting Christian like; hypocritical

Analyze: I now wished for the last friend, death, to relieve me; but soon, to my grief, two of the white men offered me eat- ables; and, on my refusing to eat, one of them held me fast by the hands, and laid ​ me across, I think, the windlass, and tied my feet, while the other flogged me severely

-Flogged= whipped -Treated him like that because he wasn't eating

Analyze: At last, when the ship we were in, had got in all her cargo, they made ready with many fearful noises, and we were all put under deck, so that we could not see how they managed the vessel. But this disappointment was the least of my sorrow. The stench of the hold while we were on the coast was so intolerably loathsome, that it was dangerous to remain there for any time, and some of us had been permitted to stay on the deck for the fresh air; but now that the whole ship's cargo were confined together, it became absolutely pestilential. The closeness of the place, and the heat of the climate, added to the number in the ship, which was so crowded that each had scarcely room to turn himself, almost suffocated us. This produced copious perspirations, so that the air soon became unfit for respiration, from a variety of loathsome smells, and brought on a sickness among the slaves, of which many died.... This wretched situation was again aggravated by the galling of the chains.... The shrieks of the women, and the groans of the dying, rendered the whole a scene of horror almost inconceivable[...]

-Very descriptive -Demonstrates a lot of visionary sensory details

How old was Olaudah when he became a slave?

11 years old

Brief short story

Anecdote

Analyze: I would have jumped over the side, but I could not

He couldn't jump over because the crew was watching him

Analyze: I inquired of these what was to be done with us? They gave me to understand, we were to be carried to these white people's country to work for them. I then was a little revived, and thought, if it were no worse than working, my situation was not so desperate; but still I feared I should be put to death, the white people looked and acted, as I thought, in so savage a manner; for I had never seen among any people such instances of brutal cruelty; and this not only shown towards us blacks, but also to some of the whites themselves.

He didn't think owning a slave was bad. He was just afraid of the harsh punishments

Analyze: One of the blacks, therefore, took it from him and gave it to me, and I took a little down my palate, which, instead of reviving me, as they thought it would, threw me into the greatest consternation at the strange feeling it produced, having never tasted any such liquor before.

Made him feel different; weird

Who brought Equiano to the slave ship

Other Africans

The last paragraph of this narrative talks about

The slave auction

What does Equiano think will happen to him when he is brought in board ship

Thinks he will be killed

Analyze: The first object which saluted my eyes when I arrived on the coast, was the sea, and a slave ship, which was then riding at anchor, and waiting for its cargo. These filled me with astonishment, which was soon converted into terror, when I was carried on board. I was immediately handled, and tossed up to see if I were sound, by some of the crew; and I was now persuaded that I had gotten into a world of bad spirits, and that they were going to kill me.

Word choice: -Describes how harsh Europeans treated them -Describe to use that he was treated as an object

In 1775, just 14 years before writing his life story, Equiano bought slaves to work on his Central American plantation. He explained his actions by saying he did what he could "to comfort the poor creatures, and render their condition easy." Do you find this explanation consistent with the views of slavery put forth in The Interesting Narrative?

Yes, it's consistent. Why does Equiano justify his owning of slaves? -At least he is gonna treat them better -He justifies based on how he treats them