AUDIOBOOK
Before you start the film, tell me what you know about the daily
experience of most slaves in America before the Civil War:
What is a slave narrative?
What can we learn from slave narratives about life as a slave and
resistance to slavery?
Spend a few minutes online researching slave narratives. Write down
a few titles in the space provided.
As you watch the film, find three examples of each and describe in the
space provided:
Stereotyping
Prejudice
Discrimination
 _________________
 _________________
 _________________
 _________________
 _________________
 _________________
 _________________
 _________________
 _________________
In the film, most of the characters assume a number of roles Including “victim,”
“bystander,” “perpetrator,” and “upstander.” Often, characters assume different roles in
different contexts. Fill in the chart below with the names of characters according to the
roles they assumed in the film. Feel free to use names more than once if it is appropriate.
•Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup / Platt
•Michael Fassbender as Edwin Epps
•Lupita Nyong'o as Patsey
•Sarah Paulson as Mary Epps
•Paul Dano as John Tibeats
•Benedict Cumberbatch as William Ford
•Alfre Woodard as Mistress Harriet Shaw
•Adepero Oduye as Eliza
•Garret Dillahunt as Armsby
•Scoot McNairy as Merrill Brown
•Taran Killam as Abram Hamilton
•Christopher Berry as Burch
•Chris Chalk as Clemens Ray
•Paul Giamatti as Theophilus Freeman
•Brad Pitt as Samuel Bass
•Michael K. Williams as Robert
•Bryan Batt as Judge Turner
•Bill Camp as Ebenezer Radburn
•Tom Proctor as Biddee
•Jay Huguley as Sheriff
Upstanders/Rescuers
Bystanders
Victims
Perpetrators
AUDIOBOOK
BEFORE THE FILM
“12 Years a Slave” Movie Guide
Name________________________
How was violence or the threat of violence used to suppress the rights of
African Americans in the film? Find five examples from the film.
 ________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________
 ________________________________________________________________________
Throughout the film, we see people resisting unfair treatment in both
subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle ways. Briefly describe five examples
of people resisting unfair treatment from others:
 ___________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________
As you watch the film, record the most important events portrayed in the film
and briefly explain why you included them. Record a minimum of three
examples:
 _________________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________________
 _________________________________________________________________________
Compare this film to other slave narrative stories you have read, seen (movies,
television), learned about (in class, the news, etc.) How does this one differ
and how is this one similar to the others?