Olaudah Equiano: from "The Life of Olaudah Equiano" - Read

Question 1

points for reading

Answer 1

• as you read, keep in mind that this literature represents the attitudes and ideas of the 1600’s, not present day
• each paragraph of Equiano’s narrative adds an emotional layer to his experience. As you finish each paragraph, write down an adjective or a phrase that you think best summarizes his emotional state at that moment
• once you’ve annotated each paragraph consider what we call the “emotional arc” of the story. see if you can connect how Equiano’s journey from fascination to shock to horror contributes to his attitude towards slavery

Question 2

where was Equiano born

Answer 2

• Africa

Question 3

what did Equiano mean when he called the slave traders “nominal Christians”

Answer 3

• they are hypocrites, Christians in name only

Question 4

how was Equiano tested to see if he was physically sound prior to the ocean voyage

Answer 4

• he was tossed into the air

Question 5

what did the sailors do to the captives who refused to eat

Answer 5

• they beat them

Question 6

what does Equiano think will happen to him when he is brought on board the slave ship

Answer 6

• he thinks he will be eaten

Question 7

what did Equiano say was a “new refinement in cruelty”

Answer 7

• being separated from family and friends when sold

Question 8

after he had been captured, Equiano was taken on board a slave ship. where did he sleep

Answer 8

• he slept on deck

Question 9

after equiano was captured, where was he taken

Answer 9

• west indies

Question 10

how did some of the captured africans escape their imprisonment while on the slave ship

Answer 10

• they jumped overboard

Question 11

why was Equiano allowed to stay on deck more than other captives

Answer 11

• because of his youth, his captors feared he might not otherwise survive