1. Juliane Roberts-Nikyema
Webquest
Grades 9-10 / Language Arts
Perspectives on the Slave Narrative
Objective: Tointroduce students to the Slave Narrative as an integral part of early
American literature, and to explore the narrative’s influence on American culture across
a broad spectrum of peoples and mediums.To familiarize students with aspects of
American slave life in preparation to read “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass,
an American Slave.”
Perspectives on the Slave Narrative
Webquest
http://www.beyondbooks.org/slavery/images/feet.jpg
1. View the picture on this website:
- Make a list of 6 verbs that are evoked from this image.
- Use those verbs to write a short poem about this image.
http://utc.iath.virginia.edu/abolitn/gallpsf.html
2. Look through the images on this page:
- Choose 3 images and write a descriptive caption for each image.
http://www.archives.gov/global-pages/larger-
image.html?i=/education/lessons/slavery/images/atlanta-manifest-l.jpg&c=

2. 3. Read the slave manifest document:
- Reading the Slave Manifest in the 21st Century, what can we say about the 19th
Century attitudes on equality and how one “race” views another?
http://library.thinkquest.org/03oct/00394/life.htm
4. Read through the categories on “A day in the life of a slave”:
- Using each of these categories, create a day in your life bylisting the things in a
typical day in your life (like clothing you will wear, food you will eat, etc.)
- Now, make a brief comparison of your life and the life of a slave. What did you
notice?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solomon_Northup
5. Take a few minutes and read this website about Solomon Northrup:
- Put yourself in Solomon’s shoes while he was in slavery, and write a 2 paragraph
letter to your wife. How would you feel? What things would you say to your
wife?
http://www.frederickdouglass.org/douglass_bio.html
6. Read this short biography about Frederick Douglas:
- List his three key for a successful life.
- List three of your own ideas for keys to a successful life.
http://www.mentorhigh.com/quest_civil_war/newfinal/ugrr/faq.phtml
7. Read this brief document:
- What was the Underground Railroad? Give a description.
- List three signals/signs of a safe house.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAs_ZmtuKOg&feature=player_embedded
8. Watch this short video and listen carefully to the songs:
- List some purposes for the slave songs.
- What were the hidden messages in the songs “Follow the Drinking Gourd” and
“Wade in the Water”?
http://www.osblackhistory.com/quiltcodes.php
9. Look through the quilt patterns and descriptions on this page:
- Using the at least 4 different quilt patterns, sketch a quilt that could be used as a
guide for the Underground Railroad.

3. - Describe the directions for your quilt. What do they tell the slave to do or watch
out for?
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2009/10/08/us/politics/20091008-obama-
family-tree.html
10. Did you know Michelle Obama has slavery in her family history? Watch this
short video:
- Writing as Michelle’s ancestor Melvina, write a journal paragraph about what
Melvina would say if she could see her descendent, Michelle, as the First Lady of
the United States. How would she feel? What might her thoughts be?

4. Answer Key
1. Personal written piece of poetry.
2. Creative writing piece.
3. Personal opinion.
4. Personal response.
5. Creative writing piece.
6. Part one: Believe in yourself; take advantage of every opportunity; use the
power of spoken and written language to effect a positive change for yourself
and society.
Part two: Personal response
7. Part one: It is a system of routes and safe houses where slaves could make their
way to freedom.
Part two: Drinking gourds; row of white bricks on roof; red flag on statue.
8. Part one: To communicate without slave owners understanding, including help
escaping slavery.
Part two: “Follow the Drinking Gourd” is a mapped song to guide slaves
through the Underground Railroad, and a reminder to follow the North Star
which is connected to the Big Dipper. “Wade Through the Water” reminds
escaping slaves to lose the dog’s scent by walking in the water.
9. Drawing of a quilt; Personal description of their drawing.
10. Creative writing piece.