A Narrative in the life of Frederick Douglass - Book Report/Review Example

Chapter I-V 1. Explain the relationship of slaveholder to overseer to slave. The overseer informs what he has been witnessing across the plantation and afterwards the slave holder has the option of letting the overseer locate them and rip off their head. 2. Explain life on the plantation for slaveholder, overseer and slave The life on the plantation was miserable and awful. The slaveholders were the boss, not only for the property they were having, but also the slaves working on their crops. They had a monetary interest in the fields.

They put money in their enterprises and were responsible to pay all expenditures. On the other hand, the overseers were like the foremen. They perform all the operations; and provide coverage of the plantation to the owner. However normally did not have an interest and they were paid workers. Slaves were treated as a property and legally had no rights. Even though they were the main laborers, their condition was like the farm animals. 6. What was Fredrick's life like on the plantation? Why was he so eager to go to Baltimore?

Frederick Douglass remembers the moment when he found that he was being transmitted to Baltimore to experience ecstasy. In other words, this was happening because he did not accept life on the plantation of Colonel Lloyd, where he recalled being tormented as an animal, suffering from hunger and cold. Douglass recalls consuming like a pig, beside other slave kids, and even though he is not routinely beaten, he was excited to leave the plantation. Douglass was not aware of the benefits of living in a town like Baltimore, through the opportunities for more liberties than presented on the plantation; he was still keen to leave (Lampe 45) Chapter VI-X 7.

Explain the irony of what Mr. Auld taught Frederick when he was forbid Mrs. Auld to teach him to read. A situational irony occurs when an exact contradictory happens of what was expected before an event take place. When Mr. Auld disallowed Douglass to read, he anticipated that this restriction would restrain his behavior. However, by prohibiting this attitude, Douglass literally began to realize the power and importance of a written phrase. Thus, even though Mr. Auld anticipated suppressing Douglass’s steer to read, he in fact stimulated it further (Frederick Douglass Honor Society). 8. Examine the concept of reading as equivalent to freedom Freedom enables a person to realize and explore the realities of the world and empowers a person to utilize his abilities and talents optimally while heading a life full of dignity and self recognition.

The power and the sense of freedom are implanted within a person through reading. Since, reading provides an opportunity to learn novel concepts and offer enlightenment towards the actual purpose of existence. This in turn, boosts freedom and strengthens a person to think and react in such a way that signifies his sense of freedom and self esteem (Matlack 16). 9. Discuss the concept of learning as a curse rather than a blessing. Frederick makes this comment in chapter 7. Is it possible that he is correct?

Education is a persistent theme presented throughout the Frederick Douglass narration. According to Mr. Auld, the slaves were intentionally deprived of all the aspects related to self-identity like,