Frederick Douglass Narrative Vs. Uncle Tom's Cabin
Your assignment will be to compare/contrast the methods the two authors use, their basic arguments, and their effectiveness. Topics 2 and 3 will be similar.
Essays will be graded holistically, based on whether you: have a strong, analytical thesis (i.e. - do you discuss how and the why the author does what they do rather than just describing the plots?) support your thesis with plenty of detail from the books and historical context organized your essay effectively used college level writing
Narrative of the life of fred. Douglass and Uncle Tom’s Cabin are two very powerful and influential writings about slavery published only 7 years apart, with Uncle Tom’s Cabin being the later. Looking on the outside, these two pieces may have similar effects on readers, but they have just as many differences in the way the authors approach their topic and go about their writing.
The most apparent difference in the two methods used is the point of view. Douglass being an autobiographical point of view gives us a deep, emotional and detailed look into slavery. It helps us understand the daily life of a slave and the true brutality of the slave world which fuels abolitionists and the push for emancipation. His perspective allows readers to feel connected with Frederick, for we can hear his exact thoughts during each event. The connection is made real due to its truthfulness and we know this is to be an honest first person view of his horrible circumstanced but motivational life. Douglass’ point of view also helps understand the obvious and not so obvious realities of slavery. Being able to take us inside his head, douglass constantly refers to multiple strategies of slavery. One being the hopelessness which is drowned upon them since young, from his first witnessed beatings of his aunt Hester which he claims was the “Blood stained gate of slavery” to his account of family separation before he could grow close to anyone. Another strategy which Douglass notes as the most
Essays will be graded holistically, based on whether you: have a strong, analytical thesis (i.e. - do you discuss how and the why the author does what they do rather than just describing the plots?) support your thesis with plenty of detail from the books and historical context organized your essay effectively used college level writing
Narrative of the life of fred. Douglass and Uncle Tom’s Cabin are two very powerful and influential writings about slavery published only 7 years apart, with Uncle Tom’s Cabin being the later. Looking on the outside, these two pieces may have similar effects on readers, but they have just as many differences in the way the authors approach their topic and go about their writing.
The most apparent difference in the two methods used is the point of view. Douglass being an autobiographical point of view gives us a deep, emotional and detailed look into slavery. It helps us understand the daily life of a slave and the true brutality of the slave world which fuels abolitionists and the push for emancipation. His perspective allows readers to feel connected with Frederick, for we can hear his exact thoughts during each event. The connection is made real due to its truthfulness and we know this is to be an honest first person view of his horrible circumstanced but motivational life. Douglass’ point of view also helps understand the obvious and not so obvious realities of slavery. Being able to take us inside his head, douglass constantly refers to multiple strategies of slavery. One being the hopelessness which is drowned upon them since young, from his first witnessed beatings of his aunt Hester which he claims was the “Blood stained gate of slavery” to his account of family separation before he could grow close to anyone. Another strategy which Douglass notes as the most