He knew that figurative language would work. His Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, (Document G) makes emotional reading (lurid descriptions like "bitterest dregs of slavery" or "broken in body, mind, and soul" elicited reactions of disgust and dejection, which is the what abolitionists were hoping for) and showed that ultimately a slave, long thought to be a possession and less than human, was very much a person with reason and intellect. His love for his people was not merely rooted in principles of justice but in actual love of one's own (family, self, friends, community). . Douglass wanted to convey the message that there are many changes that need to be made. I was quite a child, but I well remember it. Douglass is a African American that was a slave and did a Narrative about his time being a slave and in his Narrative he threw light at the American slave system. Slave religion was a fusion of traditional African beliefs and Christianity, oftentimes with a focus on the latter's stories of the Children of Israel and their flight from Egypt. (75). At Covey's farm he had neither; here he experienced his nadir - his lowest, basest, most dehumanizing experience within a lifetime of slavery. Mr. owners distort social bonds and the natural processes of life in Douglas describes the first time he witnessed a beating this way: It was a blood-stained gate, the entrance to the hell of slavery . Douglass' Narrative Douglass' Narrative [ At right, the frontispiece illustration to the first edition. You move merrily before the gentle gale, and I sadly before the bloody whip! I noticed quickly how he seems so distant (giving the passage a reflective feel), but at the same time, inspiring fierce emotion in the reader. But I should be false to the earliest sentiments of my soul, if I suppressed the opinion. xOo@H|9lvJQ&$Qj%nUbpcCw KVH5\#p3@)$p8,xFje.WE0*p wo(i= When Douglass writes that he is "fast in (his) chains" and "confined in bands of iron," he means this both literally and figuratively. Thanks for creating a SparkNotes account! Slavery doesn't literally have a hand, but personifying it. He sees his own aunt being beaten mercilessly and wonders if he will be next. RL.8.1 Cite the textual evidence that most strongly supports an analysis of what the text says explicitly as well as inferences drawn from the text. Given the multiple uses of repetition, antithesis, indirect tone shifts, and various other rhetorical techniques, we can see Douglass relaying to his audience the hardships of slavery through ethos, the disheartening times that slavery brings, and his breakthrough of determination to obtain freedom. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass 115,375 ratings, 4.09 average rating, 6,054 reviews Open Preview Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Quotes Showing 1-30 of 135 "I therefore hate the corrupt, slaveholding, women-whipping, cradle-plundering, partial and hypocritical Christianity of the land. He observed the slave's brutal conditions working under Aaron Anthony. We can evidently see that Douglass does not want to describe only his life, but he uses his personal experiences and life story as a tool to rise against slavery. Read the Study Guide for Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Embracing the In-between: The Double Mental Life of Frederick Douglass, An Analysis of the Different Forms of Freedom and Bondage Presented in the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Humanization of a Murdered Girl in Douglass's Narrative, The Political Station in Douglasss Narrative of the Life and Emersons Self-Reliance, Bound by Knowledge: Writing, Knowledge, and Freedom in Ishmael Reed's Flight to Canada and Frederick Douglass's The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, View our essays for Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Introduction to Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Bibliography, View the lesson plan for Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Read the E-Text for Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, View Wikipedia Entries for Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Douglass's autobiography is both a personal coming-of-age tale as well as an indictment of the horrors of slavery. There is great irony in this passage containing the apostrophe: the inanimate boats have a freedom that a living, breathing man does not. Rather than blatantly stating his feelings, Douglass uses several kinds of figurative language to convey his emotions to the reader. Obviously this event has been embellished and inflated for the readers of his book; he would not have stood at the prow of the ship and uttered such words. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass tells the remarkable story of Frederick Douglass as he witnesses the dehumanizing effects of slavery on both slaves and their masters and works to be acknowledged as a human being. Element: used ordinary language, events, and settings (all described in great detail) "My cart was upset and shattered, my oxen were entangled among the young trees, and there was . Douglasss purpose in the narrative was to show how slaves lived, what they experienced, and how they were unquestionably less comfortable in captivity than they would have been in a liberated world. Douglass invalidated common justification for slavery like religion, economic argument and color with his life story through his experiences torture, separation, and illiteracy, and he urged for the end of slavery. He would at times seem to take great pleasure in whipping a slave. How is Douglass able to maintain his religious faith when the faith of his owners is used to justify their treatment of him? Douglass does use a range of figurative language devices throughout his writing. Frederick Douglass Figurative Language Essay 902 Words | 4 Pages. Latest answer posted January 21, 2020 at 12:50:23 AM. It was a new and strange sight to me, brightening up my pathway with the light of happiness (Ch. He had little to go off regarding his age and lineage. This gives the impression that Douglass has the strength of a whole world to draw upon in his fight against slavery, and the metaphor of a different world within him points to how much strength he had, and needed. Accessed 4 Mar. Osborne, Kristen. Contact us "I may be deemed superstitious, and even egotistical, in regarding this event as a special interposition of divine Providence in my favor. "If any one thing in my experience, more than another, served to deepen my conviction of the infernal character of slavery, and to fill me with unutterable loathing of slaveholders, it was their base ingratitude to my poor old grandmother.". Subscribe now. In factual detail, the text describes the events of his life and is considered . Douglass upsets this point of view by depicting It was a most terrible spectacle. If this lesson plan is used in a history/social studies course, some modifications will be necessary including: the replacement of the ELA CCSS listed above with the English Language Arts Standards in History/Social Studies that are targeted in this lessonalong withadditional history/social studies content to meet grade-specific content standards. The third paragraph is distinguished immensely from the others by the elements and details in it. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass is an 1845 memoir and treatise on abolition written by African-American orator and former slave Frederick Douglass during his time in Lynn, Massachusetts. Free trial is available to new customers only. He uses his personal life story to argue against common myths that were used to justify the act of slavery. In the story, Douglass brings us back in time to show his experiences of the hypocrisy of human nature. In the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Douglass depicts certain instances where he exploits the American perspective of slavery rather than challenging it. The word rapture eloquently expresses his feelings of joy and peace as he meets Mrs. Auld. Douglass's aunt was not the only slave who was beaten, and Douglass was not the only child who grew up without a mother. In fact, [He was] allowed less than a half of a bushel of corn-meal per week, and very little elseIt was not enough for [him] to subsist uponA great many times [he had] been nearly perishing with hunger (pg 31). like soothing and tender to re-create imaginatively the childhood he Douglass, in Chapter ten, pages thirty-seven through thirty-nine, of the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, utilizes various rhetorical techniques and tone shifts to convey his desperation to find hope in this time of misery and suffering. affect him. Start for free now! O that I were free!". He finds that both types of people are deceitful and are enslaved to false ideals. Through rhetoric Douglass is able to take the assumptions regarding religion held by his white readers and turn them upon their heads. He goes one step further and uses the metaphor to convey that he walked through the gates of hell itself when he first witnessed a beating. The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, written by Frederick Douglass himself, is a brutally honest portrayal of slavery's dehumanizing capabilities. "Does Frederick Douglass use figurative language in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave?" would have known if his mother had been present. 20% While the white man can arrive to New York having access to money or shelter, the slave. My natural elasticity was crushed, my intellect languished, the disposition to read departed, the cheerful spark that lingered about my eye died; the dark night of slavery closed in upon me; and behold a man transformed into a brute!" The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, written by Frederick Douglass himself, is a brutally honest portrayal of slaverys dehumanizing capabilities. He was an escaped slave who used that in his speeches as a topic to gain the attention of his audience. "You are loosed from your moorings, and are free; I am fast in my chains, and am a slave! The injustice imposed upon the African-American slaves by their owners was the crux of Douglasss motivation to escape this inhumane life. Douglass appeals to the mournful emotions of the audience by expressing how the overseers gave no mercy or cared about the effect of whippings to the slaves. Copyright 1999 - 2023 GradeSaver LLC. endstream (Narrative 16) Mr. Auld "forbade" Mrs. Auld from teaching Douglass to read and write and made her "tender heart [become] stone". From hearsay, he estimates that he was born around 1817 and that his father was probably his first white master, Captain Anthony. Douglass uses this comparison as a rhetorical strategy to criticize the institution of slavery. Douglass criticizes the southern, romantic image of slavery by exposing the harsh treatment and sadness that slaves endured. for a customized plan. demonstrating how a slave is made, beginning at birth. Douglass shows in Chapter I, which describes his introduction into Frederick Douglass recounts not only his personal life experiences but also the experiences of his fellow slaves during the period. He firmly believed that he was no longer truly a slave after this episode. He felt an abiding nationalism or pride in his people, often referring to them as his "fellow countrymen," alluding to their placement outside of the country that had enslaved them. With our Essay Lab, you can create a customized outline within seconds to get started on your essay right away. In The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Douglass narrates in detail the oppressions he went through as a slave before winning his freedom. What Lloyd did not realize was that slaves were not animals but men, with thoughts and emotions of their own. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave: Written by Himself essays are academic essays for citation. Local banker William C . Throughout this autobiography, Frederick Douglass uses language to portray the similarities and differences between the two sides. Douglass also uses a metaphor when he describes a "living world of faith and spirit of hope (that) departed not" from him. Douglass is oft-cited as one of the most accomplished orators in American history, and this passage reveals how it all began. Douglass firmly believed that slavery was not only bad for slaves, but it was bad for slaveholders as well. The lesson plan as written does not include aligned rubrics or assessment guidelines to provide sufficient guidance for interpreting student performance. That cheerful eye, under the influence of slavery, soon became red with rage; that. Latest answer posted August 20, 2009 at 11:51:14 PM. and Douglass explains how this destroys the childs support network Understanding the value of education, he continued to teach himself. As a slave, he would have been often in chains and bands of the literal, physical kind. Copyright 2023 IPL.org All rights reserved. He finds a way to reflect on the events taking place without getting too emotional, which somehow makes a greater effect on the readers and reveals his strong feelings on the subject without overwhelming the writer. McKeever, Christine ed. He compares the mournful singing of a slaves to the way a castaway on a deserted island might sing to content himself in the following excerpt: The singing of a man cast away upon a desolate island might be as appropriately considered as evidence of contentment and happiness, as the singing of a slave; the songs of the one and of the other are prompted by the same emotion. In the narrative, Douglass gives a picture about the humiliation, brutality, and pain that slaves go through. In this passage Covey is figured as larger-than-life, as representative of slavery as a system. Latest answer posted May 22, 2009 at 6:43:32 AM. Although what he relates about her fate could very well have happened to many an elderly slave, Douglass's rage at what happened to his own maternal grandmother is very personal. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, About Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass Summary. Discuss The Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass Figurative Language, In Frederick Douglasss autobiography, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, he puts us in his shoes, recalling his encounter being born into slavery, and all the struggles that came with the ordeal. I have frequently found myself in tears while hearing themTo those songs I trace my first glimmering conception of the dehumanizing character of slavery. Those with no sense of the injustice of slavery see Mr. Gore as a good overseer because he was artful, cruel, and obdurate (32). Douglass is aggressive, but it is a controlled aggression. Since he started from slavery, Douglass had adopted the motto "Trust no man!". Slaveholders often hid behind interpretations of the Bible which suited and, they believed, condoned their behavior. In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass: An American Slave Douglass recounts his experiences and tribulations as a slave. This story represents confinement, slavery and the lack of power African people had in such a racist society back in those days. This amount of power and control in contact with one man breaks the kindest heart and the purest thoughts turning the person evil and corrupt. People long for freedom and cry out for it in their souls; the songs he can still hear tell of this desperation. Frederick Douglass was a great writer, but he wasnt always. They were victims of psychological and physical brutal treatment. 3 0 obj Wed love to have you back! Midway. He did not use his intellect, his body was not his own, he was devoid of happiness and hope, and he lost sight of his personality and individuality. His figurative language is intended to catch the eye and an emotional response of the reader. Douglass use of parallelism displayed how slavery was. You are freedom's swift-winged angels, that fly round the world; I am confined in bands of iron! It shows that slaves are not allowed to know/or told any personal information about themselves. In this highly sentimental passage, Douglass offers a literary performance for his readers. Get Annual Plans at a discount when you buy 2 or more! As he grew older, however, he lamented how learning only made him more miserable, especially during periods where he had some sense of freedom and leisure. eNotes Editorial, 28 June 2019, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/frederick-douglass-use-figurative-language-525687. Employing his experience as a slave, Douglass accurately expressed the terrors that he and the other slaves endured. And in this essay I will talk about how Douglasss position differs from those who supported slavery and also I will be talking about How Douglass used his Narrative to share his position. Because they were his prized possession, Lloyd would beat the slaves in charge of taking care of them if the horses misbehaved in any manner. . Douglass devotes large parts of his Narrative to demonstrating how a slave is "made," beginning at birth. In the apostrophe, Douglass praises the metaphorical sense of freedom that the ships apparently have, and he talks about how they sail in and out of the area without boundaries. endobj xsg4hF>@B l11`qxml1Y'TL6M6qcq0e\??%UT%3JMow=|-bMJJJN$;_> 5:! fsZfw8>o8; RV)/(LO8nNPAyk::f[G^?JK! NJ,zi;=CYKJN# V+Q#ZJ4z7D"E\9\? InNgSP\uHOpJ1 w I_op A:{&S}~A! Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave: Written by Himself study guide contains a biography of Frederick Douglass, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. This example of the base meanness of slaveholders serves as one of the most melancholy moments in Douglass's Narrative. Douglass uses flashbacks that illustrate the emotions that declare the negative effects of slavery. In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, slaves are inhumanly represented by their owners and Frederick Douglass shines a positive light. toward his mother. creating and saving your own notes as you read. He explains the means by which slave Douglass himself registered to vote less than a year after arriving in New Bedford, and the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church became his platform for articulating his beliefs about slavery and freedom. While slavery was a well-known and growing problem in the south, it wasnt as widely recognized in the north. 2 0 obj separation ensured that Douglass did not develop familial feelings on 2-49 accounts, Save 30% They fell prey to the vices of humanity and exercised them without restraint: they were violent, blaspheming, capricious, greedy, cruel, intolerant, ignorant, exacting, merciless, and unkind. In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, Frederick Douglass uses contrast, parallelism, imagery, allusions, and details to enhance the wickedness of slavery. Douglass directs towards white men, let him place himself in my situation, he elaborates through parallelism by trying to make his audience imagine being without home or friends-without money or credit and wanting shelter, and no one to give it-wanting bread and no money to buy it. In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, Douglass uses much figurative language as part of his rhetorical strategy to deliver his message to the reader. 4 0 obj Adolescents in todays society could use Fredericks determination as an example of moving forward to better oneself or ones situation regardless of, For example, in chapter three,3 Douglass uses irony to describe the excessive attention his master, Colonel Lloyd, pays to his horses. Douglass was born into slavery because of his mothers status as a slave. By clearly connecting with his audiences emotions, Douglass uses numerous rhetorical devices, including anecdotes and irony, to argue the depravity of slavery. Narrative Of The Life Of Frederick Douglass Essay The different events in his life like leaving the plantation, learning the truth about literacy, crimes he witnessed, the law that turned a blind eye to the cruelty he was victim to and his duty as a former slave to educate the people who were oblivious to the life slave were forced to live. In the passage about his escape and arrival in New York, Douglass emotions regress from feelings of joy to feelings of emptiness. of family structure would have saddened readers and appeared to Some of the CCSS standards listed in the instructional plan are only marginally addressed, if at all. "From my earliest recollection, I date the entertainment of a deep conviction that slavery would not always be able to hold me within its foul embrace; and in the darkest hours of my career in slavery, this living word of faith and spirit of hope departed not from me, but remained like ministering angels to cheer me through the gloom." 5 10). In particular, when Douglass learned to read he began reading documents that contained argument against slavery and in doing so, he became conscious of the true horror of slavery. Hope and fear, two contradictory emotions that influence us all, convicted Frederick Douglass to choose life over death, light over darkness, and freedom over sin. Using a simile, he likens slaves trying to curry favor with their overseers to politicians trying to win election. In another striking example, Douglass compares his faith that he will one day be freed from slavery to that of angels ministering directly to him. The loneliness overcame him due to the fact that he had no friends or family there. American literature of the nineteenth century reveals that human nature embodies contrasting traits such as love and cruelty through the uses of literary devices. This quote was created to show the effect that slavery had on not only the slave, but the slaveholder. GradeSaver, 5 September 2012 Web. It recalled the departed self-confidence, and inspired me again with a Identify evidence from the excerpt that reveals why learning to read was so important to Frederick Douglass when he was a boy. Your subscription will continue automatically once the free trial period is over. You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made a man.". "The work of instructing my dear fellow-slaves was the sweetest engagement with which I was ever blessed.". Douglass also employs animalistic imagery when he refers to himself, transformed by slavery, as "a brute." In the autobiography, Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas, an American Slave, Douglas reinforces the universal human condition of freedom through syntax, figurative language, and selection of detail. Douglas wants the reader to wince at this imagery. He implemented a didactic tone to portray the viciousness of slave-owners and the severe living conditions for the slaves. Too young to work in the plantation, he run errands and kept the yard clean. 2023. Who are the experts?Our certified Educators are real professors, teachers, and scholars who use their academic expertise to tackle your toughest questions. The Clifton Waller Barrett Collection ] CONTENTS Preface by William Lloyd Garrison Letter from Wendell Phillips Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7 Chapter 8 Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Chapter 11 To order a copy for 7.64, go to bookshop.theguardian.com or call . In his book, Douglass proves that slavery is a destructive force not only to the slaves, but also for the slaveholders. TO CANCEL YOUR SUBSCRIPTION AND AVOID BEING CHARGED, YOU MUST CANCEL BEFORE THE END OF THE FREE TRIAL PERIOD. Douglass's physical fight with Mr.Covey is a turning point in his journey into freedom, and it is here that we see a manifestation of his new self assurance. One who is a slaveholder at heart never recognizes a human being in a slave (Angelina Grimke). It makes clear to the reader that Douglass's life did not end when he got married and moved to New Bedford after his escape attempt; rather, he began to tell his story and enter the public sphere in an unprecedented way for a black man (especially a slave). Frederick Douglass went from being a slave into being a free man throughout the Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, and he used . Figuratively speaking, Douglass likens his own dreams to the ships, and he is able to say that he wishes for his own freedom--he wants to be like the boats and have the ability to move about to follow his own desires. Full Title: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave When Written: 1845 Where Written: Massachusetts When Published: 1845 Literary Period: Abolitionist Genre: Autobiography Setting: Maryland and the American Northeast Climax: [Not exactly applicable] Douglass's escape from slavery For example, the ex-slave was practically starved to death by his masters on multiple occasions. Prior to the eradication of slavery writers like Frederick Douglass sought to free millions of slaves in America. Through Douglasss use of figurative language, diction and repetition he emphasizes the cruelty he experiences thus allowing readers to under-stand his feelings of happiness, fear and isolation upon escaping slavery. Frederick Douglass makes a point to demonstrate the deterioration slavery yields from moral, benevolent people into ruthless, cold-hearted people. Poison of the irresponsible power that masters have upon their slaves that are dehumanizing and shameless, have changed the masters themselves and their morality(Douglass 39). Below left, the cover. Summary and Analysis. Douglass's Narrative was written when he was fairly young, and he added two more autobiographies to his personal pantheon. Slaveholders first remove a child from his immediate family, In the narrative Douglass effectively uses rhetorical imagery, antithesis, and irony in order to expose the harsh reality of slavery during the 19th century. He starts out describing his new slave owner, Sophia Auld as a white face beaming with the most kindly emotions; it was the face of my new mistress, Sophia Auld.