Frederick Douglass Chapter 10 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Why does Mr. Covey whip Frederick?

He spent most of the day struggling with the oxen; he broke a gate.

Why are the slaves so fearful of Mr. Covey? Why does their work go on in his absence?

They never know when he is going to sneak up on them. He likes to slither through the grass and catch them idle.

What does Frederick mean by 'Mr. Covey's forte consisted in his power to deceive'?

He is a very religious man who is constantly worshiping and being a big paradox.

Why does Mr. Covey buy a slave to use as a breeder?

He doesn't have enough money to buy more slaves, so if he has one breeding slave, he can have as many slaves as she can give birth to. Signup and view all the answers

How does Mr. Covey succeed in breaking Frederick?

His spirit became broken because of the tremendous amounts of work and the intense amount of discipline. Signup and view all the answers

How does Frederick succeed in again becoming a man?

He fought back when Mr. Covey started to beat him after returning from his absence. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Frederick go to Master Thomas Auld?

He just believed one day that he was so weak and tired he couldn't work anymore, so he just declared he was going to stop work and went to Thomas. Signup and view all the answers

Why does he return to Mr. Covey? Who convinces him? What does Sandy Jenkins suggest that he do?

Master Thomas Auld makes him return. Sandy Jenkins convinces him to go back to Covey and tells him to find a root in the woods and keep on his right side to prevent being whipped. Signup and view all the answers

How does Frederick win the fight with Mr. Covey?

He didn't stop fighting and instead just kept throwing punches. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Frederick contend that Mr. Covey does not turn him in?

He didn't want to ruin his slave breaking reputation. Signup and view all the answers

What would have happened if Frederick had been turned in?

He would have been regularly whipped by the constable for raising a hand against a white man. Signup and view all the answers

Why is the battle with Mr. Covey a turning point in his career as a slave?

It rekindled all his ideas of freedom; awarded by his little triumph. Signup and view all the answers

How are the holidays used to 'disgust the slave with freedom'?

They were only free to not work for six days a year basically, and if they didn't go away and have fun it was considered ungrateful by their masters. Signup and view all the answers

Where does Frederick go after leaving Mr. Covey's on January 1, 1834?

Mr. William Freeland; not as religious slave master, nicer, gave them enough food and time to eat it. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Frederick decide to include the anecdotes about the two religious slaveholders (Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Weeden)?

That religious masters are the worst because they felt they needed to prove every single one of their beliefs with slavery. Signup and view all the answers

Why and where does Frederick begin a Sabbath school? Why is it essential that the slaves tell no one about it?

In the house of a freed colored man; they didn't want to get in trouble with the white masters for learning to read. Signup and view all the answers

What would the slaveholders like the slaves to do on the Sabbath? Why is it ironic?

The slaveholders want them to wrestle and take part in other degrading sports; ironic because the masters are practicing Christians who should just want the slaves to be converted. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Frederick decide to include the slaves in his Sabbath school in his plans for freedom? Why is it dangerous?

He wanted to include them and didn't want to go into freedom leaving them behind; dangerous because they could be punished as well. Signup and view all the answers

How do the slaves plan to run away?

They would get a canoe and sail through the Chesapeake until they get to Maryland. Signup and view all the answers

What are the protections written by Frederick?

They were notes that said the slaves were on Easter holiday. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to their plan, and how do the protections nearly cause their deaths?

Someone sold them out; the protections would have sold them out completely. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to each of the slaves?

They were taken to jail and then all of them were taken out of jail except for Frederick. Signup and view all the answers

When Frederick returns to Baltimore, what does he do?

Live with Master Hugh to learn a trade. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Frederick Douglass Chapter 10 Overview

Mr. Covey whips Frederick for struggling with the oxen and breaking a gate, illustrating the harsh treatments slaves faced.
Slaves remain fearful of Mr. Covey due to his unpredictable nature, often sneaking up on them to catch them idle, demonstrating the psychological control exerted over them.
Frederick describes Mr. Covey as a religious man who embodies a paradox, practicing worship while simultaneously enslaving others.
Mr. Covey's strategy to buy a breeding slave is financially motivated; he aims to increase his slave population without the costs associated with purchasing additional slaves.
Frederick’s spirit is eroded through the intense labor and strict discipline imposed by Mr. Covey.
A pivotal moment occurs when Frederick fights back against Mr. Covey during a beating, which symbolizes his reclaiming of agency and manhood.
Frederick seeks refuge at Master Thomas Auld's home, feeling weak and exhausted from his labors under Covey, hoping for relief.
Sandy Jenkins advises Frederick to return to Mr. Covey and to carry a protective root, highlighting the reliance on superstition among enslaved individuals.
Frederick wins his confrontation with Mr. Covey by persistently fighting back, refusing to accept defeat.
Mr. Covey chooses not to report Frederick’s rebellion to maintain his reputation as an effective slave-breaker, reflecting the societal importance of appearances.
If reported, Frederick would face severe punishment, including public whippings, which underscores the risks enslaved people took to assert their autonomy.
The fight with Mr. Covey becomes a turning point for Frederick, reigniting his aspirations for freedom and affirming his strength.
Holidays serve to disillusion slaves regarding freedom; while they receive a brief respite from work, societal pressures frame their leisure time as ungrateful.
After leaving Mr. Covey's, Frederick goes to live with Mr. William Freeland, who is more lenient and provides better sustenance for his slaves.
Douglass includes anecdotes about religious slaveholders, such as Mr. Hopkins and Mr. Weeden, to argue that devout masters are often the most hypocritical in perpetuating slavery.
Frederick starts a Sabbath school at the home of a freedman, emphasizing the importance of education for the enslaved, despite the risks involved.
Slaveholders want slaves to engage in degrading activities on the Sabbath, ironically contradicting their devout Christian identities and supposed moral responsibilities.
Frederick aims to incorporate fellow slaves into his freedom plans, recognizing the collective struggle against oppression, but understands the potential consequences of their involvement.
The slaves devise a plan to escape via canoe across the Chesapeake Bay, highlighting their resourcefulness and courage.
Frederick’s protections assert their status during the Easter holiday, although they ultimately become a means of betrayal.
The escape plan collapses when they are sold out, emphasizing the vulnerability of slaves relying on trust within a system of oppression.
Upon capture, all slaves but Frederick are released, showcasing the systemic risks faced by those seeking autonomy.
Returning to Baltimore, Frederick resumes living with Master Hugh, where he intends to learn a trade, marking a shift towards self-sufficiency and empowerment.

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Description

Explore the key concepts and events from Chapter 10 of Frederick Douglass' narrative. These flashcards cover important interactions and implications of slavery as depicted by Douglass, focusing on his experiences with Mr. Covey. Test your knowledge and understanding of this pivotal chapter in the memoir.