The Slave Narrative

A discussion will be held about the nature and characteristics of Slave Narratives first in a theoretical sense basing on the following resources:

The Slave Narrative
Characteristics of the Slave Narrative

Eventually, features of Slave Narratives will be discussed in more concrete terms basing on the following text:

NARRATIVE OF THE LIFE OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS, AN AMERICAN SLAVE. WRITTEN BY HIMSELF


more attention will be given to

CHAPTER 16: ANOTHER PRESSURE OF THE TYRANT'S VICE

from My Bondage and My Freedom By Frederick Douglass.

Colonial African American Literature: Phillis Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley: Biography of a Genius in Bondage:
An interesting lecture that reveals aspects of Wheatley's life as a poetess in bondage.

Poems:

On Being Brought from Africa to America 

'Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,


Taught my benighted soul to understand


That there's a God, that there's a Saviour too:


Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.


Some view our sable race with scornful eye,


"Their colour is a diabolic die."


Remember, Christians, Negro's, black as Cain,


May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.

On Virtue  O THOU bright jewel in my aim I strive
To comprehend thee. Thine own words declare
Wisdom is higher than a fool can reach.
I cease to wonder, and no more attempt
Thine height t’ explore, or fathom thy profound.	5
But, O my soul, sink not into despair,
Virtue is near thee, and with gentle hand
Would now embrace thee, hovers o’er thine head.
Fain would the heav’n-born soul with her converse,
Then seek, then court her for her promis’d bliss.	10
Auspicious queen, thine heav’nly pinions spread,
And lead celestial Chastity along;
Lo! now her sacred retinue descends,
Array’d in glory from the orbs above.
Attend me, Virtue, thro’ my youthful years!	15
O leave me not to the false joys of time!
But guide my steps to endless life and bliss.
Greatness, or Goodness, say what I shall call thee,
To give me an higher appellation still,
Teach me a better strain, a nobler lay,	20
O thou, enthron’d with Cherubs in the realms of day!

African American Literature: A General introductory Overview

• The aim of this lecture is to provide students with a general outline of African American Literature that helps them place that body of literature in its politico-historical context.
Discussions and debates in the classroom will be based on the following materials:

Overview of African American Literature

African American literature

SOME GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LITERATURE

Characteristics of African American Literature

• This brief outline of African American Literature constitute the foundation for a more detailed study.
• The characteristics of African American Literature, on the other hand, will be subject to illustrative examples from different eras in the African American body of literature.