About This Lesson
In Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, students examine the autobiography of a formerly enslaved person. Douglass published his autobiography fifteen years before Abraham Lincoln was elected president of the United States, Born into enslavement, Douglass became a world-renowned orator and abolitionist after running away from his enslavers. His autobiography tells the story of his life from his birth through his early years as a fugitive.
Douglass provides intimate details about enslavement throughout the book. He shares not only his own stories but the stories of other people that he heard or witnessed. Through these tales, Douglass presents a view of the institution of enslavement that demonstrates how it impacted every aspect of his life, and the lives of the enslaved and enslavers around him. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave illustrates an important part of U.S. history helpful for understanding race relations today.
Students will read selections from Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, and will write a personal narrative. They will also focus on understanding the genre of autobiography, recognizing literary devices, and analyzing literature within a historical context.
