What are some of the emotions Equiano experiences when he is first aboard the slave ship
What was Equiano’s experience?
Equiano worked as
an explorer and merchant for 20 years
, and eventually settled in England, the country where he had converted to Christianity in 1759. With the encouragement of the Abolitionists, who campaigned against the slave trade, he published these memoirs in 1789.
What types of descriptive words does Equiano use to describe his experience?
He uses terms such as “
unknown
,” “terror,” “horror,” “astonishment,” “horrible,” when he describes when he was placed on a ship after being enslaved (55). These terms definitely paint a mental picture for readers.
What does Olaudah Equiano describe in this account?
In this harrowing description of the Middle Passage, Olaudah Equiano described
the terror of the transatlantic slave trade
. Equiano eventually purchased his freedom and lived in London where he advocated for abolition.
What emotional torments describe?
b) What emotional torments does he describe?
The groans of the other dying slaves, and the shrieks of the women
.
What is Equiano’s writing style?
Olaudah Equiano is an individual who seeks to appeal to the sentiments of his readers. He uses
first person narration
, and discusses the events that have happened within his life, as if he were recalling the past life in which Equiano lived before becoming enslaved.
What are the major themes of Equiano’s narrative?
- Culture, Education, and “Civilizing” …
- Freedom and Slavery. …
- Conversion, Providence, and God’s Will. …
- Commerce and Trade. …
- Selfhood.
What are three effects of slavery in Africa?
The effect of slavery in Africa
Some states, such as Asante and Dahomey,
grew powerful and wealthy as a result
. Other states were completely destroyed and their populations decimated as they were absorbed by rivals. Millions of Africans were forcibly removed from their homes, and towns and villages were depopulated.
What is the main idea of Olaudah Equiano?
In its introduction, Equiano states that the main purpose of the book is to
“excite in [the reader’s] august assemblies a sense of compassion of the miseries which the Slave-Trade has entailed on my unfortunate countrymen
.” The book succeeded dramatically in this regard, since it offered a vivid first-hand account of …
What were Equiano’s greatest fears?
At first, Equiano feared
the “white men with horrible looks, red faces, and loose hair
,” and he wrote later of the terror he felt as the ship pulled away from his homeland, and he was forced to come to terms with his uncertain future.
What personal information does Equiano give that a biographer would probably not be able to?
what personal information does Equiano give that a biographer would probably not be able to give?
He was so happy to see his sister again and have someone to talk to someone.
What was Equiano’s main duty on board the ship?
There, he would have spent much of his time as a personal servant to Pascal, but in battle his part was that of gunpowder carrier, or ‘powder-monkey’ as he would have been known on board ship. His job was
to carry gunpowder from the magazine up to the gun decks
.
How did Equiano learn to read and write?
In his autobiography, Olaudah Equiano writes that he was born in the Eboe province, in the area that is now southern Nigeria. … Equiano travelled the oceans with
Pascal
for eight years, during which time he was baptised and learned to read and write.
How do you think he felt about his experience compared?
How do you think he felt about his experience on board the ship compared to the experiences of the other slaves on board? I think Equiano felt that
he was luckier than the other
, as he did not have to suffer the conditions of the room as long as most of the other slaves did.
What do some captives do to escape the misery?
What do some captives do to escape the misery of the Atlantic crossing?
They did not take care of the slaves. They didn’t feed them, and did not care about their well-being.
What effect do you think this information would have had on readers in Equiano’s Day?
What effect do you think this information would have had on readers in Equiano’s Days?
They would feel compassion and sorry for them
, for the way they were treated by the Europeans.
