Name
Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass—An American Slave
Chapter I:
1. What state was Douglass born?
2. Why doesn’t Douglass know how old he is?
3. Name his mother and who was rumored to be his father?
4. Why do the slaves, who are also the children of the master, suffer more than other slaves?
5. Who was Captain Anthony and what kind of man was he?
6. Give 3 examples of dehumanization in this chapter:
1.
2.
3.
Chapter II:
1. What were the main products raised on the plantation?
2. If a slave was convicted of a high misdemeanor, what was his/her punishment?
3. Before Mr. Hopkins who was the overseer and why is his name ironic?
4. How did Douglass feel about the songs and spirituals sung by the slaves? Why didn’t he understand them?
5. When did the slaves sing the most? What do these songs represent?
Chapter III:
1. What was the greatest attractions at the home plantation?
2. How were slaves kept out of the garden?
3. Explain what the following expression means as it relates to why slaves didn’t tell the truth: “A still tongue
makes a wise head.”
Chapter IV:
1. Describe Mr. Gore.
2. Explain the story between Mr. Gore and Demby.
3. Douglass says “ …killing a slave, or any colored person, in Talbot County, Maryland, is not treated as a crime,
either by the courts or the community (30). Name the examples he gives in this chapter to support this
statement.
Chapter V:
1. Why did Douglass have so much leisure time?
2. What were some of the hardships he faced, especially in the winter (describe several)?
3. Why doesn’t Douglass feel sad about leaving Col. Lloyd’s plantation?
4. How does he view his moving to Baltimore?
Chapter VI:
1. To what does Douglass attribute the kindness of Mrs. Auld?
2. Why does Mrs. Auld change? Explain the psychological forces that cause this.
3. What does Douglass mean when he says ‘From that moment, I understood the pathway from slavery to
freedom’ (42)?
4. Compare/contrast city slaves to plantation slaves.
5. Why does he include the story of Mr. Hamilton and his two women slaves?
Chapter VII:
1. How does Douglass learn how to read (tell who helped and what methods he used)?
2. Why is it ironic that little white boys help Douglass?
3. What did Douglass learn from The Columbian Orator?
4. What is an abolitionist? How does Douglass learn the meaning?
5. Describe how Douglass learns to write?
Chapter VIII:
1. Why does Douglass have to return to his birthplace—and what is his state of mind as he does so?
2. Describe the auction. How are the slaves classified, what are they compared to, what happens to them,
etc.?
3. Explain what happens to his grandmother and why this affects him so much.
4. What resolution does Douglass make at the end of this chapter?
Chapter IX:
1. What type of slave owner is Thomas Auld?
2. What line of scripture does Auld quote to justify his whippings?
3. Why does Douglass sometimes let the horses run away? What does this show?
Chapter X:
1. Describe Mr. Covey’s methods of slave breaking and his behavior.
2. Why does Covey hire Mr. Harrison, a married man? How is this ‘investment’ successful?
3. What did the first six months of Douglass’ stay with Covey do to him?
Physically:
Emotionally:
4. How does Douglass win the fight with Covey?
5. What does Sandy Jenkins give him and does it ‘work’?
6. Why is Douglass battle with Covey the ‘turning point in my career as a slave’ (93)?
7. How are the holidays used to ‘disgust the slaves with freedom’ (97)?
8. Why does Douglass start to teach other slaves how to read?
9. What is the escape plan? How is it not a success? How do the ‘protection papers’ nearly cause their deaths?
10. After returning to Baltimore Douglass fights back again—what is the outcome?
Chapter XI:
1. For what two reasons does Frederick tell us he cannot relate the means of his escape?
2. Why does he not approve of the Underground Railroad?
3. What arrangements does Douglass make with Master Hugh? Why are these arrangements to Douglass’
advantage?
4. Once Douglass makes it to New York, who helps him and why?
5. Who does Douglass marry?
6. Why does Douglass change his name so many times and how does he finally decide on Frederick Douglass?
7. What had Douglass believed about the North and how was he so wrong in his opinion?
8. What conditions did Douglass find colored people in New Bedford?
9. How does Douglass become known to the ‘anti-slavery world’?
Appendix:
1. Why does Douglass include an Appendix?
2. What does he mean by ‘slaveholding religion’?
3. What is the purpose of ‘A Parody’?