The Known World Short Essay Answer Key

Short Essay Answer Key

1. Who dies in Chapter 1?

Henry Townsend dies on his own plantation in Chapter 1 at the age of thirty-one.

2. What is significant about the fact that Henry Townsend owns slaves?

It is significant that Henry Townsend owns slaves because he is himself a freed slave.

3. Who was Henry Townsend's first slave?

Moses was Henry Townsend's first slave and is now his overseer.

4. Who is Augustus Townsend?

Augustus Townsend is a freed black man who was once a slave belonging to William Robbins. Augustus bought his wife's freedom and later his son, Henry's freedom.

5. For whom does Elias carve a doll? What is significant about this doll?

Elias is carving a doll for his daughter. The doll has a slight deformity, but Elias figures this is okay because his wife also has a deformity of one leg.

6....
(read more)