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Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Written
by Himself
Chapter 1
1. What kinds of knowledge about themselves does he believe are kept from slaves, and why
does he believe this is important?
2. What does Douglass regret in his memories of his parents? What qualities does he associate
with memories of his mother? Why wasn't he able to live with her?
3. What kinds of cruelty did Douglass witness as a boy? What may be the motivation of the cruel
beating of Aunt Hester?
Chapter 2
1. What were the economic circumstances of Colonel Lloyd? What conditions does he describe on the
plantations? How were the slaves housed and clothed? Under what conditions did they work?
2. What explanation does Douglass give for the singing of slaves? What features does he ascribe
to the songs he heard? How do you interpret the refrain he reproduces? ("I am going away to the
Great House Farm!/ O, yea! O, yea! O!")
3. What seems his attitude toward the desire of other slaves to travel to the Great House Farm?
Chapter 6
1. What effect on the character of his new mistress Mrs. Auld does Douglass ascribe to slavery?
What information does Mr. Auld unintentionally provide him?
2. How was Baltimore life different from that on the plantation?
Chapter 7
1. How does Mrs. Auld try to inhibit Douglass from learning to read and write? How does he
succeed in attaining his aim?
2. What books does he read, and how do these influence his beliefs about slavery? How does he
come to learn about the abolitionist movement?
3. What first suggests to his mind the possibility of escape?
Chapter 8
1. What happens to Douglass after the death of Captain Anthony? What treatment of his brother does he witness?
2. After his return to Baltimore and the death of Master Andrew Auld, what is done to Douglass'
grandmother?
3. Whom does Douglass regret to leave when Master Thomas orders him sent from Master
Hugh's residence? What kind of information does he seek before he leaves Baltimore, and for
what purpose?
Chapter 9
1. Under what conditions did Douglass live when with Thomas Auld and his wife at St.
Michael's? What behavior toward a lame woman slave does Douglass record?
2. In Douglass' view, what was the disappointing effect of Mr. Auld's conversion? What was
the fate of Mr. Wilson's Sabbath school for slaves? What effect may the behavior of professing
Methodists have had on his later opinions?
3. What motivated Mr. Auld to send Frederick to Mr. Covey's farm?
Chapter 10
1. How did Mr. Covey treat Douglass and his peers? What enabled Douglass to survive the incidents of the
oxen and the beatings?
2. What psychological effect did Covey's brutality have on Douglass? What thoughts or hopes encouraged
him in his despair?
3. Why do you think Douglass included the incident of Sandy's offer of the root? What seems to have been
Douglass's attitude toward this form of African folk practice?
4. How did Douglass regain his selfconfidence? How does he add interest to his description of his long fight
with Mr. Covey?
5. How does he analyze the fact that Mr. Covey failed to prosecute him for resistance? What lesson does he
seem to have gained from this experience?
6. How does Douglass interpret the motives and psychological effects of the owner's encouragement of
excess among the slaves during holidays? Do you think his analysis may be correct?
7. What improvements does Douglass find in his labors for Mr. Freeland?
8. What were the results of Douglass' efforts to teach his fellow slaves?
9. How did he and his friends resolve to emancipate themselves, and how does their effort fail?
10. Why do you think Mr. Auld sent the imprisoned Douglass back to Baltimore, rather than
punishing him more severely?
11. In Baltimore, how was Douglass treated in Mr. Gardner's shipyard, and how did he resist?
Why was his master unable to obtain legal redress on his behalf?
12. What trade did he learn, and how did this alter his status?
Chapter 11
1. What reasons does Douglass give for not describing more of his manner of escape? From his
other writings, how in fact was this escape affected?
2. What immediate considerations prompted Douglass to act? How did he plan to leave without
arousing suspicion?
3. What aspects of his escape does he especially remember?
4. What part does his intended wife play in these recollections?
5. How does he choose his new name? Why may he have found it fitting?
6. What aspects of New Bedford life surprised him? What difficulties followed him in the
exercise of his work?
7. What publication especially inspired Douglass? How did he commence his career as an orator
and writer?
Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Written
by Himself
Chapter 1
1. What kinds of knowledge about themselves does he believe are kept from slaves, and why
does he believe this is important?
2. What does Douglass regret in his memories of his parents? What qualities does he associate
with memories of his mother? Why wasn't he able to live with her?
3. What kinds of cruelty did Douglass witness as a boy? What may be the motivation of the cruel
beating of Aunt Hester?
Chapter 2
1. What were the economic circumstances of Colonel Lloyd? What conditions does he describe on the
plantations? How were the slaves housed and clothed? Under what conditions did they work?
2. What explanation does Douglass give for the singing of slaves? What features does he ascribe
to the songs he heard? How do you interpret the refrain he reproduces? ("I am going away to the
Great House Farm!/ O, yea! O, yea! O!")
3. What seems his attitude toward the desire of other slaves to travel to the Great House Farm?
Chapter 6
1. What effect on the character of his new mistress Mrs. Auld does Douglass ascribe to slavery?
What information does Mr. Auld unintentionally provide him?
2. How was Baltimore life different from that on the plantation?
Chapter 7
1. How does Mrs. Auld try to inhibit Douglass from learning to read and write? How does he
succeed in attaining his aim?
2. What books does he read, and how do these influence his beliefs about slavery? How does he
come to learn about the abolitionist movement?
3. What first suggests to his mind the possibility of escape?
Chapter 8
1. What happens to Douglass after the death of Captain Anthony? What treatment of his brother does he witness?
2. After his return to Baltimore and the death of Master Andrew Auld, what is done to Douglass'
grandmother?
3. Whom does Douglass regret to leave when Master Thomas orders him sent from Master
Hugh's residence? What kind of information does he seek before he leaves Baltimore, and for
what purpose?
Chapter 9
1. Under what conditions did Douglass live when with Thomas Auld and his wife at St.
Michael's? What behavior toward a lame woman slave does Douglass record?
2. In Douglass' view, what was the disappointing effect of Mr. Auld's conversion? What was
the fate of Mr. Wilson's Sabbath school for slaves? What effect may the behavior of professing
Methodists have had on his later opinions?
3. What motivated Mr. Auld to send Frederick to Mr. Covey's farm?
Chapter 10
1. How did Mr. Covey treat Douglass and his peers? What enabled Douglass to survive the incidents of the
oxen and the beatings?
2. What psychological effect did Covey's brutality have on Douglass? What thoughts or hopes encouraged
him in his despair?
3. Why do you think Douglass included the incident of Sandy's offer of the root? What seems to have been
Douglass's attitude toward this form of African folk practice?
4. How did Douglass regain his selfconfidence? How does he add interest to his description of his long fight
with Mr. Covey?
5. How does he analyze the fact that Mr. Covey failed to prosecute him for resistance? What lesson does he
seem to have gained from this experience?
6. How does Douglass interpret the motives and psychological effects of the owner's encouragement of
excess among the slaves during holidays? Do you think his analysis may be correct?
7. What improvements does Douglass find in his labors for Mr. Freeland?
8. What were the results of Douglass' efforts to teach his fellow slaves?
9. How did he and his friends resolve to emancipate themselves, and how does their effort fail?
10. Why do you think Mr. Auld sent the imprisoned Douglass back to Baltimore, rather than
punishing him more severely?
11. In Baltimore, how was Douglass treated in Mr. Gardner's shipyard, and how did he resist?
Why was his master unable to obtain legal redress on his behalf?
12. What trade did he learn, and how did this alter his status?
Chapter 11
1. What reasons does Douglass give for not describing more of his manner of escape? From his
other writings, how in fact was this escape affected?
2. What immediate considerations prompted Douglass to act? How did he plan to leave without
arousing suspicion?
3. What aspects of his escape does he especially remember?
4. What part does his intended wife play in these recollections?
5. How does he choose his new name? Why may he have found it fitting?
6. What aspects of New Bedford life surprised him? What difficulties followed him in the
exercise of his work?
7. What publication especially inspired Douglass? How did he commence his career as an orator
and writer?