Study Questions for Frederick Douglass PART 1 Name hr. Chapter 1 1. Douglass gives his age as between twenty-seven and twenty-eight years of age. Why is he not more specific? 2. Though he doesn t know for sure, Douglass believes that his father is. 3. When Douglass did see his mother, it was at night. Why at night? 4. Those slaves who are the children of the master are usually treated worse than other slaves. Why? 5. Douglass describes a terrible whipping given to his Aunt Hester by Captain Anthony. What was the reason for this whipping? What was Hester s chief offense? Chapter 2 6. The slaves Peter, Isaac, Rich, and Jake were esteemed very highly among the other slaves. These four men worked at what enviable job? 7. No beds were given to the slaves. But, according to Douglass, the lack of beds was less of a problem than 8. Douglass describes an overseer named Mr. Severe, whose career as overseer came to an end on account of an early death. Douglass says that Mr. Severe died as he lived. What does Douglass mean by this? 9. Douglass says that many slaves would try with all their effort to please their overseers so that they could be chosen to do errands at the Great House Farm. Because they were so eager to please their overseers, Douglass compares these slaves to. 10. Later after he had escaped to the North, Douglass would be utterly astonished to discover that many people mistakenly thought that was evidence of the slaves contentment and happiness. Chapter 3 11. Douglass writes that the slaves became as fearful of tar as of the lash. Why would they be fearful of having tar on them? 12. Old Barney and Young Barney would frequently be whipped for situations that were beyond their control. Old Barney and Young Barney were in charge of what? 13. Here is a conversation from the text: Well, boy, whom do you belong to? To Colonel Lloyd. Well, does the colonel treat you well? No, sir. What, does he work you too hard? And so on. In the preceding conversation, what is it that the slave does not know? 14. Douglass tells of slaves splitting into two groups and arguing and even fighting over what issue? Chapter 4 15. The new overseer s name is Austin Gore. Gore shot a slave named Demby. Why did Gore shoot Demby? 16. 38) Later, on being asked about the incident, Gore gives what explanation for having shot Demby? Permission granted to copy SarahMichael Resources
17. Another murder described by Douglass is the murder of Douglass s wife s cousin by a woman known as Mrs. Hicks. Why had Mrs. Hicks murdered the girl? 18. Another murder is described. A man named Beal Bondly shot an older slave. Why had Bondly shot this man? Chapter 5 19. Douglass tells of stealing a bag that was used to carry corn to the mill. Why does Douglass take this bag? 20. Mrs. Lucretia tells Douglass that he will be given a new pair of trousers to go Baltimore with, but first he must do what? 21. When Douglass first sees Mrs. Sophia Auld, he sees something he had never seen before. What? 22. What is Douglass s new job in Baltimore? 23. Douglass regards his move to Baltimore as the interposition of divine Providence. What makes him think this? PART 2 Chapter 6 1. Mr. Auld tells his wife that she is not allowed to do what? 2. What reason does Mr. Auld give for this? (refers to the previous question) 3. Douglass points out what difference between the city and the country? 4. Across the street from the Auld s house lived the Hamiltons. Why does Douglass mention Mrs. Hamilton? Chapter 7 5. Which of the people described by Douglass undergoes the greatest change? Describe the change this character undergoes. 6. When Douglass was in another room, the Aulds would be suspicious of him. Explain. 7. When Douglass would leave the Auld s house, he would take some bread with him. Why? 8. I am strongly tempted to give the names of two or three of those little boys, but prudence forbids. Why does Douglass choose not to name these boys? 9. What is The Columbian Orator? 10. Douglass tells of a dialogue between a master and a slave. When the two finish their dialogue, the master does what? 11. Douglass claims that he would at times feel that learning to read had been a curse rather than a blessing. Why would Douglass make this claim? 12. Douglass wants to know the meaning of a certain word, so he checks the dictionary; but the dictionary definition does little to help him. What word was Douglass trying to find the meaning of?
13. Two Irishmen take a liking to Douglass. Why would these two men be inclined to think favorably of Douglass? 14. Douglass makes up his mind that he will try to run away. What makes him decide this? 15. But Douglass decides he won t run away until 16. Why does Douglass mention the larboard, starboard, forward, and aft portions of a ship? 17. Thomas is the Auld s son. When Douglass learns to write, his handwriting is similar to the handwriting of Master Thomas. Why is this so? Chapter 8 18. Douglass is made to return to Colonel Lloyd s plantation, where he was born. Why? 19. The new slave owners build a little hut for to live in. 20. Douglass is taken back by Master Thomas. On leaving the home of Master Hugh and Mrs. Auld, Douglass claims that he felt no attachment to them, but he did feel an attachment to. 21. At first, because he is moving from the city back to the country, Douglass s hopes for running away are diminished. Then he notices, which renews his hopes. PART 3 Chapter 9 24. Now Douglass is living in the home of Master Thomas. The worst part of Thomas s treatment of his slaves is that. 25. Douglass calls Thomas Auld an imitator. What does he mean by this? 26. Thomas Auld undergoes a change. Describe this change. 27. This change in Thomas Auld has surprising results. Douglass thought that maybe, but instead. 28. Among the visitors to Thomas Auld s home are Mr. Storks, Mr. Ewery, Mr. Humphrey, Mr. Hickey, and Mr. Cookman. What do all these men have in common? 29. Why does Douglass include the Bible verse He that knoweth his master s will, and doeth it not, shall be beaten with many stripes? 30. Why was Thomas Auld especially cruel to a slave girl named Henny? 31. Why would Douglass intentionally let Thomas Auld s horse get away? (it would run away to his father-inlaw s 32. Edward Covey has the reputation as a person who is good at what? 33. Douglass figures that, if he gets transferred to Covey, at least one good thing will come of it. What?
Chapter 10 34. Douglass tells of his first whipping at the hands of Covey. Douglass had been sent to collect some wood, but the trip didn t go well. Why? 35. Covey earned the nickname the snake. Why? 36. Covey gets a married man named Samuel Harrison to live with him for one year. Why? 37. Douglass writes: You move merrily before the gentle gale, and I sadly before the bloody whip! You are freedom s swift-winged angels, that fly around the world; I am confined in bands of iron! In the previous passage, who is you? 38. Douglass tells the story of the when he decided he had had enough of Covey. It all started when Covey began beating Douglass because. 39. Douglass walks away from Covey s farm (he walks seven miles), but he returns the next day. Why? 40. An old slave named Sandy Jenkins takes Douglass into the forest to find a certain root. Why? 41. Covey calls to a slave name Bill to help him against Douglass. What is Bill s reason for not assisting Covey? 42. Finally, Douglass and Covey are done wrestling against each other. What is the result of Douglass s defiance? 43. Douglass realizes that Covey might have taken him to the constable. What, according to Douglass, is the probable reason that Covey did not do this? 44. Between Christmas and New Year s, the slaves are given a break. What do the masters most like to see the slaves doing during this time? PART 4 1. Douglass lives in a community of religionists, including Reverend Daniel Weeden and Reverend Rigby Hopkins. Why does Douglass mention that many religionists live in his community? 2. When his time with Covey is ended, Douglass s new master is William Freeland. On Sundays, Douglass begins to secretly. 3. While describing the preparations for their escape, Douglass writes: Sandy, one of our number, gave up the notion, but still encouraged us. What makes this sentence an important one? 4. As they attempt their escape from Maryland, Douglass and his friends have with them written protections saying that they have permission from William Hamilton to spend the holiday in Baltimore. How did they get these protections? 5. Douglass is taken from prison by Thomas Auld. Thomas decides that Douglass should not remain in St. Michaels, so he sends him back to Hugh Auld in Baltimore. Why does Thomas Auld believe that Douglass should not remain in St. Michaels? 6. After being sent back to Hugh Auld, Douglass is sent to William Gardner, where he is supposed to learn what trade?
7. Certain of the workers claim that they will no longer work, but strike instead. Describe the group of men who claimed they would no longer work, and give their reason for refusing to work any longer. 8. During the fight that followed, Douglass received a serious injury to what part of his body? 9. Hugh Auld takes Douglass to a lawyer (Esquire Watson). The lawyer decides that it would be best not to pursue the case. Why? 10. Douglass learns the trade of calking, and he earns $1.50 a day. What does he do with his money? Chapter 11 11. Douglass claims that the Underground Railroad has been made the Upperground Railroad. When Douglass writes this, what point is he trying to make. 12. Hugh Auld makes an arrangement with Douglass for Douglass to hire out his own labor. Such an arrangement was even more advantageous to Auld than the standard slave-master relationship. Why? 13. 106-107) What brings an end to the arrangement that allowed Douglass to hire out his own labor? 14. Two factors almost kept Douglass from attempting his escape. One was the fear of being caught once again. The other is. 15. Douglass arrives in New York, but he doesn t talk to anyone. Why? 16. He writes a letter to Anna Murray. Who is Anna Murray? 17. Mr. Johnson, a man Douglass meets in New Bedford, had been reading The Lady of the Lake. Why does Douglass mention this detail? 18. Before arriving in New Bedford, Douglass had a picture of what he thought things were like in the North. But when he arrived there he learned he was terribly mistaken. Explain. 19. A meeting was called among the colored people, under the stereotyped notice Business of importance! After the meeting begins, the leader of the meeting recommends that one of those in attendance be killed. What had that person done? 20. A young man came to me, and inquired if I did not wish to take The Liberator. What is The Liberator? Appendix 21. If we didn t know Douglass personally, reading his book might give us a mistaken impression of him. Douglass wrote the appendix to clear up any possible misunderstanding. What misunderstanding is Douglass trying to clear up in his appendix? 22. A parody is a work that ridicules something deserving of ridicule. The parody included by Douglass in his appendix ridicules what?