California Standards. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano. For Use with Holt 11 th Grade, Chapter 1

Transcription

1 The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano AUTOBIOGRAPHY Chapter 1, Grade 11 California Standards Reading Standard 2.5 Analyze an author s implicit and explicit philosophical assumptions and beliefs about a subject. Reading Standard 3.1 Analyze characteristics of subgenres that are used in prose. More About the Writer Background In 1762, four years before Equiano finally bought his freedom, he thought he was about to become a free man. The British naval officer he had served with during the Seven Years War had promised to free Equiano after the war. Sacramento County Office of Education 1

2 Autobiography But, he sold him to a ship captain, who brought Equiano to the West Indies:» Thus, at the moment I expected all my toils to end, was I plunged.in a new slavery: in comparison of which all my service hitherto had been perfect freedom The name Olaudah means one favored, especially with the ability to speak well.» Equiano spoke out through his autobiography, which is one of the classic slave narratives of all times. Make the Connection Quickwrite The first Africans in the Americas were unwilling immigrants who arrived on slave ships before Make the Connection Quickwrite Between the 17th and 19th centuries, about 10,000,000 people were captured in Africa and shipped to North and South America and the islands of the West Indies, where they were sold as slaves. Sacramento County Office of Education 2

3 Make the Connection Quickwrite Before you read, fill out the first two columns regarding the slave trade in the eighteenth century. Leave the third column blank. Download this graphic organizer at Autobiography Equiano s autobiography was one of the first of a number of slave narratives. The publication of these narratives was encouraged by abolitionists in the 19 th century to fuel the crusade against slavery. Making Inferences About an Author s Beliefs An inference is an educated guess based on what you already know and what you learn from reading a text. To make an inference, look beyond what s being stated directly in a text and think about what is implicit, or hinted at. Sacramento County Office of Education 3

4 Making Inferences About an Author s Beliefs As you read, be alert for phrases or passages that give you insight into an author s beliefs about a subject. What do you think are Equiano s philosophical or fundamental beliefs about human cruelty? Vocabulary Development assailant distraction apprehensions alleviate interspersed commodious consternation improvident avarice History: Slavery in Africa You may be surprised to know that Africans enslaved one another. According to historian Herbert S. Klein, slavery existed in Africa from recorded times, but it was a relatively minor institution before the emergence of the Atlantic slave trade in the early sixteenth century. Sacramento County Office of Education 4

5 History: The Slave Trade You may also be shocked to learn that the slave catchers, or kidnappers, were other Africans. According to Herbert S. Klein, all African slaves were purchased from local African owners European buyers were totally dependent on African sellers for the delivery of slaves. Finding the Sequence of Events Find the sequence phrases in the text such as the next morning. Use these sequencing clues to create a timeline of the events in the autobiography. This will help you track Equiano s movements west. Making Inferences Why do you think Equiano and his sister refused the food? Sacramento County Office of Education 5

6 Making Inferences About the Author s Beliefs Equiano suggests his belief that one of the cruelest aspects of slavery is the way it often tears apart families. Today most people are horrified by the idea of slavery, so you may be surprised by Equiano s matter of fact attitude.» Although he is grief stricken at being separated from his sister, he seems to accept being a slave.» Why might he react this way? Interpreting Why do you think the slavers carried Equiano? Making inferences about an author s beliefs. What can we infer about Equiano s beliefs from his use of the phrase sable destroyers of human rights? History: Slavery in Africa You may be surprised at the physical closeness between slaves and owners. Sacramento County Office of Education 6

7 GRADE LEVEL STANDARD Autobiography Equiano s autobiography is not simply an account of the hardship he endured. He also includes descriptions of the people, places, and customs he experiences. Speculating Why do you think the widow and her son treated Equiano so well? GRADE LEVEL STANDARD - Autobiography According to Vincent Carretta, Equiano s book falls within the genre of the spiritual autobiography.» Equiano places his tale within a Judeo- Christian context, often drawing analogies between Africans and Jews. According to Carretta, he uses the contemptuous label uncircumcised to distinguish other races from his own and to remind his readers of the Jewish- African relationship he sees. Sacramento County Office of Education 7

8 REVIEW STANDARD - Irony Why was Equiano afraid of the crew? Why might Equiano s readers (white readers) have found his reaction to the crew ironic? Making Inferences Why did Equiano faint? Comparing and Contrasting This is the beginning of the section that describes the conditions of the captives in the hold, the area below the decks. Refer to the Viewing the Art on p. 52 to compare and contrast Equiano s description with the painting. Making Inferences Why were Equiano and the other prisoners whipped for refusing to eat? The nettings Equiano refers to were placed along the sides of the boat specifically to prevent the slaves from jumping overboard. Sacramento County Office of Education 8

9 History: The Crew Slave ship captains were so brutal toward their crews that abolitionists (hoping to convince white people of the evils of slavery) often argued that the slave trade was deadlier for the crew than for the slaves. Speculating Why didn t the crew want the slaves to see how they managed the ship? History: The Middle Passage Each captain on a slave ship had about six feet by sixteen inches of space. Captives were wedged together horizontally and were unable to stand up or even turn over. Sacramento County Office of Education 9

10 History: The Middle Passage The men were shackled to one another or to the deck to prevent mutiny or suicide (by jumping overboard). The main causes of death were gastrointestinal disorders, like dysentery. The mortality rates during the Middle Passage have been estimated at 15 to 30 percent. Interpreting What does Equiano mean when he refers to the slavers improvement avarice? Recognizing the Author s Purpose Why does Equiano include this anecdote about the sailors and the fish? GRADE-LEVEL STANDARD - Autobiography Once again, Equiano includes details about the new things he sees and learns. His autobiography often reads like a travel or adventure book. Sacramento County Office of Education 10

11 Learners Having Difficulty Breaking Down Difficult Text Paraphrase this complicated sentence, breaking it down into several simpler sentences, and replacing the pronoun this with the noun phrase it refers to. Sacramento County Office of Education 11