The narrative is argued to represent a variety of styles, such as a slavery narrative, travel narrative, and spiritual narrative. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavas vassa, the african. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african 1789, ch. Written and published by equiano, a former slave, it became a prototype for those that followed.
Pdf the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, is a personal autobiography of himself, olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, documenting the hardships of slavery throughout his lifetime. It was published in 1789, at a time when its author was wellknown in english abolitionist circles. The life of olaudah equiano is one of the earliestknown examples of published writing by an african writer and the first influential slave narrative of what became a large literary genre. The life of olaudah equiano study guide gradesaver. Olaudah equiano aka gustavus vassa the breaker of chains. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on litcharts. The book the classic slave narratives is a collection of narratives that includes the historical enslavement experiences in the lives of the former slaves harriet jacobs, frederick douglass, and olaudah equiano. When he was about ten years old, he was kidnapped by africans known as aros and sold into slavery. You may copy it, give it away or reuse it under the terms of the project gutenberg license included with this ebook or online at. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. Pdf the life of olaudah equiano ebooks includes pdf. Understanding gustavus vassa, or olaudah equiano, was the first successful professional author of african descent in the englishspeaking world.
The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or. In 1789, a middleaged africanborn man in london published the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, laying the foundations for new genres of literature and new ways of. Equiano purchased his freedom in 1766 and became active in the british antislavery movement. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african written by himself author. Excerpts from the interesting narrative of olaudah equiano. Olaudah equiano was an african activist, journalist, explorer, writer, seamen merchant, abolitionist, and antislavery campaigner best known for his influence over british abolitionists and his personal account of slavery in his bestselling. An american literary genre, a slave narrative is an autobiographical account of life as a slave. Equianos account of the middle passage is an early example of a slave narrative. Written by himself was the first work that influenced the nineteenthcentury genre of slave narrative autobiographies. Summary of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, written in 1789, details its writers life in slavery, his time spent serving on galleys, the eventual attainment of his own freedom and later success in. This selection from equianos narrative provides a sobering descrip tion of the middle passage and the operation of the slave trade. Equiano writes one of the best primary sources from a slave s perspective and masters perspective during slavery.
Olaudah equiano led a remarkable life by the standards of any age. The life of olaudah equiano study guide from litcharts the. From the interesting narrative and other writings, by olaudah equiano. Equiano writes one of the best primary sources from a slave s perspective and. Quotes from olaudah equianos the life of olaudah equiano. He told the story of his life and suffering as a slave. The interesting narrative and other writings, by olaudah equiano. Excerpt from olaudah equiano, the interesting narrative of the life of oludah equiano 1789. Olaudah equiano also known as gustavus vassa was born on 16 october 1746 in southern nigeria. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. His autobiography, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. But it is one of the first in a long tradition of memoirs by former slaves that. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african written by himself language.
A resident of london during the 1780s, equiano became involved in british abolitionism and was a vocal opponent of the slave trade and slavery until his death in 1797. Famous black civil rights activists and politicians. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano was a key work of nineteenthcentury slave narrative autobiography. It discusses his time spent in slavery, serving primarily on galleys, documents his attempts at becoming an independent man through his study of the bible, and his eventual success in gaining his own freedom and in business thereafter. That part of africa, known by the name of guinea, to which the trade for slaves. Answering the question above, i have come to discuss the life of olaudah equiano as one of slave narratives written in eighteenth centuries that belongs to abolitionist literature, a type of literature whose main aim is the abolition of slave system.
Learn the important quotes in the life of olaudah equiano and the chapters theyre from, including why theyre important and what they mean in the context of the book. Harriet jacobs, frederick douglass and olaudah equiano 1985 words 8 pages. Download the dutch edition of the interesting narrative pdf belowthe dutch edition of the interesting narrative equiano 2019 e. Equianos visit to guernsey certainly confirms that the island was not free of slaves, but it also highlights the fact that slave trading in guernsey ships was being carried out in proximity to some of the most influential guernsey families of the mid. Olaudah equianos views of slavery in his narrative of the life. Olaudah equiano describes national humanities center. According to equiano, slave traders abducted him and his sister at the age of 11 and shipped them to. Kidnapped in africa as a child, equiano was transported to the caribbean and then to virginia, bought by a quaker.
Aged 11, he was kidnapped, along with sisters, by native slave holders. Written and published by equiano, a former slave, it became a prototype for the narratives that followed. Olaudah equiano describes his homeland in west africa. Full text online at documenting the american south. Proceedings of the 3rd international bakea symposium of western cultural and literary studies. The project gutenberg ebook of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, by olaudah equiano this ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. His interesting narrative is a spiritual autobiography, captivity narrative, travel book, adventure tale, slavery narrative. Excerpt from the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah. Slave narrative a slave narrative is an autobiographical ac count of life as a slave. Published in 1789, equianos autobiography was the first of its kind to influence a wide audience. The narrative basically serves olaudahs perspective on slavery as a form of racism act. The project gutenberg ebook of the interesting narrative. Olaudah equiano wrote the interesting narrative at a time when many africans remembered their lives before enslavement.
Olaudah equianos argument against slavery was his life. As an upper class citizen, he was entitled to own slaves. In the following excerpt, equiano describes cross ing the atlantic in a slave ship. Equianos narrative is often considered the prototypical slave narrative, even though it doesnt perfectly fit into the structure of slavery, escape, and freedom that tends to encapsulate the form. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african, first published in 1789 in london, is the autobiography of olaudah equiano. When he was about eleven, equiano was kidnapped and sold to slave traders headed to the west indies. In the mid 1750s when he was about eleven years old, olaudah equiano was captured with his sister by slave traders in presentday southeastern nigeria. Equianos narrative clearly combines both purposes from the very outset. The project gutenberg ebook of the interesting narrative of. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools.
Olaudah equiano, selfproclaimed west african sold into slavery and later freed. Five decades before ex slave writers such as frederick douglass and henry box brown launched their wellpublicized british and irish lecture tours in the midnineteenth century, equiano mapped much the same ground, as. But it is one of the first in a long tradition of memoirs by former slaves that often agitate for the end of slavery through a personal story. In describing significant events in his or her life, the writer often documents the horrors of slavery. Instant downloads of all 1296 litchart pdfs including the life of olaudah equiano. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or gustavus vassa, the african. From a young age, equiano was familiar with the institution of slavery.
Oct 18, 2017 olaudah equiano also known as gustavus vassa was born on 16 october 1746 in southern nigeria. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano essays are academic essays for citation. He wrote and published his narrative in 1789, at the height of the movement to abolish slavery in the british colonies. Though he spent a brief period in the state of virginia, much of equianos time in slavery was spent serving the captains of slave ships and british navy vessels. When he was 11, he was captured and sold as a slave to a. Often written to ex pose the horrors of human bondage, it documents a slaves experi ences from his or her own point of view. Olaudah equiano 17451797 the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, written in 1789, is the autobiography of olaudah equiano. Ocean crossings according to his autobiography, equiano was born a chiefs son in the ibo or igbo culture of presentday nigeria.
He was sent to barbados, then to colonial virginia, and then sold to a british naval officer. Quotes from olaudah equiano s the life of olaudah equiano. Olaudah equiano was born in 1745 in eboe, in what is now nigeria. According to equiano, slave traders abducted him and his sister at. Gutenberg ebook of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. He describes scenes of outrageous torture and made it clear to his readers how the institution of slavery dehumanized both owner and slave.
The first autobiography written by a former slave, olaudah equiano s the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano is also one of the most widelyread and wellregarded of the slave narrative genre. Angloamerican slave narratives in the netherlands, 178920. Written and published by equiano, a former slave, it became a. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the autobiography of olaudah equiano. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano study guide contains a biography of olaudah equiano, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and ana. That part of africa, known by the name of guinea, to which the trade for slaves is carried. Jan 01, 2009 published in 1789, equianos autobiography was the first of its kind to influence a wide audience. Pdf the life of olaudah equiano ebooks includes pdf, epub. Teach your students to analyze literature like litcharts does. Mar 27, 2020 olaudah equiano, selfproclaimed west african sold into slavery and later freed. Interesting narrative, equiano manages to combine autobiography with arguments against slavery.
His 1789 autobiography was immensely popular, and he is considered the originator of the slave narrative, although there is controversy regarding his birth. Olaudah equiano recalls the middle passage 1789 olaudah equiano 1745. The slaves point of view in the life of olaudah equiano. Writing as a former slave in the 1700s, equiano left powerful testimony on the brutality of enslavement that became the model for a new genre, the slave narrative. Equianos autobiography helped in the creation of the slave trade act 1807 which ended the african slave trade for britain and its colonies. This selection from equianos narrative provides a sobering descrip tion of the middle passage and the operation of the slave. Edited with and introduction and notes by vincent carretta. The life of olaudah equiano chapter i summary and analysis.