The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglas

Chapter 1-2:

Frederick Douglas (as a child)

Personality: Curious, intelligent, determined to learn

Important Trait: Early awareness of slavery’s cruelty

Douglass’s Mother (Harriet Bailey)

Personality: Loving but distant (rarely allowed to see him)

Important Trait: Walked long distances at night to see Frederick secretly

Captain Anthony (Douglass’s first master)

Personality: Cruel, short-tempered, abusive

Important Trait: Overseer of Colonel Lloyd’s plantation; often whipped enslaved people

Aunt Hester (Douglass’s aunt)

Person

Setting: Plantation in Tuckahoe, Maryland 

Description: Rural, isolated, where Douglass was born into slavery

Importance: Shows the harsh and restrictive environment of slavery

Setting: Colonel Lloyd’s Plantation

Description: Large estate, many enslaved people and overseers

Importance: Represents the wealth of slaveholders vs. the suffering of enslaved people

Conflict: Separation of families

Problem: Enslaved children often separated from mothers early in life

Type: Man vs. Society (slavery system)

Resolution: Not resolved, highlights dehumanization

Conflict: Identity and ignorance

Problem: Douglass did not know his exact age or father

Type: Man vs. Society

Resolution: Not resolved, shows how slavery strips away identity

Plot: Douglass describes not knowing his age

Slavery deliberately keeps children ignorant of birthdays

Plot: Douglass separated from his mother

She could only visit at night and later died when he was young 

Plot: Rumors about Douglass’s father

Believed to be his white master, but never confirmed

Plot: Harriet Bailey’s secret visits

She walked 12 miles at night to see Frederick, then returned before dawn

Plot: Douglass witnesses’ cruelty on plantations

Early exposure to the harshness of slavery

Plot: Douglass reflects on the system of slavery

Notes how slavery dehumanizes both enslaved people and masters