Assignment Task:
Reference: Narrative of The Life Of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave By Frederick Douglas
Problem 1: Does religion exert a positive influence on slave owners?
Problem 2: What happens between Douglass and Edward Covey? Does Covey succeed in "breaking" Douglass to a "brute"? What does it mean to be a "brute"? What does Douglass mean when he writes, "You have seen how a man was made a slave; you shall see how a slave was made a man"? What is the connection between the spirit of revolt and the assertion of one's humanity? Does a slave who lacks the spirit of resistance deserve to be a slave? In resisting Covey's attempt to whip him does Douglass use this opportunity to take revenge against Covey?
Problem 3: What is the connection between violence and force and Douglass's assertion of his humanity?
Problem 4: Why do slaveholders try to keep slaves ignorant of reading and writing? And Why do the whites show much hostility to the slaves, who would seem to be victims more than victimizers?