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Maddie Heiner

Ms. Woelke

AP Lang

18 September 2019

Frederick Douglass Close Reading Analysis #1

In the time of the early United States, slavery was a heart-wrenching issue that

eventually shattered the union to peices. One man ignited the fire of abolition when he

published the story of his inhumane treatment. Frederick Douglass was this man, who endured

the ruthless trap of slavery and decided to take a horrible risk to escape his lifelong prison.

Following his escape, He published his story in an autobiography titled Narrative of the Life of

Frederick Douglass, An American Slave, for the purpose of enlightening the Union on the brutal

truths of slavery. He reflects on treatment of his grandmother with emotionally charged diction

and a simile to convey the message of the many social injustices of slavery.

In the beginning, Douglass captivates the audience by providing one reason that stirred

up overwhelming feelings of disgust towards enslavement. This incentive was the unimaginable

treatment of his old grandmother. In describing her situation, Douglass explaind how slavery

itself was an “infernal” invention to mankind and it provoked him to feel “unutterable loathing”

towards the unmoral humans that chained him and his family captive. Through the use of

diction aimed toward the audience and their feelings, Douglass sneakily hooks their thoughts

on the concept that slavery is a corrupt and dishonorable creation that is in desperste need of

termination. This creates motivation in the reader, and drives them to act in order to halt the

suffering of the slaves. His description of the “ingratitude” that lies in the cold hearts of the
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slave owners adds to the overall impression of the white masters and gives the readers a

glimpse of their personalities, the kind of personality no human would want to endure. Also in

one instance, Douglass's grandmother was forced to watch as her entire family was “divided

like so many sheep”, never to be reunited for the entirety of their lives. This cruelty is shown in

this simile which compares human slaves to livestock and farm animals, implying that slaves are

unimportant and replaceable like unto the sheep. This simile was implemented to show

perspective on the situation and demonstrate how worthless the slaves were to the Union and

the slave holders. Feelings of pity and injustice prompt the readers to have the desire to help

the abolitionists in their fight to end slavery.