Slave Narratives and the Slave Narratives and the Writing of Frederick Writing of Frederick

DouglassDouglass

Importance of Slave Narratives Importance of Slave Narratives in United States Literaturein United States Literature

Autobiographical narratives of former Autobiographical narratives of former slaves comprise one of the most extensive slaves comprise one of the most extensive and influential traditions in African and influential traditions in African American literature and culture American literature and culture

Until the Depression era slave narratives Until the Depression era slave narratives outnumbered novels written by African outnumbered novels written by African Americans Americans

Directly influenced classic works of Directly influenced classic works of American literatureAmerican literature– Uncle Tom’s CabinUncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe by Harriet Beecher Stowe– The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark by Mark

TwainTwain– BelovedBeloved by Toni Morrison by Toni Morrison

Political Importance of Slave Political Importance of Slave NarrativesNarratives

Opened dialogue about slavery and freedom Opened dialogue about slavery and freedom in 18in 18thth and 19 and 19thth centuries centuries

Enlightened white readers aboutEnlightened white readers about– Realities of slaveryRealities of slavery– Humanity of black people as individuals deserving Humanity of black people as individuals deserving

human rightshuman rights Dismissed by opponents as anti-slavery Dismissed by opponents as anti-slavery

propaganda, but VERY widely read--shows propaganda, but VERY widely read--shows their power to provoke reflection and debate their power to provoke reflection and debate about race, social justice, and the meaning of about race, social justice, and the meaning of freedomfreedom

Slave Narratives as Historical Slave Narratives as Historical DocumentsDocuments

Chronicle evolution of white Chronicle evolution of white supremacy, particularly in the Southsupremacy, particularly in the South

Gives evidence from slavery to Gives evidence from slavery to segregation and disenfranchisementsegregation and disenfranchisement

Evoke the national myth of the Evoke the national myth of the American individual’s quest for American individual’s quest for freedom and for a society based on freedom and for a society based on “life, liberty, and the pursuit of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”happiness”

Slave Narratives as Slave Narratives as AutobiographyAutobiography

Gave voice to generations of African Gave voice to generations of African Americans otherwise ignored by Americans otherwise ignored by literatureliterature

Usually eye-witness accounts—became Usually eye-witness accounts—became “I-witness” accounts that revealed the “I-witness” accounts that revealed the struggles, sorrows, aspirations, struggles, sorrows, aspirations, triumphs of the individualtriumphs of the individual

Establishes humanity of the writer as Establishes humanity of the writer as well as arguing against slaverywell as arguing against slavery

Typical Features of Slave Typical Features of Slave NarrativesNarratives

Depiction of slavery as hell on earthDepiction of slavery as hell on earth– Physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual Physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual

deprivationdeprivation Personal crisis precipitates decision to escapePersonal crisis precipitates decision to escape

– Selling or death of loved oneSelling or death of loved one– Dark night of the soul (hope v. despair battle)Dark night of the soul (hope v. despair battle)

Arduous quest for freedomArduous quest for freedom– Usually emphasizes faith in God, commitment to Usually emphasizes faith in God, commitment to

liberty similar to Founding Fathersliberty similar to Founding Fathers Freedom includes arrival in free states, Freedom includes arrival in free states,

renaming of self, commitment to anti-slavery renaming of self, commitment to anti-slavery movementmovement

Frederick Douglass’ Frederick Douglass’ NarrativesNarratives

Publishes three autobiographiesPublishes three autobiographies– Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (1845)Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass (1845)– My Bondage and My Freedom (1855)My Bondage and My Freedom (1855)– The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass (1881)The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass (1881)

Contain both anti-slavery sentiment and Contain both anti-slavery sentiment and personal revelationpersonal revelation

Considered finest examples of both slave Considered finest examples of both slave narrative tradition and classics of American narrative tradition and classics of American autobiographyautobiography