Chapter 1

Text of Book

Chapter 1, page 1

Chapter 1, page 2

Chapter 1, page 3

Chapter 1, page 4

Chapter 1, page 5

Chapter 1, page 6

Chapter 1, page 7

Chapter 1, page 8

Chapter 1, page 9

Questions

1)	What is the first chapter mainly about?

2)	Who does “I” refer to?

3)	What state was Frederick Douglass born in?

4)	When was Douglass separated from his mother?

5)	When did Frederick Douglass get to see his mother?

6)	Douglass writes, “Never having enjoyed, to any considerable extent, her soothing presence, her tender and watchful care, I received the tidings of her death with much the same emotions I should have probably felt at the death of a stranger.” What does “presence” mean in this context?

7)

In the same quote as the last question (copied below), what is another word for “extent”? “Never having enjoyed, to any considerable extent, her soothing presence, her tender and watchful care, I received the tidings of her death with much the same emotions I should have probably felt at the death of a stranger.”

8)	Douglass later writes that the wife of the master “is ever disposed to find fault with them; they can seldom do any thing to please her; she is never better pleased than when she sees them under the lash….” What does “disposed” mean in this context?

9)	What is one good reason that Frederick Douglass describes for masters selling lots of their slaves?

10)	What was the name of Frederick Douglas’ first owner?

11)	How did Frederick Douglass describe the size of the farms owned by the first master?

12)	Frederick Douglass describes the first time he saw someone whipped and it is truly horrific. Why would Frederick Douglass publish this account?

13)	How old was Frederick Douglass when he saw the first person whipped that he remembered?

14)	This is a tough chapter to read for many people. This history is important but sad and painful. Take a moment and make sure you are ok to continue. What else would you like to learn about the Frederick Douglas’ early life?