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Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass - A Novel and Author Study
Class experience
US Grade 11 - 12
Intermediate - Advanced Level
Frederick Douglass was a 19th century African American activist, abolitionist, orator, writer, and statesman. After escaping from slavery in Maryland, he became a national leader of the abolitionist movement. While Douglass was a leader in the abolitionist movement, he was also an early champion of women’s suffrage rights and the author of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass. Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave was originally published in 1845 and is in an...
By the end of this course, learners will be able to: 1. identify the writing conventions of autobiography, memoir and journalism. 2. trace the development of Frederick Douglass’s character from childhood to manhood, noting how and why he reached his life crisis and chose to act. 3. analyze antagonists and their role in Douglass’s life and narrative. 4. identify and analyze the effective use of literary elements and devices such as sarcasm, analogy, allusion, symbols, apostrophe, synechdoche, alliteration, personification, and irony. 5. identify and analyze techniques and examples of verbal irony and situational irony. 6. analyze the effect of word choice and sentence structure to express meaning, tone and theme. 7. analyze the depiction of women in the narrative. 8. analyze the development and depiction of religion in the narrative. 9. analyze the relationship between Douglass’s purpose and audience and his narrative’s elements and structure. 10. offer a close reading of Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass and support interpretations and assertions using evidence from the text and knowledge of his biography, literary allusions, and period history. 11. connect the experiences detailed in Douglass' narrative to the poem "Douglass" by Paul Laurence Dunbar.
I hold a Ph.D. in English Literature and Language with a specialization in Nineteenth-Century African American and American Literature, Epistolary Theory, and African American Epistolary Literature. I have written, published, and lectured on slavery and freedom for over a decade. I have taught Douglass' narrative since 2000. Additionally, in 2010, I was a participant and trainee at The College Board's AP Language and Composition training workshop. Douglass' narrative has appeared on the AP Literature and Composition Exams countless times.
Homework Offered
This class requires outside reading each week. Students should expect to spend roughly an hour to an hour and a half on work outside of class. Learners should expect to read 30-40 pages each week.2 - 4 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Students in class are not formally assessed; however, if your learner needs graded work for this class, please do not hesitate to send me a message.Grades Offered
Students will be provided with all handouts and discussion questions prior to class. Students will need a hard copy of Douglass' Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave with the Introduction and Notes by Robert O'Meally.
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
The autobiographical narrative embraces timely social issues of racial and gender relationships, spirituality and Christianity, and notions of enslavement and freedom. Christianity and spiritual beliefs are taught from an historical perspective in the context of the narrative and Douglass’ perceptions. The narrative does contain references to violence and language typically associated with the enslavement of Black people in America. Additionally, there are biblical allusions throughout the narrative. This narrative has appeared on the AP Literature and Composition and AP History Exams countless times. This novel is appropriate for an upper level and/or AP Literature or AP History class.
We will read and refer to Douglass' Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave.
Hello! My name is Sherri Mehta, but my students affectionately call me Dr. M. I am a Maryland-based researcher, presenter, homeschooling mom, and wife with over twenty years of English teaching experience . I hold both a Ph.D. and an M.A. in...
Group Class
$20
weekly or $100 for 5 classes1x per week, 5 weeks
60 min
Live video meetings
Ages 16-18
3-10 learners per class