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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. What caused Douglass's first beating on Mr. Covey's farm?

2. Who became an abusive alcoholic, according to the narrative in Chapter 8?

3. How many slaves had Mrs. Auld owned before Douglass came to live with her?

4. What did Douglass trade to learn new written words?

5. Approximately how old was Douglass when he went back to his birth place in Chapter 8?

Short Essay Questions

1. Who was Mr. Covey and how is he described?

2. What was Douglass's life as a young slave like, as described in Chapter 5?

3. Why did Douglass decide to learn to read?

4. Why did Douglass begin to see his learning to read as a curse?

5. What was Douglass's life like at first while working for Mr. Covey?

6. Define abolitionist and the effect on Douglass of learning the word.

7. What was the difference between a slave in the country versus one in the city that Douglass discovered?

8. Why was Douglass so captivated with Mrs. Auld when he met her?

9. Why does Douglass say he sees more clearly the results of slavery in Chapter 8?

10. Describe a separation that Douglass goes through in Chapter 8.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Discuss Douglass's encounters with Mr. Covey and the fight they came to. How did the confrontation with Mr. Covey affect Douglass? Was this a turning point in Douglass's life? Why or why not?

Essay Topic 2

Douglass discusses situations in which slaves tried to give respect and win favor with their masters. Give examples and explain why the slaves did this considering the way they were treated. Did Douglass ever participate in this? Why or why not? How did this serve the slaves?

Essay Topic 3

At various times throughout Douglass's life, he found a way to continue to hope, which carried him on in his difficult life as a slave. Discuss three or more examples and the circumstances around these situations. Why was hope so vital to Douglass and other slaves? What symbolism in the memoir connects to the theme of hope? What message of hope do you find in Douglass's narrative?

(see the answer keys)

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