An enslaved man who bought his freedom and wrote compellingly about his experiences, olaudah equiano c. The life of olaudah equiano study guide from litcharts the. His narrative is extremely valuable not only for the wealth of information it presents on childrens experiences in the slave trade, but also for those examining the abolitionist movement in england during this period of time. Through this narrative, the appalling personal experience of each slave is depicted.
Olaudah equiano 17451797 the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, written in 1789, is the autobiography of olaudah equiano. Historians, literary critics, and the general public have increasingly recognized equiano as unquestionably the most accomplished author of african descent of his times, and one of the most accomplished writers of any time. Summary of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah. Olaudah equiano s views ofslavery in his narrative ofthe life by carie dias corie dias is a senior english majorfrom pembroke, ma.
The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african tells the firstperson story of olaudah equiano, an elevenyearold boy from an eastern province of benin, who was introduced to the seaand to white menwhen he was captured in 1756 by african slavers and taken to a slave trading port on the west african. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the autobiography of olaudah equiano. Olaudah equianos the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah. One of these is these narratives is that of olaudah equiano, who later went on to buy his freedom from slavery and moved to england to fight in the early abolitionist movement gaining strength in europe. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african is considered the first major slave autobiography in english literature. Equianos narrative begins in the west african village where he was kidnapped into slavery in 1756. Equiano, according to his narrative, was born into an igbo community in what is now nigeria.
Jun 30, 2010 slave narrative one olaudah equiano 1789. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, written in 1789, is the autobiography of olaudah equiano. She has also workedon a writing concentration anda minor in art. Enslaved as a child, he was taken to the caribbean and sold as a slave to a royal navy officer. Corie wrote this paperfor ann brunjessearly american literature class. He was sent to barbados, then to colonial virginia, and then sold to a british naval officer. Equiano was born in what is now nigeria and sold into slavery aged 11. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. Start studying the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano unit 2 english. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano was a key work of nineteenthcentury slave narrative autobiography. Slave narrative one olaudah equiano 1789 dre jordan.
This is a 1794 reprint, in addition to this text we have a similar 1973 reprint as well. The slaves point of view in the life of olaudah equiano. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, first published in 1789 in london, is the autobiography of olaudah equiano. I have read other books that described the daily life of a slave, but hearing it from an actual slave hits home harder. Olaudah equiano, kidnapped at age 11, became one of the most prominent english abolitionists of the 18th century. The structure and rhetorical strategies of the book were influential and created a model for subsequent slave narratives.
Gutenberg ebook of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. He was sold twice more but purchased his freedom in 1766. Funding from the national endowment for the humanities supported the electronic publication of this title. Abolition, ethnicity, and identity in the interesting narrative. However, i kept asking myself why reading this autobiography felt more like reading gullivers travels than a former slave s account of his life. The interesting narrative and other writings olaudah. Summary of the interesting narrative of the life of. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano essays are academic essays for citation. Olaudah equiano life on board international slavery museum, liverpool museums the first object which saluted my eyes when i arrived on the coast was the sea, and a slave ship, which was then riding at anchor and waiting for its cargo. He came from a powerful familyhis father was a political leaderbut that fact could not prevent equiano from being kidnapped into slavery. Jul 11, 20 on this day in 1766, olaudah equiano was fortunate enough to purchase his freedom and forged a life as an author, merchant and explorer. It was the first influential slave narrative of what became a large literary genre.
Olaudah equianos argument against slavery was his life. Olaudah equiano buys freedom on this day in 1766 newsone. Full text of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano was one of the first widely read slave narratives. Jun 09, 2014 did they hate american for making them a slave and for taking away their rights as human being. Along with his sister, equiano was captured from his village and marched from trader to trader for several.
This portrait of olaudah equiano was used as the frontispiece illustration opposite a books title page of his autobiography, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or. A short documentary in honour of olaudah equiano the nigerian slave who fought for the end of slave trade. It was published in 1789, at a time when its author was wellknown in english abolitionist circles. Excerpt from olaudah equiano, the interesting narrative of the life of oludah equiano 1789. Enslaved as a child, he was taken to the caribbean and sold as a slave. Two of the most important slave narratives to surface are. Slave narratives comprise one of the most influential traditions in american literature, shaping the form and themes of some of the most. Olaudah equiano slave olaudah equiano the life and writings of olaudah equiano olaudah equiano was a nigerian who by his own account was sold into slavery at the age of eleven but later became wellknown as a recognized author and abolitionist. A resident of london during the 1780s, equiano became involved in british abolitionism and was a vocal opponent of the slave trade and slavery until his death in 1797. This book told firsthand stories of slave life here in the u. The book the classic slave narratives is a collection of narratives that includes the historical enslavement experiences in the lives of the former slaves harriet jacobs, frederick douglass, and olaudah equiano. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or gustavus vassa the african.
He was shipped to a virginia plantation and then later sold again to a british naval officer. The narrative is argued to represent a variety of styles, such as a slavery. The title says the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano and it certainly was interesting. For the nearly 300 years that preceded olaudah equianos writing of his life, the international slave trade had shrunk the world like never before. Olaudah equiano was born in 1745 in eboe, in what is now nigeria. The text recounts the life of equiano leading up to the writing of the narrative itself. Equiano stayed several weeks on the island before being shipped off for north america. Equiano established many of the literary conventions employed in subsequent africanamerican slave narratives. May 23, 2015 olaudah equiano, an igbo, describes himself as born to a relatively prosperous, slave owning family in the region east of the city of onitsha, nigeria, where ownership of slaves and slave raiding were local practice at the time. Slave narratives the interesting life of olaudah equiano. Though he spent a brief period in the state of virginia, much of equiano s time in slavery was spent serving the captains of slave ships and british navy vessels. He accomplishes his rhetorical purpose of informing the world of the slave experience in this narrative.
Litcharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in the life of olaudah equiano, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Olaudah equianos views of slavery in his narrative of the life. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano wikipedia. From the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or gustavus vassa, the african, 1789 images item information. Captured far from the african coast when he was a boy of 11, olaudah equiano was sold into slavery, later acquired his freedom, and, in 1789, wrote his widelyread autobiography, the interesting. Feb 01, 2018 timeline of the life of equiano olaudah 1745 born in west africa. That part of africa, known by the name of guinea, to which the trade for slaves. Olaudah equiano contributes to this horrid history with the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. Summary of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. But equianos experience in slavery was quite different from that of most slaves. Jan 30, 2017 while the stories of many of these individuals are lost to us forever, we do have a few examples in the form of slave narratives. Olaudah equiano life on board a slaves account black.
Olaudah was the pampered son of a slaveholder, who was being raised to be a warrior. Eight editions were printed during the authors lifetime, and it was translated into dutch and german. Historians, literary critics, and the general public have increasingly recognized equiano as unquestionably the most accomplished author of african descent of his. Equiano purchased his freedom in 1766 and became active in the british antislavery movement. The first autobiography written by a former slave, olaudah equiano s the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano is also one of the most widelyread and wellregarded of the slave narrative genre. This extract, taken from chapter twelve of the interesting narrative, contains equiano s arguments against the slave trade, in particular, his argument that the trade did not make sound economic sense. Interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or.
Harriet jacobs, frederick douglass and olaudah equiano 1985 words 8 pages. In virginia, he worked on a plantation for a few weeks until, his companions sold and dispersed, he was alone and had. Estimated time onetwo class periods 83 minutes1, 59 minutes2 ccss addressed. The life of olaudah equiano study guide gradesaver. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. At the age of about 10 or 11, equiano was kidnapped along with his sister by local raiders and sold into slavery.
Slave narrative, an account of the life, or a major portion of the life, of a fugitive or former slave, either written or orally related by the slave personally. Excerpt from the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano docsouth. Children and youth in history children in the slave trade. Slave narratives, the life stories of people who survived slavery, help us understand the grim. Written and published by equiano, a former slave, it became a prototype for the narratives that followed. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or. Do you think it would be easier to write a slave narrative if you had always been a slave or if you had first been free and then. Equiano moved in high social circles, wrote and spoke frequently in various public media on abolition issues, and petitioned the british parliament on the evils of slavery. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or gustavus vassa the. Literacy and the humanizing project in olaudah equianos the. When he was about eleven, equiano was kidnapped and sold to slave traders headed to the west indies. Meet the author soldier, sailor, north pole explorer. It discusses his time spent in slavery, serving primarily on galleys, documents his attempts at becoming an independent man through his study of the bible, and his eventual success in gaining his own freedom and in business thereafter.