1. What is the significance of the information Douglass provides about the early years of his life?
2. What does he mean, on p.238, when he describes the first whipping he witnessed as, “the blood-stained gate”?
3. What have you learned from reading this narrative that you didn’t already know about slavery in America?
4. Explain the significance of literacy for Douglass?
5. How does Douglass feel about Southern Christianity? Why?
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Explain the significance of literacy for Douglass?
Heidegger argues that language is the house of being, and literature is its foundation. The significance of literacy has been duly recorded from its sociological significance to connect populations, its anthropological role in the collection of human record, and its artistic significance as the peculiar practice of written story telling. Gaining access to literacy is access to the self recognition of the human from within a story of other humans. This act of self recognition, the beginning of self-placement within a world composed of others and objects, is the moment of clarity that Douglass receives with literacy. Critically, it is not the moment of learning the alphabet and the written word, but the first moment of betrayal when Master Hughes scolds Mrs. Hughes for teaching him these basic functions, that Douglass realizes he has been bestowed with a special power. That power is more than the ability to communicate, it is the ability to become a “master” himself. In the classic relationship between master and slave in Hegel’s dialectical duel, the slave must recognize that they are a slave, that the master is withholding something from them, for them to gain critical self recognition. Upon self recognition, which for Douglass is realizing that he is a slave within a system of slavery, that this system is not absolute or permanent, and that has been purposefully kept in ignorance of the state of his condition, that comes with gaining the power of literacy. Thus, literacy is two fold – both a mode of power, literally the skill that his autobiography was created through, as well as an event that forces the powerful to concede that he could be a threat.
4. Explain the significance of literacy for Douglass?
Douglass has discovered a whole new world with his ability to read and write. He is exposed to those who share the same feelings about slavery, and the actions made to emancipate slaves. Furthermore, Douglass seems to develop his identity and purpose through literacy. He realizes that he is capable of learning and that he may not be a slave for the rest of his life. Douglass states that his literacy has paved the way from slavery to freedom. It is not the act of learning to read and write, but it is when he realizes the purpose of keeping slaves illiterate. Master Hughs highlights this for Douglass when he states that slaves are useless when they become literate.
4. Explain the significance of literacy for Douglass?
For Douglass, literacy meant the opportunity for freedom. Being a slave had kept him isolated from the real world, especially from what was going on outside of the south. Douglass questioned the word “abolitionist”, because he never understood that people besides slaves like himself actually wanted to abolish slavery. Becoming literate gave him hope because it was the first time he realized that he was “smart”. This was what the slave owners were trying their best to avoid because of the ideas slaves would have about fleeing or colluding with other slaves to escape. Douglass acquiring the skill of literacy was the beginning of the end from his slavery as he was then, intellectually equal to his own masters.
What does he mean, on p.238, when he describes the first whipping he witnessed as, “the blood-stained gate”?
Here Frederick gives a vivid image of his first real encounter of what the life of slavery is really about and the premise on which it is based. He attempts to describe the gate in a way that captivates the cruelty slaves encounter, but also the entrance to a life of ill-treatment and malignant forms of punishment that results in the tearing of flesh and spilling of slave blood, as it commences for decades to come in the future.
How does Douglass feel about Southern Christianity? Why?
He calls the southern church hypocrites. On the one hand they steal, beat women and separate kids from their mothers. Then they talk about being pious, good and pray multiple times a day. They are those that want to be seen by men but deny the religions inner truth.
4. Explain the significance of literacy for Douglass?
Literacy is the most pivotal device for Frederick Douglass or any slave during this period. The slave owners deprived their assets of any education at all costs, to ensure they didn’t gain consciousness to the debate of slavery in the North or any abolitionist movements. Education essentially is the gateway to enlightenment for the slaves as being deprived of the ability to read and write, avoids communication amongst the slaves which could result in rebellion in the form of mob mentality. Knowledge is the most essential tool in escaping the brutality of slavery.
What does he mean, on p.238, when he describes the first whipping he witnessed as, “the blood-stained gate”?
Frederick Douglass states it as the start and beginning of his life through being an American slave. Gate signifying the start or entrance, and the blood-stained detail describes how the whippings and beatings stain or mark upon him the horror and psychological traumas that these actions have done to him.
1. What is the significance of the information Douglass provides about the early years of his life?
Douglass begins his autobiography expressing how his basic human rights were violated. He states, how he was unaware of his father and mother as well as his date of birth. This shows a significance in his early years of life by conveying the level of inhumane behavior. Douglass continues to describe his past years as a troublesome misfortunate sequence of events as he struggles to live a normal lifestyle. He compares his life as an animal as he doesn’t own a identity of his own. I also believe his autobiography is not just to express his lifestyle growing up but rather to show the relationship between a slave and slave owner and it’s inhumane events.
What is the significance of the information Douglass provides about the early years of his life?
Unlike Rousseau, Douglass know basically nothing about himself at the beginning. He doen’t know his birthday. He dosen’t know who is his father, besides the rumor going around. He spends a little time with his mother during his childhood. In his early year, even Douglass himself dosen’t know his identity. This information is essential in 2 ways.
First, it reveals how the slavery dehumanize a person. Another one is that to prvide a strong comprasion. At the beginning he knows few things about himself , but at the end he suscrible himself, Frederick Douglass, which shows he has accomplished a transformation from a slave to free human being.
What does he mean, on p.238, when he describes the first whipping he witnessed as, “the blood-stained gate”?
Douglass uses a vivid metaphor to highlight the peril that he and his fellow slaves were in under slavery. The gate could be a reference to the gates of hell, but also that it’s a completely different world. He knew that this was first his experience into a world of bloodshed, pain, and death. The cruelty that occurred under slavery will never be forgotten thanks to Douglass’ contributions. He and other like-minded individuals passed through the blood-stained gate of slavery and overcame it to immortalize all those who suffered from it.
Explain the significance of literacy for Douglass?
The significance of literacy is crucial for Douglas and any slave in the south. Literacy means knowledge and the value of obtaining a voice. Slaves are stripped away from many things and are dehumanized so for them to obtain any sense of literacy is beyond them. To learn to read and write was a passage way to think for one self and have an identity, they realize they are no different from anyone else. Knowledge would create a better sense of communication among each other and opportunity to speak/write their minds as Douglas has in his autobiography. Literacy was the foundation for hope and progress in their lives which would help assist them in the abolishment movement.
1. What is the significance of the information Douglass provides about the early years of his life?
The information Douglass provides about his early childhood is devasting. Earlier we read on authors who emphasized on the meanings of childhood, and Douglass’ childhood is not the one a child should have. Douglass is deprived of basic things, like knowing his father and mother and even his age, and this leads him to think that he is undeserving of having these things. He is smart enough to realize that the kids of the masters around him have these things, but he and the other slaves do not. Lacking these basic necessities leads slaves to not only live up to the physical work, but to emotionally and mentally believe that they are just inferior.
How does Douglass feel about Southern Christianity? Why?
Douglass makes it a point to specifically explain that he does not overall have negative feelings towards Christianity. He specifically states a hatred towards people who practice Christianity in the south who specifically go to church while having a slave. He believes a true Christian would not behave how they behave and are ignorant, fake and most importantly hypocrites. Douglass believes that you can’t both be a Christian and a slave owner. This is due to the idea that there is Christianity of Christ and Christianity of the land. He does not believe Christ would justify torture and inhumane actions.
How does Douglass feel about Southern Christianity? Why?
Douglas throughout his story , spoke a numerous time about his discomfort about southern christianity he stated frequently that southern christianity was hyporticial and brutal . Douglass further explains that people who claim to call themselves christians are not christians themselves,christians don’t beat children women etc, and kill others and than claim to be good christians .This hyproscity is the reason why Frederick douglass denounce the teaching of southern christianity.
Explain the significance of literacy for Douglass?
Literacy plays an important part in helping Douglass achieve his freedom. Learning to read and write enlightens his mind to the injustice of slavery. Douglass’s skills proved instrumental in his attempts of escape and afterwards in his mission as a spokesman against slavery. He was motivated to learn how to read by hearing his master condemn the education of slaves. Mr. Auld declared that an education would “spoil” him and “forever unfit him to be a slave” (2054).
4. Explain the significance of literacy for Douglass?
Fredrick Douglass always knew how to read. In the south slaves were not allowed to learn how to read or write therefore its very significant he knew how. He helped teach other people literacy and claims that his knowing to do this must be because god willed it. Knowing to read and write would help slaves learn how they are being treated is unfair and not right and the more they knew would try to rebel against their slave owners.
What have you learned from reading this narrative that you didn’t already know about slavery in America?
I learned that slaves got specific clothes according to their age and according to their situation. It was also sad reading that they would serve the slaves food as if they were animals. It was a free for all to get food and if you were too tired, then you wouldn’t get food.