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.
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Who is Colonel Lloyd?
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Describe the living conditions for the slaves including their 'allowances' for food and clothing.
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Why was Severe an appropriate name for the overseer?
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What slaves took care of Colonel Lloyd's horses?
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What was Colonel Lloyd's reaction to the horses not being kept properly?
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What did Colonel Lloyd do to Barney? Why?
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What was the penalty for criticizing Colonel Lloyd?
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What was life like for Frederick on the plantation?
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Why was Frederick so happy to be leaving the plantation?
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Why did he want to go to Baltimore?
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What were Frederick's initial impressions of his new mistress, Mrs. Sophia Auld?
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What relationship did his new master have to his old master?
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Why did Frederick, who was seven or eight, not know the month or year of his sailing?
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How did Mrs. Auld change and why did she change?
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What plan did Douglass adopt to learn how to read now that Mrs. Auld was no longer teaching him?
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What irony does Douglass find in the statement, 'It is almost an unpardonable offense to teach slaves to read in this Christian country'?
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What did Douglass learn from the book 'The Columbian Orator'?
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How does Master Auld's prediction about Douglass and learning come true?
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What does 'preserved' mean?
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What does 'blighting' mean?
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What does 'scarcely' mean?
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What does 'manifested' mean?
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What does 'impudent' mean?
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What does 'tranquil' mean?
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What does 'commenced' mean?
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What does 'accord' mean?
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What does 'discord' mean?
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What does 'sentiments' mean?
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What does 'slumbering' mean?
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What does 'revelation' mean?
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What does 'perplexing' mean?
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What does 'merest' mean?
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What does 'shunned' mean?
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What does 'diligently' mean?
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What does 'vestige' mean?
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What does 'atrocious' mean?
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What does 'stratagems' mean?
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What does 'depravity' mean?
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What does 'brute' mean?
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What does 'chattel' mean?
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What does 'divest' mean?
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What does 'precepts' mean?
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What does 'apprehension' mean?
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What does 'apt' mean?
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What does 'ell' mean?
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What does 'bestow' mean?
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What does 'testimonial' mean?
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What does 'prudence' mean?
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What does 'unpardonable' mean?
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What does 'emancipation' mean?
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What does 'unabated' mean?
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What does 'denunciation' mean?
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What does 'vindication' mean?
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What does 'abhor' mean?
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What does 'loathed' mean?
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What does 'anguish' mean?
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What does 'writhed' mean?
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What does 'animate' mean?
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What does 'perplexed' mean?
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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.
Studying That Suits You
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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.