The Role of Literacy in Frederick Douglass’s Personal Development

by | Oct 2, 2023 | ENGLISH

Multiple Choice and Written Answers then 1 page  (each) on whichever topic you choose.
Test Outline:
PART ONE:  Multiple-choice—highlight the best answer (20 pts. total/2 pts. each)
1) What did Frederick Douglass “know” about his father?  A) His father was a slave.
B) Douglass had no information about him.  C) He died before Douglass was born.
D) He was white and possibly his master.  E) none of the above
2) What is Douglass’ perception of slave singing?  A) It is just a reflection of slave work.
B) It is sung out of joy and hope. C) It is a reflection of the happy slave.
D) It is sung out of sorrow, not joy.  E) all of the above
3) Where was Douglass enslaved?  A) Massachusetts  B) Maryland C) Delaware
D) New York  E) none of the above
4) Who was the father of Linda’s (Harriet Jacobs’) children?  A) Dr. Flint  B) a free black man  C) an unnamed slave of Dr. Flint  D) Mr. Sands  E) none of the above
5) Which city does Jacobs call “the City of Iniquity” because it served as an organizational center for bounty hunters of escaped slaves?  A) Richmond  B) Boston
C)  New York D) Washington D.C.  E) none of the above
6) According to Wheatley, those who view Negroes with a “scornful eye” see their skin color by what adjective?  A) ebony B) diabolic  C) dusky D) foreign
E) none of the above
7) What specific assumption of Americans is the poem “On Being Brought from Africa to America” attempting to dispel?  A) that Africans cannot be Christians  B) that Africans cannot become Americans  C) that women cannot write poetry  D) that Africans are less intelligent than Americans  E) none of the above
8) When Equiano first encounters Europeans on the coast of Africa, how does he react to them?  A) He thinks they are benign sea merchants.  B) He is horrified by their brutality and fears they will eat him. C) He is delighted by the fish they feed him.  D) He is angry when they try to convert him to Christianity.  E) all of the above
9) Equiano is kidnapped along with:  A) other children from his village B) his grandmother C) his sister  D) his mother  E) none of the above
10) How does Equiano eventually gain his freedom?  A) by running away  B) by killing his master  C) by purchasing his freedom  D) by winning a lottery  E) none of the above
PART TWO:  short answer—write a paragraph on each (30 pts./10 pts. each).
• Quote the poem/speech/narrative and give its title.
1) Phillis Wheatley:  Summarize one of Wheatley’s poems.  Give the title and examine the poem in terms of the poem’s subject matter and symbolism.
2) Sojourner Truth:  In her “Speech to the Women’s Right’s Convention,” describe how she argues for women’s rights. What examples does she use to show her points?
3) Olaudah Equiano:  Examine Equiano’s narrative in terms its role (as the first depiction of “the middle passage”) in the abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
PART THREE:  Part III (50 pts.) Choose two of these three topics below to write about:
Directions:  In the space below, write two 1-2 pg. essays.  Give quotes/examples/details from the narratives wherever it is necessary.
1) Harriet Jacobs:  What are Jacob’s experiences with the Fugitive Slave Law?  Demonstrate its effects upon Jacobs/others in terms of her message and the context of the time period.
2) Frederick Douglass:  What role does literacy play in Douglass’s personal development? Demonstrate the most poignant causes and effects in terms of his message and the context of the time period.
3) Solomon Northup:  How and why does Solomon write about the cruelty Epps inflicts upon Patsey?  Demonstrate his purpose in terms of his message and the context of the time period.

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

The Role of Literacy in Frederick Douglass’s Personal Development
Frederick Douglass, an influential African American abolitionist and writer, utilized literacy as a powerful tool for his personal development and the advancement of his message. Born into slavery in Maryland, Douglass’s journey towards freedom and self-empowerment was deeply intertwined with his pursuit of knowledge and literacy. Through his eloquent writings and speeches, Douglass not only exposed the horrors of slavery but also challenged the prevailing notion of African Americans as intellectually inferior. This essay will explore the significant role that literacy played in Douglass’s personal development, highlighting its causes, effects, and the broader historical context.

One of the most poignant causes of Douglass’s pursuit of literacy was his exposure to the world of books and education at a young age. As a child, he was fortunate enough to be taught the basics of reading and writing by his mistress. However, this opportunity was short-lived as it was abruptly halted by his master, who believed that education would make slaves unfit for their role. Nevertheless, this brief exposure ignited a burning desire within Douglass to acquire more knowledge and break free from the chains of ignorance.

Douglass’s determination to learn led him to engage in various clandestine activities to acquire literacy skills. He would trade food with poor white children in his neighborhood in exchange for reading lessons. He also secretly learned to write by copying letters and words from discarded newspapers. These clandestine activities not only demonstrated Douglass’s resourcefulness but also highlighted the lengths to which he was willing to go in order to gain knowledge.

The acquisition of literacy had profound effects on Douglass’s personal development. It provided him with the ability to articulate his thoughts and experiences eloquently, enabling him to convey the brutal realities of slavery to a wider audience. With his newfound literacy skills, Douglass could write and publish his own narrative, “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave,” which became a powerful tool for the abolitionist movement. Through his writings, he exposed the dehumanizing nature of slavery and galvanized public opinion against this institution.

Furthermore, literacy gave Douglass a sense of self-worth and identity. It allowed him to challenge the prevailing stereotypes about African Americans’ intellectual inferiority. By showcasing his intellect and articulacy through his writings and speeches, he shattered these stereotypes and demanded recognition as an equal member of society. This empowerment through literacy not only fueled his personal development but also served as a source of inspiration for other enslaved individuals seeking freedom and education.

The role of literacy in Douglass’s personal development cannot be overstated when considering the historical context. During the antebellum period, African Americans were systematically denied access to education as it was believed that knowledge would make them rebellious. By defying these oppressive norms and acquiring literacy, Douglass became a symbol of resistance and a living testament to the intellectual capacity of African Americans.

In conclusion, literacy played a pivotal role in Frederick Douglass’s personal development as it provided him with the means to express himself, expose the horrors of slavery, and challenge prevailing stereotypes. Through his pursuit of knowledge, Douglass not only empowered himself but also inspired countless others to seek education and fight against injustice. His story serves as a testament to the transformative power of literacy and its ability to shape individuals’ lives in the face of adversity.

 

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