Harriet Tubman:
Conductor on the
Underground Railroad
Name_______________________________
Harriet Tubman was born on a Maryland plantation in
the south. The year was probably 1820, but no one
knows for sure. That’s because Harriet was born a
slave. A slave’s date of birth was not written down. No
one knew that Harriet would grow up to be a brave
woman.
“No one knew that someday she would lead hundreds of
people to freedom.” (Nichols, 2002)
What more would you like to know about Harriet Tubman?
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
What does the term “runaway slave” mean?
What was the “underground railroad”?
Chapter One:
The Quarter
Vocabulary
______integral
A. a group or large amount
______cultivated
B. to release from slavery
______passel
C. prepared and used for raising crops, tilled
______manumit
D. important, necessary, belonging to the whole
Questions
Describe the world Araminta “Harriet” Ross was born.
On page 5, what did the author mean with “Girls were not worth much….”?
Evaluate why a slave would not want to be sold South.
Chapter Two: The First Years
Vocabulary
A. to call up or produce (memories, feelings, etc.)
_____ vigor
B. to appease; satisfy; relieve
______insurrection
C. active strength or force
_____assuaged
D. an act or instance of rising in revolt, rebellion, or resistance
______evoked
Questions
On page15, Peter Poyas said, “Die silent.” What was the significance of this quote?
Why was Old Rit upset with the talk of freedom and Denmark Vesey?
Why is this sentence in the story a “golden line”?
“The slave had said, “But we are slaves.”
Denmark
Vesey has said, “You deserve to be.”
Chapter Three: Six Years Old
Vocabulary:
Use your context clues to define the words and then check in
dictionary.
prophesy (pg. 21)
idleness (pg. 26)
Questions:
Cite three examples to show the hardships of slave life on the Brodas plantation.
1.
2.
3.
How would a slave child know fear and uneasiness at such a
young age?
What can you infer from this ominous saying by the old woman? She warns Harriet that soon the
overseer will “be setting’ you a task.” (page 26)
Chapter Four: Hired Out
Vocabulary
inexplicable
quality of sound produced by voice
timbre
not easily controlled; stubborn
intractable
incapable of being accounted for or explained
Questions
In your opinion, do you think six year olds should be taken from their parents to work for another
family?
Contrast Harriet’s parents against the Cook’s opinion of her.
Chapter Five: Flight
Vocabulary
coffle
an adult female pig
sow
a soft, fluffy feather
plumes
a line of prisoners or slaves chained and driven along together
devised
to invent or plan
Questions
Explain what the old days on the plantation were like.
Judge Miss Susan’s punishment of Harriet. How do you think this will affect Harriet in later life?
What important skill did Harriet learn that helped her avoid punishment?
Chapter Six: The Underground Road
refractory
to suppress; put an end to; extinguish
emancipation
hard or impossible to manage;
quell
to free the slaves
Questions
Describe the uniqueness of Tice Davids escape.
How did the term “underground railroad” come to help slaves escape?
Compare and contrast Nate Turner and Denmark Vesey.
Chapter Seven: “Shuck this Corn”
Vocabulary
desultorily
preoccupied; distracted
languorous
without thought
brooding
lack of interest or energy
Questions
Why was a silent slave watched?
Evaluate Harriet’s action on helping the slave escape.
What advise would you have given the slave to ensure a safe getaway?
Predict what will happen to Harriet now that the master has died.
Chapter Eight:
Minta Becomes
Harriet
Vocabulary
reiterated
boldness or daring
audacity
to say or do again or repeat
sought
to seek or find
Questions
What did it mean to a slave “to hire their time”?
Cite three examples from the chapter that demonstrates Ben was teaching Harriet to be a runaway.
Three ways Ben was teaching Harriet to be a runaway was that he
Chapter Nine: The Patchwork Quilt
Vocabulary:
Use your context clues to define the words and then check in a dictionary.
dilapidated (pg 75)
derision (pg 77)
Questions
What can you infer about the fairness of slavery in regards to Old Rit’s promise of freedom?
Evaluate John Brown’s reaction:
“You take off and I’ll tell the Master. I’ll tell the Master right quick.” (pg. 79)
Chapter Ten: The Glory over Everything
Vocabulary
pinioning
a small printed advertisement or announcement distribution by hand.
concealment
the act of hiding
handbills
to restrain so that they cannot be used
fugitives
a person who is fleeing or running away
Questions
What character traits would you give Harriet’s brothers? Why?
Explain the Underground Railroad by citing three examples from the chapter.
Describe Harriet’s reaction on arriving in Pennsylvania.
Chapter Eleven: Stranger in a Strange Land
Vocabulary
censored
not clear or plain
exultation
to examine
obscured
success or victory
Questions
How did Harriet become a conductor on the
Underground Railroad?
Sequence the escape of Harriet’s sister and family.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Chapter 12: Freedom’s Choice
Vocabulary:
Use your context clues to define the words and then check a dictionary
imbued-
distained-
Question:
Identify what emotion Harriet when she saw her husband again. Use two examples from the story to
support your answer.
Chapter 13: The Legend of Moses
Vocabulary
abolitionists
knowledge of things before they exist or happen
prodigious
a person who supported the end of slavery in the U.S.
prescience
abnormal; monstrous.
Questions:
Describe the fugitive slave law AND how it affected the
Underground Railroads journeys.
Find a simile on page 118 used to describe Harriet and explain how it relates to her.
What name did the slaves now refer to Harriet as and why?
Chapter 14: The
Railroad Runs
to Canada
Imagine you are one of the slave on the way North with Harriet. Write a detailed account of your
journey. Use chapter 14 for five (5) examples to support your account.
Chapter 15: “Go on or die”
Serenity
hard to please
Eloquence
using formal or fancy language
Fastidious
calm or tranquil
Question:
Why did she use the threat “go on with us or die” (page 129)?
Describe the role William Still had in the Underground Railroad.
Explain Harriet’s life pattern for the next six years. Why do you think she lived
this way?
Chapter 16: Be Ready to Step on Board
propaganda
Questions:
Why did the postmaster read the mail?
What sacrifice did John Ross have to make in order to be free?
Chapter 17: Moses Arrives with Six Passengers
Lavish
state or quality of being watchful
Ramshackle
giving in great amounts
Integrity
having moral character and honesty
Vigilance
loosely made or held together
Questions:
What character trait could be used to describe Old Ben? Use your book to
give two (2) examples from the book to support your answer.
Explain how the following statement is both truthful and deceitful.
“I haven’t seen one of ‘em this Christmas.”
Why did a slave that had made it to the North never return to the South even
though it was a difficult new life?
Chapter 18: A Wagon Load of Bricks
Inauspiciously
Paralysis
Questions:
Based on the journey described in chapter 18, what can you conclude about
escaping on the Underground Railroad during the month of November. Use
at least two examples to support your answer.
Chapter 19: The Old Folks Go North
Paregoric
Question:
Why did Harriet not take her parent’s all the way to Canada?
Why did Harriet agree to help John Brown?
Chapter 20: The Lecture Platform
Summarize Harriet’s life in the winter of 1858-1859 the events and people.
Chapter 21: With the Union Army
What is the significance of the title of this chapter?
Chapter 22: The Last Years
Harriet was a well respected woman of her time. Prove this statement with two
examples from the chapter.
How did Harriet’s life change drastically after the Civil War?