Douglass s bestknown work is his first autobiography, narrative of the life of frederick douglass, an american slave, written during his time in lynn, massachusetts and published in 1845. Though it contains challenging vocabulary, this nonfiction multicultur. At the beginning of the book, douglass is a slave in both body and mind. Covey is a poor white farmer with a reputation of being an effective slavebreaker. Technically, frederick douglasss book is an autobiography. Learn exactly what happened in this chapter, scene, or section of narrative of the life of frederick douglass and what it means. In his own words, frederick douglass relates his time as a mistreated, rebellious slave, his attempts at selfeducation, and his harrowing escape. Within 24 hours, douglass was able to make his way to the safe house of. See those gracious mansions in minds eye, and realize every stone was. Readers outside the united states should check their own countries. Editorial response to this title printed in the liberator, 12 december 1845.
The narrative of the life of frederick douglass by frederick. Regularly excerpted in introductory american literature and composition anthologies, douglasss classic firstperson account is ideal for exploring. After all, its the story of his life from the time of his birth to the time he wrote the book, in 1845. Born into a life of bondage, frederick douglass secretly taught himself to read and write. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass is an 1845 memoir and treatise on abolition written by famous orator and former slave frederick douglass during his time in lynn, massachusetts. By far the larger part of the slaves know as little of their ages as. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass prestwick. Frederick douglass was a leader in the abolitionist movement, an early champion of womens rights and author of narrative of the life of frederick douglass. The narrative life of frederick douglass characters 51 terms. Find the quotes you need to support your essay, or. Douglass discusses events of his childhood, adolescence, and adulthood to demonstrate the evolution of. The first was the narrative of the life of frederick douglass, an american slave published in 1845. My bondage and my freedom 1855 and the life and times of frederick douglass 1881.
The most enlightening book i have ever read about the horrific plight of slaves before the american civil. This dramatic autobiography of the early life of an american slave was first published in 1845, when its young author had just achieved his freedom. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. Douglass published two later versions of his autobiography. At the age of eight, he was sent to baltimore to work as a house servant. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass by frederick. Their essays outline the challenges posed by narrative of the life of frederick douglass and the fundamental literary and historical debates surrounding the narrators account. Partly to contradict such attacks, douglass began writing an account of his life, which he published in 1845 as the narrative of the life of frederick douglass. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass 9780385007054 by frederick douglass. In narrative of the life of frederick douglass, how does. Douglass had been speaking about his experiences since 1841, when he was first employed by william lloyd garrison as an abolitionist speaker for the american antislavery society abolitionist movement the abolitionist movement in the united states began to take shape in the late eighteenth century, when activists began. Approaches to teaching narrative of the life of frederick. Douglass narrative begins with the few facts he knows about his birth and parentage. In fact, many black writers during this period refused to publish their experiences for fear.
I have no accurate knowledge of my age, never having seen any authentic record containing it. Start studying narrative of the life of frederick douglass. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass summary. Later he was sent to the country to work in the fields. Get an answer for in narrative of the life of frederick douglass, how does frederick douglasss writing make his audience feel about slavery. In frederick douglasss narrative, how does he develop the concept of paradox. Prior to reading this book i was aware of the perils of slavery however this. Reviewed in the united kingdom on december 24, 2014. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass was published in 1845.
Review of narrative of the life of frederick douglass, from new york tribune, 10 june 1845. They also evaluate problems of cultural authority and historical record, provide examples of teaching the text alongside other slave narratives, and suggest ways to. I was born in tuckahoe, near hillsborough, and about twelve miles from easton, in talbot county, maryland. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass, an american slave frederick douglass 1845 chapter 1 i was born in tuckahoe, near hillsborough, and about twelve miles from easton, in talbot county, maryland. This work was followed by my bondage and my freedom in 1855. And if the book is like a highway map, then the mile markers are a series of epiphanies, or moments of. The life and times of frederick douglass was douglass third autobiography. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass traces douglass s life from its very beginning until the time he wrote the autobiography.
Read the narrative of the life of frederick douglass by author frederick douglass, free, online. Frederick douglass, born around1817, was the son of an africanamerican woman and a white slaveholder. Bicentennial edition with douglass family histories and images frederick douglass 4. Visually learn all about the characters, themes, and frederick douglass. Brilliant and brave, douglass once led a minor insurrection against his masters. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass, an american slave, by frederick douglass, 18181895. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass douglass, frederick on. The narrative of the life of frederick douglass, an american.
February 1818 february 20, 1895 was an american social reformer, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. Douglasss narrative is like a highway map, showing us the road from slavery to freedom. Sold by marvel books we ship worldwide and ships from amazon fulfillment. The narrative life of frederick douglass was more than an autobiography. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass analysis shmoop. Frederick douglasss slave narrative is readily accessible to high school students. To kill a mockingbird by harper lee harry potter and the sorcerers stone by j. It is generally held to be the most famous of a number of narratives written by former slaves during the same period. He eventually escaped slavery and published a book. Douglass s narrative is like a highway map, showing us the road from slavery to freedom. This garden was probably the greatest attraction of the place.
See a complete list of the characters in narrative of the life of frederick douglass and indepth analyses of frederick douglass, sophia auld, and edward covey. The book was critically acclaimed and sold well both in the united states and in europe. A summary of chapters iiiiv in frederick douglasss narrative of the life of frederick douglass. The narrative of the life of frederick douglass by. Perfect for acing essays, tests, and quizzes, as well as for writing lesson plans. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass that was is a memoir by frederick douglass that was first published in 1845. Why every high school student should read the narrative of the life of frederick douglass page 7 national council for the social studies annual conference 2012 excerpt from narrative of the life of frederick douglass chapter vi my new mistress proved to be all she appeared when i first met her at the door,a. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Frederick douglass was so impressive in his new career as a public speaker that rumors circulated that he was somehow a fraud and had never actually been a slave. The powers that enabled him to reach this position are abundantly clear in his narrative, which, incidentally, was an invaluable source for harriet beecher stowe while she was writing uncle toms cabin. The narrative of the life of frederick douglass, by frederick. Beginning with his birth on a maryland plantation in 1818, douglass s account records the tyranny and brutality of his life in slavery until his ultimate escape to new bedford, massachusetts, at the age of twenty. Think about douglasss private speech to the ships in chapter x. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass, an american slave, written by himself annotated.
Here and throughout the autobiography, douglass highlights the common practice of white slave owners raping slave women, both to satisfy their sexual hungers and to expand their slave populations. Douglass begins his narrative by explaining that he is like many other slaves who dont know when they were born and, sometimes, even who their parents are. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass characters. Frederick douglasss autobiography, narrative of the life of frederick douglass, an american slave, is widely regarded as a classic of american nineteenthcentury history, of africanamerican studies, and of literature. From the youngest age at which they could possibly do physical labor, slave. In it he was able to go into greater detail about his life as a slave and his escape from slavery, as he and his family were no longer in any danger from the reception of his work. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass summary shmoop. In the month of august, 1841, i attended an antislavery convention in nantucket, at which it was my happiness to become acquainted with frederick douglass, the writer of the following narrative. Frederick douglass born frederick augustus washington bailey. Soon after his birth in 1818, douglass was separated from his mother. At the time, some skeptics questioned whether a black man could have produced such an eloquent piece of literature.
Narrative of the life of frederick douglass, an american slave. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass amazonclassics edition kindle edition by douglass, frederick. What were the implications of douglasss understanding of sophia auld for his view of the proper role of women in american society. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass by frederick douglass former slave, impassioned abolitionist, brilliant writer, newspaper editor and eloquent orator whose speeches fired the abolitionist cause, douglass led an astounding life. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass context. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass ibiblio. Douglass is the books narrator, and its a book about him. Frederick douglass, 18181895 narrative of the life of. The original book is in the public domain in the united states and in most, if not all, other countries as well.
Published at the antislavery office, 1845 at right, the frontispiece illustration to the first edition. Apr 23, 2015 narrative of the life of frederick douglass douglass, frederick on. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading narrative of the life of frederick douglass amazonclassics edition. This selection describes an event that happened when douglass was sixteen years old. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass author. Sandy is kind to douglass when douglass runs away from coveys, but the narrative also implies that sandy may have informed william freeland about douglass s plans to escape. In 1845, just seven years after his escape from slavery, the. Douglasss narrative is immensely popular among students and teachers alike. Copy and paste one of these options to share this book elsewhere. Narrative of the life of frederick douglas, an american slave, written in 1845, is, perhaps, the most famous. Syntactical analysis continued responsibilities summary. To expand his audience and to document the authenticity of his story, douglass published his autobiography, narrative of the life of frederick douglass, an american slave, in 1845. After escaping from slavery in maryland, he became a national leader of the abolitionist movement in massachusetts and new york, gaining note for his oratory and incisive antislavery writings. After all, i shall read your book with trembling for you.
The highly superstitious sandy stands in the narrative as a representative of all uneducated, superstitious slaves. The paperback of the the narrative of the life of frederick douglass by. Achieving literacy emboldens him to commit further acts of disobedience that ultimately lead him to escape to freedom. Internet archive bookreader narrative of the life of frederick douglass, an american slave. His gripping narrative takes us into the fields, cabins, and manors of precivil war plantations in the south and reveals the daily terrors he suffered as a slave. Why every high school student should read the narrative of. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass by frederick douglass. This book also takes on the formal components of a slave narrative that levine points. If you are interested in learning about the life of a great man who rose above his birth as a slave and became one of the greatest literary figures in american history, the narrative of the life of frederick douglass is the book to read. A masterpiece of american literature, frederick douglass narrative is a powerful story of an enslaved youth coming to social and moral consciousness by disobeying his owners and secretly teaching himself to read.
When the book ends, he gets both his legal freedom and frees his mind. The others were my bondage and my freedom 1855 and life and times of frederick douglass 1881, revised 1892. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass amazonclassics. An analysis of the narrative of the life of frederick dougla.
It was a crime punishable by death, but it resulted in one of the most eloquent indictments of slavery ever recorded. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass literature essay samples. Narratives, like in the examples of douglasss narrative of the life of fredrick. Read chapter 1 of narrative of the life of frederick douglass, an american slave by frederick douglass. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass, an american. Letter from frederick douglass to william lloyd garrison april 16, 1846. It is certainly a very remarkable fact, that one of the most efficient advocates of the slave population, now before the public, is a fugitive slave, in the person of frederick douglass. Douglass eloquence gives a clear indication of the powerful principles that led him to become the first great africanamerican leader in the united states. Colonel lloyd kept a large and finely cultivated garden, which afforded almost constant employment for four men, besides the chief gardener, mr. Critical essay on narrative of the life of frederick. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass is a memoir and treatise on abolition written by famous orator and exslave, frederick douglass. From hearsay, he estimates that he was born around 1817 and that his father was probably his first white master, captain anthony. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets.
Narrative of the life of frederick douglass, an american slave, written by himself boston. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass, an american slave, by frederick douglass. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass audiobook by. One of the most frequently taught slave narratives, narrative of the life of frederick douglass is assigned in many courses, including american and african american literature, african american studies, womens studies, and even composition. Narrative of the life of frederick douglass, an american slave by. From the beginning of the book to the end, frederick douglass does. The narrative of the life of frederick douglass, by. By far the larger part of the slaves know as little of their ages as horses know of. Read chapter 3 of narrative of the life of frederick douglass, an american slave by frederick douglass. Why every high school student should read the narrative of the life of frederick douglass page 7 national council for the social studies annual conference 2012 excerpt from narrative of the life of frederick douglass chapter vi my new mistress proved to be all she appeared when i. In 1845, just seven years after his escape from slavery, the young douglass published this powerful account of his life as a.
97 572 1082 309 917 77 652 197 941 548 1517 1392 545 896 1336 1367 776 1297 1419 683 756 1126 1108 1468 814 1071 269 482 362 1445 1184 744 364 863 1149 159 1243