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Chapter 10 Frederick, Douglass, Question 1., What prevented the slaves from knowing their birthdays?, Answer:, First of all, the slave masters preferred it that the black children didn’t know their date, of birth. Secondly, the children were separated from their mothers as infants and, hence lost the chance of getting information about their birth from their mothers., Question 2., How would the master look at the enquiries about the slaves’ birthday?, Answer:, The master considered the enquiries improper and impertinent, and evidence of a, restless spirit., Question 3., What was whispered about Douglass’ parentage?, Answer:, It was whispered that Douglass’ master was his father., Question 4., When was Douglass separated from his mother?, Answer:, When Douglass was an infant., Question 5., Douglass’ mother was able to meet him only at ______, Answer:, Night., Question 6., What was the penalty to the field hand for not being in the field at sunrise?, Answer:, Whipping., Question 7., How old was Douglass when his mother died?, Answer:, About seven years old., Question 8., Name the person who was believed to be both Douglass’ father and master., Answer:, Captain Anthony.

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Question 9., What was Mr Plummer?, Answer:, An overseer., Comprehension II, Question 1., Why wasn’t Douglass affected much by his mother’s death?, Answer:, The story of Douglass is the pitiable story of man’s cruelty scheming against the, natural ways of nature. Douglass narrates to the readers as to how the selfish people, who employed children as slaves systematically cut the children from their roots., He knows that his mother was a black woman named Harriet Bailey from whom he, was separated when he was an infant. He had seen his mother only four or five, times when she met him after walking twelve miles from Mr Stewart’s place where, she worked as a field hand, and each of these times was very short in duration and, at night. She had to be back in the field before the sunrise if she had to escape the, penalty of whipping from the slave master. This left the mother and child very little, time and scope for communication. She would lie down with him, and get him to, sleep, but long before he woke she was gone. He does not remember having ever, seen his mother by the light of the day. The sad outcome of this is that he does not, remember much about his mother and when he lost her when he was around seven,, he didn’t feel the usual emotions of sorrow., Comprehension III, Question 1., What kind of hardships did the slaves suffer at the hands of the slaveholder and his, mistress?, Answer:, The mistress always found fault with the slaves, particularly the mulatto children, and, ensured that they came under the lash. Whenever she suspected her husband of, showing extra favours to his mulatto children which he withheld from other black, slaves, her anger was even more and she compelled her husband to sell this class, of slaves. If he didn’t, the master had to whip such slaves himself or see one of his, sons tie up and beat up his brother. Thus we see that the slaves suffered unbearable, hardships at the hands of the slaveholder and his mistress, and if the master, happened to be the father of the slave, the plight of such a slave was even worse., Question 2., How does the passage comment on the dreadful experience of slavery?, Answer:, The dreadful experience of slavery starts the very minute a child is born. The child is, separated from the mother in its infancy, breaking the bond between the mother and

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the child. Even after that, the mother is not allowed to meet the child often, and this, again goes against the possibility of establishing an emotional bond. The child has to, suffer the psychological impact of not knowing who the father is. Worse still are the, whispers and speculations about who the possible father is. These emotional, problems are compounded with physical harassment. The slaves are constantly, whipped by not only their slave masters but also others such as overseers and the, slave master’s white children., The women are in an even worse situation. We can see that they are used by white, men to fulfil their lust. Their plight as field hands is pitiable. They can move out only, after nightfall and have to be back at work at dawn unless they have permission from, their masters. The fact remains that their cruel masters do not easily give them such, liberty. The references to the women who have had their heads slashed and body, completely bruised with the beatings given with the cow skin are a testimony to the, inhuman treatment meted out to the slaves by their masters., Question 3., In spite of the hardships he suffered as a slave, why does the author say, “slavery, would not always be able to hold me within its foul embrace”?, Answer:, The author comes out as an optimist who, in spite of horrible hardships, still has the, hope of coming out of the bondage of slavery. He thanks God for giving him this, tenacity. But, we can see that it is the inner strength of the speaker who opposes the, injustice of not only his state but also the plight of all slaves. Being a witness to the, tragic plight of his mother and the horrible state of his aunt must have strengthened, his resolve to come out of the noose of slavery. It is because of such people who, fought against all odds that the sla