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Frederick Douglass, once a house slave and field hand, wrote his autobiography after becoming a speaker for the Massachusetts Antislavery Society. Fearing re-enslavement after its publication, he fled to England, but returned later, his freedom purchased by English supporters. The themes of injustice, manipulation, dehumanization, and hypocrisy—with an emphasis on the hypocritical Christianity of many slave owners—dominate Douglass’s narrative. Douglass’s character is, in contrast to that of most of his masters, one of integrity, forthrightness, and a courageous passion for and dedication to truth.
Students read and analyze literary texts by Paul Laurence Dunbar and Henry David Thoreau. In addition to lessons involving analysis of tone, mood, diction, figurative language, and theme, the unit includes research projects, character studies, oral argumentation, and discussions of philosophical and psychological aspects of the work.
Supplementary materials include vocabulary quizzes with answer keys and a test with answer key.
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