Describe Equiano's view of the Middle Passage. What
does this experience involve for him?
Chapter Three: To Virginia and England: 18:
Why is he called Jacob? Why is this significant?
Why does he get renamed Gustavus Vassa? Why does he
prefer to be called Jacob?
22:
What does Equiano mean when he mentions "our troops,"
"our men," and "the enemy"?
Chapter Four Web Site :
What does Equiano mean when he says he has become "almost
an Englishman"? Why almost?
Chapter Five:
Why does it appear "as if it were no crime in the whites
to rob an innocent African girl of her virtue, but most
heinous in a black man only to gratify a passion of nature,
where the temptation was offered by one of a different color,
though the most abandoned woman of her species"?
Other Discussion Questions: Chapter One: 3:
Explain: "What passes in one family or village may
serve as a specimen of the whole nation" (196).
What is Embrenche?
3-4:
Marriage Ritual as Exchange of property: How is this
portrayed in relation to that in Othello?
6:
Where do they get their Slaves?
7:
Describe their theological views. How do they
relate to the theological perspectives of other cultures?
How does this community compare to that of the Jews?
Why is Equiano making this comparison? (See also pg. 9)
9:
How are snakes favorable omens?
Chapter Two: 10:
Why does he again begin with an apologia?
13:
What happens that makes him "forget" that he is a slave?
Chapter Three: 17:
What is an Iron Muzzle?
Explain the significance of the Watch and the Picture.
18:
Who has a "mind superior to prejudice"? Explain.
19:
What is a Grampus? Why is Equiano afraid of them?
20:
Why does he try to wash his face to resemble the white
girl?
21:
Why is he induced to fight with a white boy?
Why does he mention the story of the man who lost his
eye?
23:
Explain what Equiano means when he says that, after the
military campaign, "my master and I soon followed with a press
gang, as we wanted some hands to complete our complement"
(241). What is a press-gang? Who are "we"?
Chapter Four:
What does Equiano mean when he says he has become "almost
an Englishman"? Why almost?
Chapter Five:
What is an overseer?
How many slaves were needed annually to maintain the
original stock in the West Indies? Why?
Why doesn't God's judgment come down upon these cruel
masters?
Questions for Chapters not
Included in this Edition (Page #s refer to 1st Ed.): Chapter Seven: 269:
How does Equiano secure his freedom?
Chapter Ten: 288:
Why does Equiano "seek the Lord with full purpose of
heart"?
Why do Quakers, Catholics, and Jews not suffice for him?
Although he had been freed in 1766, why is he still
seeking "masters"?
290:
What is a love-feast?
291:
How, does he learn, is salvation to be found?
294:
Why does the Bible take on added meaning for him?
295-97:
How would you characterize the verses he presents at the
end of this chapter? How has religion influenced his
view of his enslavement?
Chapter Eleven: 299:
Why does he reject the offer to join the Catholic Church?
301:
Why does Equiano help Doctor Irving buy slaves? Why
does he pick his own countrymen?
Chapter Twelve:
Why is Equiano's life more settled after his return to
London?
302:
How does the relationship between men and women in
Central America compare to that in Africa?
304:
Explain: "All my poor countrymen, the slaves, when
they heard of my leaving them, were very sorry, as I had
always treated them with care and affection, and did
everything I could to comfort the poor creatures, and make
their condition easy" (304).
304-7:
How does Equiano keep getting "tricked" on his way to
Jamaica?
If he's not afraid of death, why does he bow to death
threats?
308-9:
Why does Equiano want to become a missionary to
Africa? Why is he unsuccessful?
311:
Why are the poor blacks being sent to Sierre Leone?
313:
Why does the mission to send the poor blacks to Sierre
Leone fail?
315:
Why, according to Equiano, would ending slavery be in
England's economic best interest?
