Aprha Behn (ca. 1640-1689)
Oroonoko, or the Royal Slave
(1688)
Things to Consider:
- Genre
- Memoir
- Travel Narrative
- Biography
- Race and Colonialism
- Types of Slavery
- Role of Gender and Standards of Beauty
- Religion and Morality
Discussion Questions (See Part Two ):
1005-6:
- What three older literary forms does Behn combine in her
narrative?
1006:
- According to the editors, what is the role of the Englishwoman
who narrates the story?
1011:
- Explain: "[W]here there is no novelty there can be no
curiosity" (1011).
1012:
- Explain the process of securing slaves in Surinam.
1014:
- Why does the Narrator take such care to distinguish Oroonoko's
looks from more typical "Negroes"?
1015:
- Explain the significance of the pledge of love between
Oroonoko and Imoinda.
1016:
- Why does the king claim Imoinda even though he knows she is
betrothed to Oroonoko?
1022:
- Why is Oroonoko sent away from the king's court on pain of
death?
1026-27:
- How is Oroonoko able to secure victory for his army?
1029:
- Explain the discussion of gods and honor.
Other Discussion Questions:
1005:
- Describe Behn's background.
- What is the significance of Behn's being buried in Westminster
Abbey?
- Explain the quote from Virginia Woolf.
- In what ways, according to the editors, is Oroonoko original?
1010:
- Explain the opening paragraph of the narrative.
1011:
- Why is the Narrator providing so much detail about the
animals, feathers, and beads traded with the slaves of Surinam?
- Explain the narrator's attitude toward the "Indians" she
describes.
- Explain: "[T]hey have all that is called beauty, except the
color" (1011).
1013:
- What is a Moor?
- How does Oroonoko become general at the age of 17?
- How, according to the Narrator, has Oroonoko achieved
"greatness of soul" (1013)?
1014-15:
- How is Imoinda portrayed here?
- Why does Oroonoko present slaves to her?
1016:
- Why does Oroonoko go hunting before telling his grandfather,
the king, about Imoinda?
1017:
- How does Oroonoko respond to the news that his grandfather has
claimed Imoinda?
1020:
- Explain the relationship between new wives and old wives.
- How will Aboan assist Oroonoko with Onahal?
1022:
- Explain the interaction between Oroonoko and Imoinda.
1024:
- How does Imoinda stop the king from killing her for sleeping
with Oroonoko?
- Why does he send both Imoinda and Onahal to be sold into
slavery?
- Why would it have been nobler to have killed Imoinda?
1025:
- How does Oroonoko respond to the news of Imoinda's "death"?
1027:
- Explain the relationship between Oroonoko and the slave ship
captain.
1028:
- Why does the captain enslave Oroonoko?
1030:
- How does Oroonoko convince his brethren to eat aboard the
slave ship?
Part Two:
Discussion Questions:
1030:
- Why are all the "noble
slaves" separated in Surinam?
1031-32:
- Why does Oroonoko inspire
such admiration?
1044-45:
- How does Oroonoko incite his
fellow slaves to revolt?
1046:
- Why do the other slaves abandon Oroonoko?
1050:
- Why does Oroonoko decide to
kill Imoinda? How does she respond when he tells her what he
plans to do?
1052:
- Why is Oroonoko unable to
execute his plan of revenge after killing Imoinda?
1054:
- Explain Oroonoko's final
words.
- Explain the Narrator's final words.
Concluding
Questions:
- How would you characterize the Narrator's involvement
in the story? To what extent is she reponsible for the
ultimate resolution of events? Explain.
- In the end, how sympathetically is Oroonoko portrayed
by the Narrator? Explain.
Other Discussion Questions:
1031:
- Describe John Trefry.
- What is a backearay?
1032:
- Why does Trefry rename
Oroonoko Caesar?
- Explain the Narrator's
discussion of the "female pen."
1033:
- Why do the other slaves bow
down and kiss Oroonoko's feet?
- How does Oroonoko respond to
this action?
- Describe "Clemene."
1034:
- Describe Imoinda's reunion
with Oroonoko.
1035:
- Why is Oroonoko's
French companion not made a slave?
- Why are Oroonoko and Imoinda
promised their freedom? Why is Oroonoko
skeptical?
- How do the whites view his behavior in this regard?
1036:
- How does the Narrator assuage Oroonoko's
fears?
1037:
- Why does the
Narrator describe Surinam in such great detail?
1038:
- Why do the Narrator
and others raid tigers' dens?
- Explain the Narrator's use of
the masculine pronoun to refer to the female tiger.
1039:
- Why does Oroonoko
seek to kill the tiger no one has been able to?
- How has the tiger been able to survive with seven
bullets in her heart?
1040:
- Explain what happens with the eel.
1040-43:
- Explain the interaction of the Narrator and
Oroonoko's group with the citizens of the Indian
town.
1042:
- Explain the role of the Peeie.
1042-43:
- Explain the process whereby the Indians "choose" a
general.
1046:
- Describe William Byam, the deputy governor.
1047:
- Why does Oroonoko refuse to
accept Byam's terms for surrender?
- Why does he finally agree to do so?
1048:
- What has the Narrator believed Oroonoko
would do when she first learns of his escape?
1053:
- Why does Oroonoko rip open his own belly when the
mobile confronts him?
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