Text: Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas Genre: Non-Fiction (autobiography/memoir) Author: Frederick Douglas

Excerpts from chapters 6 & 7

SOAPStone Analysis Chart
Speaker Frederick Douglass Freed slave; educated himself against all odds (It was illegal for a slave to
learn to read and write.) 1st Person Narrator: I me

Occasion Written in 1845 During the period of slavery.

Audience Predominantly white because the most of the African American population was enslaved and
could not read or write. (He cant insult the white readers, so he uses a neutral tone.)

Purpose Chapter 6:
1. To gain empathy (understanding) for the conditions of slaves.
(Theme) 2. To demonstrates the importance of education (reading & writing): Pathway from slavery to
freedom.
3. To show the dehumanizing effects of slavery on both the slave and the slave owner.
The slave owner loses some of his/her humanity. Mrs. Auld changes from being a kind
person to a demon-like person as a result of slavery: that voice, made all of sweet
accord, changed to one of harsh and horrid discord; and that angelic face gave place to
that of a demon.
The slave is dehumanized because he/she is enslaved.

Chapter 7:

Structure Structure:
& Style Narrative (story), Description
Cause and Effect
List the Literary and Compare and Contrast
Rhetorical Devices Prose (written or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure)
the writer utilizes to
create meaning.
Provide evidence.
Style - Chapter 6:
(Refer to your 1. Repetition: irresponsible power
Glossary of Literary
and Rhetorical 2. Characterization:
Devices packet.) Before she became a slave owner, she had her own industry/trade as a weaver. She was innocent to the
Also, when analyzing dehumanizing effects of slavery.
poetry, consider the Diction with a positive connotation pertaining to Heaven: heavenly smiles voice of tranquil
text on both a literal music angelic face ***This is also figurative language/metaphorical.
and abstract level: Mrs. Auld is characterized as having the kindest heart finest feelings
What is the text
literally about? How
does the text function After she became a slave owner, the deterioration of her character began: Diction with a negative
on a secondary level? connotation pertaining to Hell:
cheerful eye to red with rage
voice sweet accord to harsh and horrid discord
angelic face to that of a demon ***metaphor
***Mrs. Auld is a dynamic character; she changes throughout the course of the text.

3. Metaphor: Pathway from slavery to freedom = education (learning to read and write)

4. Parallelism: What he most dreaded, that I most desired. What he most loved, that I most hated.
That which to him was a great evil, to be carefully shunned, was to me a great good, to be
diligently sought; and the argument which he so warmly urged, against my learning to read,
 only served to inspire me with a desire and determination to learn.

5. Situational Irony: Douglass owes his desire to learn to Mr. and Mrs. Auld who tried to prevent him
from doing it: In learning to read, I owe almost as much to the bitter opposition of my master, as to the
kindly aid of my mistress. I acknowledge the benefit of both.

Style - Chapter 7:

Tone Chapter 6: Gratitude, ironic, neutral, complimentary

Chapter 7:

VOCABULARY
Chapter 6:
Industry business; trade (n)
Preserved maintained; protected; kept
Commence begin; start
Blighting ruin; destroy; harm
Dehumanize to make not human
Servility/servile excessive willingness to please others; submissive
Impudent disrespectful; shameless
Deem consider; regard; judge
Manifest to show; to appear; to become obvious
Angelic- angel-like; pure; good
Diligently Hardworking; attentive
Shun Avoid; reject; ignore
Tranquil peaceful; calm
Whilst - while
Mere small; slightest; simple
Fatal serious; deadly
Accord harmony; Harmonious; unity
Discord chaos; disharmony; disagreement
Sentiment feeling; thoughts, emotions
Commence begin; start
Infernal Hellish

Chapter 7:

ADDITIONAL NOTES