Frederick Douglass Chapters 1-7 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Where was Douglass born?

Talbot County, Maryland

What was the relationship he had with his mother?

He saw her about four to five times and always at night.

What was the situation with Aunt Hester?

She would get beat savagely by her master for spending time with a male slave.

Explain Master Anthony's family.

Anthony is the clerk for Colonel Lloyd, managing Lloyd's plantation. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Colonel Lloyd?

Douglass's first owner, an extremely rich man who owns all the slaves. Signup and view all the answers

Describe the living conditions for the slaves including their 'allowances' for food and clothing.

The slaves got 8 pounds of food a month and 7 dollars worth of clothing for the year. Signup and view all the answers

Why was Severe an appropriate name for the overseer?

He was cruel, strict, and severe to the slaves. Signup and view all the answers

What slaves took care of Colonel Lloyd's horses?

His slaves. Signup and view all the answers

What was Colonel Lloyd's reaction to the horses not being kept properly?

The slaves were beaten. Signup and view all the answers

What did Colonel Lloyd do to Barney? Why?

Douglass saw Barney kneel on the ground and receive more than thirty lashes. Signup and view all the answers

What was the penalty for criticizing Colonel Lloyd?

He sold the slaves who said the comment to a Georgian slave trader. Signup and view all the answers

What was life like for Frederick on the plantation?

He didn't have to work because he was too young, so it was good for a slave. Signup and view all the answers

Why was Frederick so happy to be leaving the plantation?

He got to bathe. Signup and view all the answers

Why did he want to go to Baltimore?

He got a pair of trousers. Signup and view all the answers

What were Frederick's initial impressions of his new mistress, Mrs. Sophia Auld?

She was kind, allowed him to answer her, and to look her in the eyes. Signup and view all the answers

What relationship did his new master have to his old master?

He was Captain Anthony's son-in-law's brother. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Frederick, who was seven or eight, not know the month or year of his sailing?

He had no knowledge of the days of the week or the months of the year. Signup and view all the answers

How did Mrs. Auld change and why did she change?

She stopped teaching Frederick and became more mean; she gained power. Signup and view all the answers

What plan did Douglass adopt to learn how to read now that Mrs. Auld was no longer teaching him?

He befriended white boys and gave them bread for lessons in reading. Signup and view all the answers

What irony does Douglass find in the statement, 'It is almost an unpardonable offense to teach slaves to read in this Christian country'?

A Christian country should want to teach people who are ignorant, but they do not. Signup and view all the answers

What did Douglass learn from the book 'The Columbian Orator'?

He learned that people fought against slavery; he learned how cruel white people are. Signup and view all the answers

How does Master Auld's prediction about Douglass and learning come true?

Learning more caused Douglass to want freedom more and more. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'preserved' mean?

saved Signup and view all the answers

What does 'blighting' mean?

weakening Signup and view all the answers

What does 'scarcely' mean?

barely Signup and view all the answers

What does 'manifested' mean?

showed Signup and view all the answers

What does 'impudent' mean?

bold, sassy or shameless Signup and view all the answers

What does 'tranquil' mean?

peaceful Signup and view all the answers

What does 'commenced' mean?

began Signup and view all the answers

What does 'accord' mean?

harmony Signup and view all the answers

What does 'discord' mean?

disharmony Signup and view all the answers

What does 'sentiments' mean?

feelings Signup and view all the answers

What does 'slumbering' mean?

sleeping Signup and view all the answers

What does 'revelation' mean?

realization Signup and view all the answers

What does 'perplexing' mean?

confusing Signup and view all the answers

What does 'merest' mean?

simplest Signup and view all the answers

What does 'shunned' mean?

avoided Signup and view all the answers

What does 'diligently' mean?

persistently Signup and view all the answers

What does 'sought' mean?

pursued Signup and view all the answers

What does 'vestige' mean?

trace Signup and view all the answers

What does 'atrocious' mean?

terrible Signup and view all the answers

What does 'lacerated' mean?

cut up Signup and view all the answers

What does 'incur' mean?

experience Signup and view all the answers

What does 'odium' mean?

disgust Signup and view all the answers

What does 'mangled' mean?

injured, torn up Signup and view all the answers

What does 'emaciated' mean?

thin Signup and view all the answers

What does 'gip' mean?

a person who deceives Signup and view all the answers

What does 'offal' mean?

the innards of an animal Signup and view all the answers

What does 'stratagems' mean?

strategies Signup and view all the answers

What does 'commenced' mean?

began Signup and view all the answers

What does 'depravity' mean?

wickedness Signup and view all the answers

What does 'brute' mean?

animal Signup and view all the answers

What does 'chattel' mean?

cattle Signup and view all the answers

What does 'divest' mean?

get rid of Signup and view all the answers

What does 'precepts' mean?

teachings Signup and view all the answers

What does 'apprehension' mean?

anxiety Signup and view all the answers

What does 'apt' mean?

quick or smart Signup and view all the answers

What does 'ell' mean?

a large amount Signup and view all the answers

What does 'bestow' mean?

give Signup and view all the answers

What does 'urchins' mean?

hooligan Signup and view all the answers

What does 'testimonial' mean?

statement Signup and view all the answers

What does 'prudence' mean?

carefulness Signup and view all the answers

What does 'unpardonable' mean?

unforgivable Signup and view all the answers

What does 'emancipation' mean?

freedom Signup and view all the answers

What does 'unabated' mean?

constant Signup and view all the answers

What does 'denunciation' mean?

criticism Signup and view all the answers

What does 'vindication' mean?

proof Signup and view all the answers

What does 'abhor' mean?

hate Signup and view all the answers

What does 'loathed' mean?

hated Signup and view all the answers

What does 'anguish' mean?

suffering Signup and view all the answers

What does 'writhed' mean?

struggled Signup and view all the answers

What does 'animate' mean?

living Signup and view all the answers

What does 'perplexed' mean?

confused Signup and view all the answers

What does 'wharf' mean?

waterfront Signup and view all the answers

What does 'scow' mean?

kind of boat Signup and view all the answers

What does 'treacherous' mean?

disloyal Signup and view all the answers

What does 'hewing' mean?

cutting Signup and view all the answers

What does 'tedious' mean?

boring Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Frederick Douglass: Early Life and Experiences

Born in Talbot County, Maryland, separated from parents at a young age.
Mother's visits were rare, occurring four to five times, often under cover of night, traveling 12 miles to see him.

Situations of Slavery

Aunt Hester faced brutal beatings from her master for associating with a male slave.
Master Anthony managed Colonel Lloyd's plantation, overseeing operations and slave labor.
Colonel Lloyd served as Douglass's first owner, described as extremely wealthy and a prominent slaveholder.

Living Conditions of Slaves

Slaves received meager rations of eight pounds of food per month and clothing valued at seven dollars for an entire year.
Overseer "Severe" lived up to his name, administering cruel punishments to the slaves.

Discipline and Punishments

Slaves responsible for horses were beaten severely if horses were not cared for appropriately.
Malicious punishments were common; for instance, another slave named Barney was lashed over thirty times for unspecified offenses.
Criticism of Colonel Lloyd could lead to severe consequences, including the sale of the offender to a Georgian slave trader.

Douglass's Childhood

Frederick enjoyed a relatively better situation on the plantation at a young age, as he was not forced to work.
His sense of happiness increased upon leaving the plantation because it allowed him the opportunity to bathe.

Transition to Baltimore

Upon moving to Baltimore, Douglass acquired a much-needed pair of trousers, a symbol of increased comfort and respect.
His new mistress, Mrs. Sophia Auld, initially treated him kindly, allowing him to engage in conversation and make eye contact.

Education and Literacy

Mrs. Auld changed drastically, growing more cruel and ceasing to teach Douglass due to her newfound power.
To continue his education secretly, Douglass befriended white boys, exchanging bread for reading lessons.
Douglass criticized the hypocrisy of a Christian nation that considered teaching slaves to read as a grievous offense.

Insights and Realizations

"The Columbian Orator" opened Douglass's eyes to the concepts of slavery and freedom while highlighting the cruelties of oppression.
Master Auld’s predictions about the consequences of learning proved true; Douglass's desire for freedom intensified as he gained knowledge.

Vocabulary Building

Preserved: saved
Blighting: weakening
Scarcely: barely
Manifested: showed
Impudent: sassy or bold
Tranquil: peaceful
Commenced: began
Accord: harmony
Discord: disharmony
Sentiments: feelings
Slumbering: sleeping
Revelation: realization
Perplexing: confusing
Lacerated: cut up
Emaciated: thin
Vindication: proof
Abhor: hate
Denunciation: criticism

Emotional Responses

Douglass experienced anguish and a deep loathing towards the cruelty inherent in slavery, expressing feelings of disgust and suffering.
The ironies and struggles he faced led to a greater understanding of human rights and the pursuit of freedom.

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Description

Test your knowledge on the early life of Frederick Douglass through these flashcards covering Chapters 1 to 7. Explore his childhood, family relations, and the struggles he faced as an enslaved individual. Perfect for students studying Douglass's narrative or American history.