year 6 English African American Literature and Culture

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

African American Literature

Frederick Douglas

&

Sojourner Truth's

Why does Frederick call his story 'The Narrative of an American Slave, Written by Himself'

1. some people didn't believe a former slave could have written this story himself
2. Frederick wants to tell his readers that he belongs in America
3. Frederick wants his readers to know that this is a true story.
4. Frederick is ashamed of his African roots.

What is so shocking about the 'valuation'?

1. 'men and women, old and young, were ranked' with horses, sheep, and swine.
2. Frederick had lived a relatively easy life as a 'house servant' so far.
3. Frederick's little brother was kicked savagely by Master Andrew.

Why did Frederick Douglass feel the fragment of the 'evaluation' was an essential part of his story?

1. It shows his readers how cruel slavery is.
2. It foreshadows later events.
3. It tells his readers why he has no family left.

Why could Frederick's previous master not take him back?

1. He didn't need another farm hand.
2. He had rented Frederick out and he needed the money badly.
3. He did not really care about Frederick's well being (although he had always been a kind master).

Why could Frederick not keep up with the 'fanning mill' on the farm?

1. He doesn't know how to operate the contraption.
2. He is unwell after his trip from Baltimore.
3. He wasn't used to physical labour.

What is the role of the 'root' in the story?

1. It offers a bit of hope.
2. It provides a link to African mythology.
3. It pulls the attention away from the real story.

What is the role that Hughes and Bill play in all this?

1. They are only minor characters, but in a way they stand up to the master too.
2. Hughes and Bill are only minor characters.
3. Hughes and Bill are Frederick's only real friends.

What is abolitionism?

When Frederick talks about 'brutes', who does he mean?

We have talked about a famous abolitionist male, now our focus will shift to a female: Sojourner Truth.

first some facts about her life

She was born around 1800 as a slave on a New York estate to a Dutch family.

She learned to speak English only when she was sold at the age of 9 and was beaten often.

She was sold several times, forced to marry and ‘breed’ with other slaves and her children were taken away from her.

Her main argument was that not just men should be emancipated and give equal rights, but that the rights of women should be guaranteed too.

One day she finally had had enough and left; luckily for her she found people to look after her until state emancipation in 1827.

She never learned to read or write but became a travelling priest.

At the 1851 Women's Rights Convention held in Akron, Ohio, Sojourner Truth delivered what is now recognized as one of the most famous abolitionist and women's rights speeches in American history, “Ain't I a Woman?” 

She continued to speak out for the rights of African Americans and women during and after the Civil War.

At the 1851 Women's Rights Convention held in Akron, Ohio, Sojourner Truth delivered what is now recognized as one of the most famous abolitionist and women's rights speeches in American history, “Ain't I a Woman?” the Civil War.

Sojourner starts her speech by saying 'where there is so much racket, something must be out of kilter.' What does she mean?

Why does she talk about a man who says that 'women need to be helped into carriages, ... and to have the best
places everywhere' and then says 'Ain't I a woman?'

Why does she have everybody
'rolling on the floor laughing' when she pretends she cannot find the word 'intellect'?

Her main argument is that 'Christ was born from a woman.' Why is that relevant?

She also refers to the story of Adam and Eve in paradise. Remember that Eve offered Adam the apple. Some people today still blame women for that, but that is not her point. What is?