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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who does Douglass begin Chapter 1 talking about?

2. When did William Lloyd Garrison see the abolitionist speech described in the Preface?

3. What is Douglass's concern in Chapter 1 symbolic for?

4. What is the name of the newspaper Garrison published?

5. What was the name of the overseer for the main farm house of Colonel Lloyd?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who was Austin Gore? How is he described?

2. What common practice upsets Douglass, according to his narrative in Chapter 1?

3. Why is Douglass so concerned about his age in Chapter 1?

4. How were Colonel Lloyd's horses and carriages cared for?

5. What did the white children know that black slaves do not, according to Douglass's narrative in Chapter 1?

6. What was the West Indies Experiment?

7. In the Preface, how does Garrison describe Douglass?

8. Why does Phillips say he does not want to know Douglass's name or place of birth in the second Preface?

9. What does Douglass mention in particular about the slaves suffering in Chapter 2?

10. How does Douglass describe the treatment of mulatto slaves in Chapter 1?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss the theme of religion in Douglass's narrative. What role did religion play in the development and maintenance of the slavery system? How was religion perceived by those who were enslaved? What were Douglass's views on religion?

Essay Topic 2

Describe and discuss three examples of symbolism in Douglass's narrative. What does this symbol represent? How do you relate to it? What are its impacts in the narrative?

Essay Topic 3

Douglass discusses some of his family as well as his masters.What sorts of things did Douglass learn from observing both his family as well as his masters' over the years? Did each 'family' teach him different things, or do they have some of the same lessons? How were these family systems different?

(see the answer keys)

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