The autobiography of frederick douglass questions

Reading and discussion questions for Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass,an American Slave, Written by Himself.

Winter 2011

1.The Preface includes texts by William Lloyd Garrison and Wendell Phillips.What is their purpose?

2.How would you identify the genres of these two Preface texts?What difference does genre make in texts that have a similar purpose?Which one is more effective, in your view?

3.How does the distinction between human and animal appear in each of the two Preface documents?

4.The first chapter concerns Douglass’ birth, childhood, and relations.How are women represented in this chapter?

5.What are the consequences of slave-holding men having sex with enslaved women who then bear their children?Why is this feature of slavery significant to Douglass and for the autobiography?

6.“A want of information concerning my own [date of birth] was a source of unhappiness to me even during childhood” (41).What impression of Douglass do you gain from this observati