The Slave Narrative

1
The Slave Narrative

• Definition and Purpose
• Themes
• Frederick Douglass, Narrative of the Life of
  Frederick Douglass

2
Defining Slave Narratives

• Slave narratives can be defined as the personal
  experiences of slaves before and after the Civil
  War (1865)
• Generally they include the experiences of
  African-Americans who have escaped from slavery

3
Purpose of Slave Narratives

• Attempted to arouse sympathy of readers in order
  to promote humanitarianism
• Emphasized traditional Christian religious ideas
• Showed acceptance of the ideals of dominant
  whites
• Emphasized the cruelty of slave owners
• Targeted white audiences

4
Influences on Slave Narratives

• The King James Bible
• New England Sermonizing Traditions
• Abolitionist Orators
• Devotional Books Spirituals encouraged people
  who were harboring slaves to free them in order
  to become a better people

5
Reasons for Popularity

• Scenes of horror which gratified the popular
  appetite for literature
• Religious influence illustrating ways people got
  closer to God
• Interesting descriptions of life in the South
• Propaganda

6
The Format of the Slave Narrative

• Plot includes struggle for survival and
  transition into the promise land
• Birth, death, and being resurrected
• Body participates in a spiritual death

7
Elements of a Slave Narrative

• Loss of Innocence Awareness of what it means to
  be a slave
• Realization of alternatives to bondage and the
  determination to be free
• The Escape
• Freedom Obtained
• Question 2 How do these elements work to
  communicate important messages to whites?

8
Themes

• Exposure to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse
• Comparison of slaves to other forms of life (ex.
  Cattle, pigs)
• Determination to write and read
• Vignettes of other characters succeeding and
  failing
• Includes the loss of family members and the
  destruction of family ties

9
Themes (Continued)

• Imaginary Audiences
• Question 3 Why do you think slave narratives or
  narratives in general are an important part of
  American history? (7-10 Sentences)

10
Frederick Douglass

• Life as a Slave
• Awareness and Education
• Escape
• Activism

11
Life as a Slave

• Douglasss narrative appeals to the human emotion
  (PATHOS) in his descriptive account of the slave
  experience.
• Includes vivid descriptions of physical and
  emotional abuse
• Captures scenes of life on the plantation
• Makes reference to the destruction of family ties

12
Education/Awareness

• Slaves were prevented from obtaining an education
• The awareness of education gave a slave freedoms
  limited by society
• Douglasss education forced him to become more
  aware of the limitations placed on him by slavery

13
ESCAPE

• Douglasss frustration with the slave system
  intensified with his education
• Douglasss educational knowledge contributed to
  his desire to escape slavery

14
ACTIVISM

• After his escape, Douglass worked to abolish
  slavery
• Douglass published an abolitionist paper called
  the North Star
• He spoke publicly about the flaws of slavery
• Worked for the Underground Railroad
• Recruited soldiers for Civil War to fight for
  equal treatment of blacks

15
ReflectionONE PAGE

• How does slavery serve as a contradiction to
  Americas values? Identify at least THREE
  specific American values. Refer to your values
  survey for assistance.