from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
by Frederick Douglass
Feature Menu
Introducing the Autobiography
Literary Focus: Diction
Reading Focus: Analyzing a
Writer’s Purpose
Writing Focus: Think as a
Reader/Writer
TechFocus
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
by Frederick Douglass
How does conflict
lead to change?
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Introducing the Autobiography
Click on the title to start the video.
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Introducing the Autobiography
Human beings are so made
that the ones who do the
crushing feel nothing; it is
the person crushed who feels
what is happening. Unless
one has placed oneself on
the side of the oppressed, to
feel with them, one cannot
understand.
Simone Weil (1909–1943)
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Introducing the Autobiography
In this excerpt, Frederick Douglass recounts a
critical incident in his life under slavery.
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Introducing the Autobiography
Douglass depicts in plain language and unsettling
detail . . .
• his brutal treatment at the
hands of a slave master
• his reactions to the
mistreatment and
their far-reaching
effects
[End of Section]
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Literary Focus: Diction
Diction is a writer’s or speaker’s choice of words.
Diction can be . . .
Formal:
Give me your attention.
Ornate:
Lend me your ears.
Informal:
Listen up.
Plain:
Listen, please.
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Literary Focus: Diction
In this excerpt from his autobiography, Douglass
fundamentally chooses . . .
ordinary common words that are clear, effective,
and precise.
About three o’clock of that day, I broke down; my
strength failed me, I was seized with a violent
aching of the head, attended with extreme
dizziness; I trembled in every limb.
from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass
[End of Section]
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Reading Focus: Analyzing a Writer’s Purpose
In many cases, writers combine several modes
of expression—such as
• description
• narration
• exposition
• persuasion
. . . in order to accomplish their purpose.
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Reading Focus: Analyzing a Writer’s Purpose
Frederick Douglass, like other writers of his era,
knew that a serious purpose could call for multiple
tactics.
narration
description
exposition
persuasion
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Reading Focus: Analyzing a Writer’s Purpose
Description uses words that appeal to our
senses: sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste.
Rat-a-tat-tat! The young drummer boy
sounded his call over and over. He
wanted this photograph to show his
mother how important he was to the
Union army. Rat-a-tat-tat! he pounded
out over and over until the
photographer shouted at him to stop.
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Reading Focus: Analyzing a Writer’s Purpose
Narration tells about a series of events, usually in
chronological order.
Seth, caught behind enemy lines, silently rowed his
makeshift raft across the river. He would be safe on the
other side.
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Reading Focus: Analyzing a Writer’s Purpose
Exposition explains something. The term is most
commonly used in nonfiction, but it also refers to
the part of a fiction plot in which the reader is
given important background information.
The Union encampment was
situated in a large field,
surrounded by woods. A
nearby stream provided
fresh, clear water. There was
plenty of grass for the horses
and mules.
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Reading Focus: Analyzing a Writer’s Purpose
Persuasion uses reason and emotional appeals to
convince a reader to think or act in a certain way.
Persuasion is used almost exclusively in nonfiction,
particularly in essays and speeches.
“It is for us the living, rather, to be
dedicated here to the unfinished work
which they who fought here have thus
far so nobly advanced.”
from “Gettysburg Address” by Abraham Lincoln
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Reading Focus: Analyzing a Writer’s Purpose
Douglass’s autobiography does not rely solely on
persuasion to prove that slavery is dehumanizing.
As you read, look for
details showing how
Douglass describes a life
in slavery and narrates
his experience for the
purpose of persuasion.
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Reading Focus: Analyzing a Writer’s Purpose
Instead of making obvious persuasive appeals,
Douglass uses description and narration.
Purpose
to prove that slavery
is dehumanizing
descriptions of the
horrors of slavery
narration of Douglass’s
personal experiences
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Into Action As you read, record passages that are
especially effective in helping Douglass persuade
readers about the dehumanizing nature of slavery.
Passage
“. . . I was seized with a
violent aching of the
head; I trembled in
every limb. Finding what
was coming, I nerved
myself up, feeling it
would never do to stop
work.”
Why It’s Persuasive
It uses both description
and narration to show
the total powerlessness
that characterized life
in slavery.
[End of Section]
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Writing Focus: Think as a Reader/Writer
Find it in Your Reading Douglass often uses a
matter-of-fact style to describe dramatic events.
As you read, record examples of Douglass’s
understated style. For each example, point out the
dramatic event that Douglass is describing.
[End of Section]
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Tech Focus As you read the selection, think
about how Douglass might share his experiences
if he were alive today.
[End of Section]
Vocabulary
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Vocabulary
epoch n.: noteworthy period of time.
comply v.: obey; agree to a request or command.
subjected v.: made to experience some action or
treatment.
interpose v.: put forth in order to interfere.
gratification n.: satisfaction; delight.
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Vocabulary
Though an epoch often suggests a period of time
significant to an entire nation or culture . . .
. . . an
individual’s life
may also feel
divided into
epochs.
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Vocabulary
Which one of these inventions clearly belongs to
an epoch different from the others?
In your opinion, which device from the
earlier epoch had the most lasting impact?
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Vocabulary
The word comply can suggest either a willing or a
required response to a command.
It’s easy to comply with
rules you helped make.
Being forced
to go along
with rules is
less pleasant.
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Vocabulary
The word comply, divided into its prefix and root,
literally means bend (ply) with (com).
Do these people
appear to have been
forced to comply with
a command?
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Vocabulary
Whenever someone is
subjected to
something, the
experience is not a
pleasant one.
Expect the word
subjected to have a
negative connotation.
When will this athlete
know if the tough
training she subjected
herself to was worth it?
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Vocabulary
The word interpose suggests something put
forth intentionally and intended as interference.
We decided to interpose a
fence between our yard and
the empty lot to keep the
weeds out.
Were we successful?
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Vocabulary
The traffic-control officer agreed to interpose
himself between the stalled car and on-coming
traffic. Therefore, he stood
a. on the curb beside the car
b. in the street next to the car
c. in the crosswalk near the
car
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Vocabulary
The traffic-control officer agreed to interpose
himself between the stalled car and on-coming
traffic. Therefore, he stood
a. on the curb beside the car
b. in the street next to the car
c. in the crosswalk near the
car
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Vocabulary
Something that provides one individual with a
sense of gratification may be quite different from
what delights someone else.
Can you see the gratification in
these expressions?
from Narrative of the Life of
Frederick Douglass
Vocabulary
Her diploma in hand, and a job interview set for
Monday, Alma had never felt such gratification.
Which one of these
words is NOT a
synonym for
gratification?
reward
delight
pleasure
conceit
satisfaction
joy
[End of Section]
The End