question

1. Why is Frederick not sure when he was born?

answer

He wasn't allowed to be told & he wasn't allowed to ask questions (1)

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2. What is Frederick's last name at his birth?

answer

Bailey

question

3. Why would slaveholders want to keep a slave ignorant of such a simple things as the date of his birth?

answer

They'd want to know more and more

question

4. Who were Frederick's mother and father?

answer

Mother—Harriet Bailey→black Father—white master

question

5. Why does Frederick make the point that a slaveholder who has fathered a child is likely to be tougher on that child?

answer

To show respect to his wife (that he doesn't love the child more than their own) & so not to seem a "weak" master

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6. Why does Frederick only rarely see his mother?

answer

They were separated when he was little and she works far away (1-2)

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7. Is Frederick's relationship with his mother typical of other slave children?

answer

Yes

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8. What is the role of the overseer on the plantation?

answer

Make sure slaves did their work

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9. What is the relationship of the slaveholder to the overseer to the slave on the plantation?

answer

Slaveholder—owner of farms, owner of slaves Overseer—watches over farm & slaves Slaves—work on farms (3)

question

10. What do we learn about Plummer, the overseer?

answer

He was a drunkard, swears a lot, savage monster, beat slaves & got pleasure from it—would beat FD's Aunt (3)

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11. Why does Frederick tell the story of Lloyd's Ned?

answer

b/c it was w/ Ned's interaction that led to FD's Aunt Hester brutal beating; wants to show result of disobeying master and the types of consequences people lived with

question

1. Who were the family members of Frederick's master, colonel Edward Lloyd?

answer

Sons: Andrew & Richard Daughter: Lucretia—her husband—Captain Thomas Auld (5)

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2. What is the relationship of Colonel Lloyd to Frederick's master?

answer

FD's master was Colonel Lloyd's clerk & superintendent—overseer of the overseers (5)

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3. Was there a pecking order among the slaves? Be able to explain.

answer

Yes (5)

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4. Why was Severe an appropriate name for the overseer?

answer

Cruel man; took pleasure in beating others (physically); cursed at others all the time (7)

question

5. Why does Frederick suggest that slaves sing out of sorrow rather than out of joy?

answer

Songs of slaves represent the sorrows of his heart & people are relieved by them (9)

question

1. How did Colonel Lloyd keep the slave boys from taking his fruit?

answer

Put tar on the fence & any person who has tar on him—ate the fruit! Whipped! (10)

question

2. Why was it particularly difficult to be the slaves in charge of Colonel Lloyd's horses?

answer

b/c Colonel Lloyd's horses were of noble blood & finest form, and if anything went wrong, the slaves were beaten

question

3. What is ironic about Colonel Lloyd's treatment of his horses compared to the treatment of his slaves?

answer

He treated his horses well—they needed "proper attention" while he beats his slaves. The animals get treated better than the slaves

question

4. What happened to the slave who told Colonel Lloyd the truth about his master?

answer

Handcuffed, chained, sold to Georgia trader, left his family & friends

question

What is a maxim?

answer

A standard or rule

question

1. Why is Mr. Austin Gore a "first-rate overseer"? What is the irony of this description of him? What is ironic about his name?

answer

He was proud, ambitious & persevering. He acted fully up to the maxim laid by slaveholders. He committed the grossest and most savage deeds upon the slaves under his charge. (12-13)

question

2. What reason does Mr. Gore give for killing Demby, the slave?

answer

Demby became unmanageable (14)

question

3. What other examples does Frederick give on his statement "that killing a slave, or any colored person...is not treated as a crime, either by the courts or the community"?

answer

Mr. Thomas Lanman killed 2 slaves (one with a hatchet); Mr. Giles Hick mangled a 15-16 yr. old girl (FD's wife's cousin) (14-15)

question

1. What was life like for Frederick on the plantation?

answer

Good—Master Daniel Lloyd was protective & kind; FD didn't work much—had simple duties & lots of leisure time (16)

question

2. Why was Frederick so happy to be leaving the plantation?

answer

Could wash & clean self (16)

question

3. Why did he want to go to Baltimore?

answer

b/c he got to get trousers! (17)

question

4. What relationship did his new master have to his old master?

answer

Mr. Hugh Auld was brother to FD's old master's son-in-law, Captain Thomas Auld (16)

question

5. Why did Frederick, who was seven or eight, not know the month or year of his sailing?

answer

He couldn't read (17)

question

6. What were Frederick's initial impressions of his new mistress, Mrs. Sophia Auld?

answer

She was very kind & friendly (18)

question

1. To what does Frederick attribute the kindness of Mrs. Auld?

answer

She's never had a slave (19)

question

2. What, according to Frederick, changes her?

answer

Power (19)

question

3. Why is Mr. Auld angry when he finds that Mrs. Auld is teaching Frederick his letters?

answer

b/c if blacks learn, they'll become unmanageable (20)

question

4. Why does the inability to read keep men enslaved according to Frederick and to Mr. Auld?

answer

b/c if you teach them, they'll be unfit to be a slave—doesn't benefit the owner—slaves will want to know more (20)

question

5. What does Frederick hope to gain by learning how to read?

answer

Freedom (20)

question

6. Who teaches Frederick why black men are not taught to read?

answer

Mr. Auld (20)

question

7. Why is this lesson so important to him?

answer

b/c he realizes that education & knowledge can get him to freedom (20)

question

8. Why is the life of a city slave so much better than the life of a plantation slave?

answer

City slaves have more freedom, clothes, food→don't have to do hard labor on a plantation (21)

question

9. Why does Frederick relate the story of the slaves, Henrietta and Mary?

answer

To show that it's still bad & brutal in the city (21)

question

1. How did Mrs. Auld change and why did she change?

answer

She stopped teaching FD and she became more mean (22)

question

2. What plan did Frederick adopt to learn how to read now that Mrs. Hugh was no longer teaching him?

answer

He befriended white boys & gave them bread for lessons in reading (23)

question

3. What is ironic about this plan?

answer

White people were to hate blacks & white people were supposed to have food (23)

question

4. What did Frederick learn from the book, The Columbian Orator?

answer

That people fought against slavery; he learned how cruel white people are; he learned about slavery and freedom (24)

question

5. How does Master Auld's prediction about Frederick and learning come true?

answer

Learning more caused FD to want freedom more and more (24)

question

6. How does Frederick learn the meanings of the words abolition and abolitionist?

answer

From the newspaper (25)

question

7. What do the two Irishmen encourage him to do? Why does he not trust them?

answer

Run up North—feared they were treacherous faithless/deceptive & would use him. If he listened, they would capture him and get money for reward (25)

question

8. How does Frederick learn to write?

answer

Copied letters that were written on a ship & competed with white boys to write—tricked them--learned more (26)

question

9. How does he trick the white boys into teaching him new letters?

answer

He would say "I don't believe you. Let me see it." He'd watch them write and would copy it. (26)

question

1. Why was Frederick forced to return to the plantation after the death of his master?

answer

His master died (26-27)

question

2. How was the value of the master's property determined? How were the slaves valued?

answer

Slaves were ranked in value w/ animals (horses, sheep & swine) (27)

question

3. Why was the division of property between Mistress Lucretia and Master Andrew so horrifying to the slaves?

answer

Dreaded Master Andrew (cruel) (27)

question

4. What happened to Frederick's grandmother after the deaths of Lucretia and Andrew? How does this anecdote help explain the value of the slaves?

answer

She was sent to live in a hut in the woods—nobody cared that she had family—animals are treated better (28-29)

question

5. Who owns Frederick by the end of chapter eight?

answer

Master Thomas Auld (brother to old Master Hugh Auld) (30)

question

6. Why is Frederick forced to leave Baltimore?

answer

b/c of an argument & Master Thomas said he'd never let FD return to Baltimore

question

1. Why does Frederick now know the date?

answer

He knows how to read now (30)

question

2. Who is Frederick's newest Master?

answer

Master Thomas Auld (30)

question

3. What rule of slaveholding does Master Thomas Auld violate?

answer

Didn't give slaves enough food (31)

question

4. How did the slaves get food?

answer

Stole food from neighbors & begged (31)

question

5. What, according to Frederick, happens to Master Thomas Auld after his conversion to Christianity? Why?

answer

Be became more cruel—religion supported his slaveholding (32)

question

6. Why does Frederick find irony in the fact that the slaves' Sabbath school is discontinued?

answer

b/c slaves were supposed to learn b/ the class leaders didn't want to teach slaves to read the New Testament (33)

question

Why does Frederick let Master Thomas' horse run away?

answer

So he could go after it & get something to eat (34)

question

8. How does Master Thomas propose to 'break' Frederick?

answer

Send him to Mr. Covey (34)

question

9. Why is the use of the verb 'to break' ironic?

answer

"break" him in work ethic & physical labor; "break" FD down physically & mentally

question

10. Why was Mr. Covey's reputation for breaking slaves of great value to him?

answer

b/c he got slaves to work on his field—slave owners lent him their slaves so he could "break" them in & in return he got his land tilled

question

11. Why does Frederick suggest that Mr. Covey's "pious soul" adds to "his reputation as a '******-breaker'"?

answer

b/c he too has the support of religion behind his slave-driving (pious=good)

question

1. Why does Mr. Covey whip Frederick?

answer

Broke gate w/ oxen, wouldn't take off clothes (35-36)

question

2. Why are the slaves to fearful of Mr. Covey? Why does their work go on in his absence?

answer

Always felt the presence of Mr. Covey (36)

question

3. Why is it "never safe to stop a single minute"?

answer

You never knew where he was or when he'd sneak up on you (he was known as "The Snake") (36)

question

4. What does Frederick mean by "Mr. Covey's forte consisted in his power to deceive"?

answer

He was great at deception—would hide in the bushes, etc. (37)

question

5. Why does Mr. Covey buy a slave to use as a breeder?

answer

To get more slaves to work for him since he couldn't afford it (37)

question

6. Why does he hire Mr. Samuel Harrison, a married man? What irony does Frederick find in this?

answer

To breed w/ Caroline—make more slaves. Ironic b/c Covey looks wealthy b/ is not (37)

question

8. How does Frederick succeed in again becoming a man?

answer

Fighting Covey—gained confidence (43)

question

9. Why does Frederick go to Master Thomas Auld?

answer

To tell him what happened at Covey's place (39-41)

question

10. Why does he return to Covey? Who convinces him to do so? What does Sandy Jenkins suggest that Frederick do?

answer

b/c he was Covey's for a year & FD wasn't to trouble Auld again w/ stories; Sandy told him to go back to Covey's & carry a root in his right pocket so not to get whipped (41-42)

question

11. How does Frederick win the fight with Mr. Covey?

answer

Made Covey bleed (42)

question

12. Why does Frederick contend that Mr. Covey does not turn him in?

answer

b/c Covey would be worse off—he has a reputation to protect (43)

question

13. What would have happened to Frederick had Mr. Covey turned him in?

answer

Taken to whipping post & whipped regularly (43)

question

14. Why is Frederick's battle with Mr. Covey the climax of the story?

answer

It's a turning point for FD—gets his confidence back; gets his manhood back

question

15. How are the holidays used to "disgust the slave with freedom"?

answer

Masters deceived slaves of what freedom was—drinking a lot—abuse of freedom (45)

question

16. Where does Frederick go after leaving Mr. Covey's on January 1, 1834?

answer

Went & lived w/ William Freeland (45)

question

17. Who is his new master and how does he treat Frederick?

answer

William Freeland—educated southern gentleman; respected humanity, no regards to religion (45-46)

question

18. Why does Frederick include the anecdotes about the two religious slave holders, Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Weeden?

answer

b/c religion is a "covering of the most horrid crimes" & justified ill deeds; even high class people in religion were cruel (46)

question

19. What is ironic about what the slaveholders want the slaves to do on the Sabbath?

answer

They read—to learn the New Testament (48)

question

20. What is dangerous about Frederick's confiding of his plans to the Sabbath school slaves?

answer

They may tell

question

22. What is the plan, and what is the purpose of the "protections?"

answer

Get large canoe from Mr. Hamilton (Saturday before Easter) & paddle up to the Chesapeake Bay, follow North Star beyond Maryland. Protections protect slaves on their venture to freedom; white masters are to write the protections (51)

question

23. What happened to each of the slaves who attempted to run away?

answer

They were caught, dragged 15 miles by horses, & put in jail (54)

question

24. What happens to Frederick when he decides to fight against attackers? What happens to him?

answer

He gets beat up really bad—big swollen eye, he runs away and tells Mr. Hugh. Hugh is upset & takes it to court b/ nothing happens b/c no white man will testify (58)

question

25. What happens to Frederick's first wages?

answer

Given to Mr. Hugh b/ made $1.50 per day & gave to Master Hugh b/c FD felt compelled to do it b/c Master Hugh had the power to compel (felt obligated to give it to him) (58)

question

1. What are two reasons why Frederick cannot relate his means of escape?

answer

Embarrass others; induce greater vigilance among slaveholders (guarding doors, gates) (59)

question

2. What is his opinion of the underground railway? Why?

answer

Hates it—makes owners be more watchful (60)

question

3. What does Frederick as of Master Thomas? What is he told?

answer

FD asks if he can hire people to work under him; MT says No, it's just another strategy of escape (61)

question

4. Why does Frederick agree to an arrangement with Master Hugh which benefits the Master?

answer

Asks to hire people to work for him—way to escape (61)

question

5. How is the agreement dissolved?

answer

FD must pay master $3 at end of week & buy own equipment b/ didn't pay master on Saturday (61-62)

question

6. When and to where does Frederick run away? What is his attitude about it now?

answer

Sept. 3, 1838 to New York—highest excitement b/ loneliness overcame the joy (63)

question

7. How was it possible for Frederick and Anna to marry? Why is there marriage such an important event?

answer

She was a free slave & had a reverend (65)

question

8. Why doesn't Frederick stay in New York?

answer

Not safe (65)

question

9. Why did Frederick change his name so much? Who chooses Douglass? Why?

answer

New owners & Johnson was too common of a last name; Mr. Nathan Johnson changed FD to Douglass b/c he just got done reading a book (66)

question

10. What had Douglass believed about the life in the North? Was he correct? Explain.

answer

Clean, new, beautiful, cheerful, wealthy—he was NOT correct (67)

question

11. What does Douglass discover about prejudice against color in New Bedford?

answer

Blacks vs. fugitive slaves—blacks will accuse fugitive slaves & kill them or return them to their masters; white calkers wouldn't' work w/ black calkers (68)

question

12. What work does he find?

answer

Stowing a sloop w/ loads of oil (68)

question

13. Why is Douglass at first reluctant to speak out against slavery?

answer

B/c others said things so much better than he did; idea of speaking to whites weighed him down (69)

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