“Twelve Years a Slave” by Solomon Northup
Part 1
1. Please read the text silently.
2. Describe the characters Merril Brown and Abram Hamilton.
3. Explain Solomon’s reasons to go with Brown and Hamilton.
4. What do you think will happen? Give a guess and write down the end of the story. (500 words)
Part 2
1. Watch the trailer. What do you expect from the movie?
2. Take a look at the vocabulary list provided below and look up the meaning of the words in a
monolingual dictionary.
•
brawny
•
superb
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to smite someone
•
to dawdle
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carpenter
•
patroller
•
pack
•
bushel
•
to beguile
•
countenance
•
lothario
•
distressed
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to truckle at someone’s boot
•
brute
•
clapboard
•
merriment
•
fiddle
•
predilection
“Twelve Years a Slave” by Solomon Northup
Part 2
3. Look at the list of characters and draw a constellation of their relationship.
Solomon Northup, aka “Platt” A free black man who lived in the northern United States in the
1800s, Solomon was kidnapped in 1841, at age 33, and sold into slavery in the South. Solomon
was married to Anne (Hampton) Northup and with her had three children: Elizabeth, Margaret, and
Alonzo.
Merrill Brown One of two white con men who, with Abram Hamilton, deceived Solomon Northup
and orchestrated his kidnapping. About 40 years old, short, and thick-set, Brown, with Hamilton,
promised Northup lucrative work as a violin player in a circus, and thereby convinced him to
accompany them to Washington, D.C. There they drugged him and allegedly sold him to slave
trader James H. Burch while he was unconscious.
Abram Hamilton With Merrill Brown, co-kidnapper of Solomon Northup. Around 25 years old, tall,
thin, and somewhat effeminate.
James H. Burch A brutal slave dealer who first kept Solomon Northup in captivity in Washington,
D.C.
Eliza Berry A fellow black captive in James H. Burch’s Washington, D.C. slave pen and lifelong
friend to Solomon Northup. She was the mother of both Randall Berry and Emily Berry. She had
been the slave and mistress of a rich white man named Elisha Berry, who treated her kindly and
fathered her daughter, Emily. Elisha Berry promised emancipation for Eliza and her children upon
his death; however, when he passed away, his heirs reneged on that promise. Under the ruse of
taking her to get her free papers, the heirs sold Eliza and her children into Burch’s slave pen. From
there, she was sent downriver, where Theophilus Freeman cruelly separated her from her children.
She was sold, with Solomon Northup, to William Ford in Louisiana.
Theophilus Freeman A New Orleans, Louisiana, white slave trader who worked in association
with James H. Burch. He took possession of Solomon Northup in New Orleans and there forcibly
assigned him the name “Platt.” He ran the slave auction that sold Platt to William Ford of Louisiana.
He was responsible also for separating Eliza Berry from her children.
William Ford The white man who bought Solomon Northup and Eliza Berry from Theophilus
Freeman. Described by Northup as a “noble, candid, Christian man,” he owned a large plantation
as well as a lumber mill. He was forced to sell Northup after facing financial setbacks.
Edwin Epps Solomon Northup’s final, and cruelest, master. A cotton planter, he owned Northup for
about ten years .Epps was heavy, tall, with high cheekbones and blue eyes. A frequent drunk, he
was given to fits of rage and violent mirth. He delighted in both whipping his slaves and in making
them dance all night in false exhibitions of happiness. Cunning, shrewd, and merciless, he was
known as a “nigger breaker.” His own slaves nicknamed him “Old Hogjaw.” He was guilty of
frequently raping and whipping the slave girl Patsey.
Mistress Epps Edwin Epps’ wife. Well-educated, attractive, and from a respected family, she was
generally kind to her husband’s slaves—except Patsey, whom she hated as a jealous rival.
Patsey A 23-year-old black slave of Edwin Epps, and the most tragic figure in 12 Years a Slave.
Naturally “a joyous creature, a laughing lighthearted girl,” frequent beatings and abuse made her
despondent and suicidal as the years went on. She was a victim of repeated rapings by Edwin
Epps and also of the jealous cruelty of Epps’ wife
Armsby A poor white man who worked alongside field slaves at Edwin Epps’ plantation for a short
time.
Mr. Bass A white carpenter working to build a house on the Epps’ plantation. Bass was a native of
Canada and an outspoken abolitionist.
Source: https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/t/twelve-years-a-slave/character-list
“Twelve Years a Slave” by Solomon Northup
Part 4
1. How is Solomon treated in the North and in the South? (Write down some keywords)
2. Explain the sentence: “ I don’t want to survive, I want to live”.
3. List six synonyms used for the word “slave” in the movie.
4. Have a look at the lyrics of the song below and sum up the content of the song in three
sentences.
5. Who teaches this song to the slaves? What is his intention?
The Skillet Lickers - Run, Nigger, Run
Oh run nigger run well the pattyroller will get
you
Run nigger run well you better get away
Run nigger run well the pattyroller will get you
Run nigger run well you better get away
Nigger run nigger flew
Nigger tore his shirt in two
Run run the patty roller will get you
Run nigger run well you better get away
Nigger run, run so fast
Stoved his head in a hornets nest
Run nigger run well the pattyroller will get you
Run nigger run well you better get away
Hey Mr. Patty roller don't catch me
Catch that nigger behind that tree
Run nigger run well the pattyroller will get you
Run nigger run well you better get away
Nigger run, run so fast
Stoved his head in a hornets nest
Run nigger run well the pattyroller will get you
Run nigger run well you better get away
Nigger run, run so fast
Nigger, he got away at last
Run nigger run well the pattyroller will get you
Run nigger run well you better get away
Nigger run through the field
Black slick coal and barley heel
Run nigger run the pattyroller will get you
Run nigger run well you better get away
Some folks say a nigger won't steal
I caught three in my corn field
One has a bushel
And one has a peck
One had a rope and it was hung around his
neck
Run nigger run well the pattyroller will get you
Run nigger run well you better get away
Run nigger run well the pattyroller will get you
Run nigger run well you better get away
Oh nigger run and nigger flew
Why in the devil can't a white man chew
Run nigger run well the pattyroller will get you
Run nigger run well you better get away
Source: http://www.thelyricarchive.com/song/119334-15182/Run,-Nigger,-Run
“Twelve Years a Slave” by Solomon Northup
Part 5
1. Describe the relationship between Master Epps, his wife and Patsey!
2. Will the white slave help Solomon? Give a guess and explain why.
3. Explain the opinion of Mr. Bass with regard to slavery.
Part 6
1. What do you think of the movie? Share your opinion with your classmates.
2. Write a film review. (500)