English 11
Narrative Writing Assessment
Name _______________________
The following questions are based on the excerpt from Frederick Douglass’s autobiography
My Bondage and My Freedom, beginning on page 328 in your book. Answer all questions in
complete sentences.
Comprehension
1. How does Mrs. Auld treat Douglass when he first arrives? How does Mrs. Auld’s
“inexperience” with slavery help Douglass? (2)
2. How and why does Mrs. Auld’s behavior toward Douglass change? (2)
3. Who finally agrees to teach Douglass to read and why? What is their attitude toward
slavery? (2)
4. What does Douglass mean when he says of himself and Mrs. Auld “Nature had made us
friends; slavery made us enemies”? (2)
Narrative Writing
5. What is the overall purpose of most narrative writing? What is Douglass’s purpose in this
excerpt? (2)
6. What needs to become clear to the reader by the end of the narrative? (2)
Point of View
7. Is the point of view of the excerpt first person or third person? Explain how you know. (2)
(over⟶)
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Theme: To determine the theme of My Bondage and My Freedom, answer the following
questions.
8. What major conflicts are developed in the narrative? Explain two with evidence from the
excerpt. (3 points each)
a. Person vs. __________________
Explain:
b. Person vs. __________________
Explain:
9. Consider the main characters. How do the characters change/grow? What do they learn?
(3)
10. What are some big ideas/topics that are addressed in the excerpt? (These are expressed in
words/phrases). Name 2-3. (2)
11. What does the title My Bondage and My Freedom have to do with the selection? (2)
12. What is a theme of My Bondage and My Freedom? Explain how you know this by citing
evidence from your previous answers and/or the excerpt. Remember that a theme is
stated in a sentence. (50-75 word paragraph) (5)
13. How is the theme universal? In other words, how does it connect to your personal
experiences, observations, current events, and/or history? (3 sentences) (3)
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