NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS: AN AMERICAN SLAVE - Page 2 of 3

Frederick Douglass Biography

Introduction Frederick Douglass will forever remain one of the most important figures in America’s struggle for civil rights and racial equality. His influence can be seen in the politics and writings of almost all major African-American writers, from Richard Wright to Maya Angelou. Douglass, however, is an inspiration to more […]

Summary and Analysis Appendix

Frederick Douglass

Summary Certain editions of Douglass’ Narrative conclude with an appendix. Douglass feels he may be misunderstood and wants to explain to the reader that he is not anti-religion. He makes it clear that he is only against the religion of slaveholders; for Douglass, their religion is far removed from the […]

Summary and Analysis Chapter XI

Frederick Douglass

Summary Douglass escapes to the North in this chapter but is not forthcoming about how he managed this feat. He explains that his method of escape is still used by other slaves and thus he doesn’t want to publicize it. Douglass adds that the underground railroad (an organized system of […]

Summary and Analysis Chapter X

Frederick Douglass

Summary Douglas spent a year (1833) with Covey, during which he was frequently and brutally whipped. Having spent considerable time in the city, Douglass was not familiar with farm instruments and techniques. Because of this unfamiliarity, he made mistakes and was continually punished. Covey pushed his slaves to the limit, […]

Summary and Analysis Chapter IX

Frederick Douglass

Summary Douglass returned to Master Thomas Auld’s household in St. Michael’s, Talbot County, Maryland, in March 1832. His new master gave him little food to sustain himself, for Auld was born poor and only acquired property and slaves through marriage. Douglass and other slaves were apparently very contemptuous of him. […]

Summary and Analysis Chapter VIII

Frederick Douglass

Summary In a digression, Douglass tells us that about five years after he had been living in Baltimore, his old master, Captain Anthony, died, and Douglass was sent back to the plantation for a valuation so that all of the captain’s property could be appraised and divided up among his […]

Summary and Analysis Chapter VII

Frederick Douglass

Summary Douglass spent about seven years in Master Hugh’s house, and, in secret, he learned to read and write during that time, despite the fact that the once-kindly Mrs. Auld soon internalized the evils of being a slave owner. She accepted the advice of her husband and became a strident […]

Summary and Analysis Chapter VI

Frederick Douglass

Summary Mrs. Sophia Auld was unlike any white person Douglass had met before because she had “the kindest heart and finest feelings.” She had never owned a slave, and, prior to her marriage, she was an industrious weaver. But her personality soon changed. At first, Mrs. Auld taught Douglass how […]

Summary and Analysis Chapter V

Frederick Douglass

Summary Douglass further describes the conditions of slave children on Colonel Lloyd’s plantation, telling us that his own experience was typical of slave children. Although he was seldom whipped, he was constantly hungry and cold. Even in the dead of winter, he was given nothing but a long shirt to […]

Summary and Analysis Chapter IV

Frederick Douglass

Summary Hopkins was eventually replaced by Gore, an ambitious overseer who was exceptionally cruel. Douglass remembers an episode when Gore whipped a slave named Demby so badly that Demby ran into a deep, flowing creek to soothe his shoulders. Gore warned that he would shoot if Demby didn’t come out […]