Due Wednesday

Read Chapter I & 2....Answer the following questions ...

Sets the scene; Frederick tells us some of his early life and begins to explain life on the plantation.

QUESTIONS

• Why is Frederick not sure when he was born?
  
• What is Frederick's last name at birth?
  
• Why would slaveholders want to keep a slave ignorant of such a simple thing as the date of his birth? (Education)
  
• Who were Frederick's mother and father?
  
• Why does Frederick make the point that a slaveholder who has fathered a child is likely to be tougher on that child?
  
• Why does Frederick only rarely see his mother?
  
• Is Frederick's relationship with his mother typical of other slave children?
  
• What is the role of the overseer on the plantation?
  
• What is the relationship of the slaveholder to the overseer to the slave on the plantation? (History)
  
• What do we learn about Plummer, the overseer?
  
• Who is Frederick's first master?
  
• Why does Frederick tell the story of Lloyd's Ned?

Chapter II

Describes the plantation system of Colonel Lloyd; discusses the daily existence of slaves on the plantation.

QUESTIONS

• Who were the family members of Frederick's master Colonel Edward Lloyd?
  
• What is the relationship of Colonel Lloyd to Frederick's master?
  
• Was there a pecking order among slaves? Explain.
  
• Why would a slave whose life on a plantation was very bad fear being sold to a slave-trader?
  
• Why was Severe an appropriate name for the overseer? (English)
  
• Why is it difficult to find copies of slave songs?
  
• Why does Frederick suggest that slaves sing out of sorrow rather than out of joy?

QUOTES
"The same traits of character might be seen in Colonel Lloyd's slaves, as are seen in the slaves of the political parties" (p. 30). (History) *

"Crying for joy, and singing for joy, were alike uncommon to me while in the jaws of slavery" (p. 32).

ACTIVITIES
Draw a diagram of the holdings (including plantations and slaves) of Colonel Lloyd. (History/Sociology)
Discuss with your group what you would likely possess if you were an adult slave on Colonel Lloyd's plantation. Now discuss what you would possess if you were a child slave. (Anthropology)
Write a diary and then make a chart of a day in the life of a slave. (Anthropology/Sociology)
Go to the library and find some songs sung by slaves. Discuss the meaning of these songs and examine if they were likely to be sung because of sorrow as suggested by Frederick. (English)