*Describe the American South in the nineteenth century.
*How do racial divisions in the nineteenth century American culture exclude African Americans from American ideals of liberty and inclusion?
*Consider the ways slavery defines Harriet Jacobs’ identity. Wha does she know about herself? What doesn’t she know? Describe her sense of self.
*Why do you think Harriet Jacobs published under a pseudonym? What kinds of anxieties did she feel about making her story public?
*How does Jacobs’ narrative engage with nineteenth century ideas about women?
*Do you think Jacobs and Frederick Douglas wrote for the same audience? How are her concerns different from his?
*Douglas used the first person point-of-view in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas. Why did this make his work so effective?
*How does Douglas learn to read? Why does literacy become so important to him?
*Consider the ways slavery defines Douglas’s identity. What does ne know about himself? What doesn’t he know?
*Explain what Douglas perceives to be the pros and cons of freedom throughout his narrative?
*How do racial divisions in the nineteenth century American culture exclude African Americans from American ideals of liberty and inclusion?
*Consider the ways slavery defines Harriet Jacobs’ identity. Wha does she know about herself? What doesn’t she know? Describe her sense of self.
*Why do you think Harriet Jacobs published under a pseudonym? What kinds of anxieties did she feel about making her story public?
*How does Jacobs’ narrative engage with nineteenth century ideas about women?
*Do you think Jacobs and Frederick Douglas wrote for the same audience? How are her concerns different from his?
*Douglas used the first person point-of-view in Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas. Why did this make his work so effective?
*How does Douglas learn to read? Why does literacy become so important to him?
*Consider the ways slavery defines Douglas’s identity. What does ne know about himself? What doesn’t he know?
*Explain what Douglas perceives to be the pros and cons of freedom throughout his narrative?