Review of Olaudah Equiano, The Interesting Narrative

 

Equino, Olaudah. The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano­

What are the Assignment Directions ?

As you read the book be alert to, and in your descriptive essay address / answer the following questions that are specific to this book:

Part I

Perhaps one of the most striking aspects of Equiano’s narrative is that it provides readers with a view of Europeans from the viewpoint of a captured African.
In a paragraph detail some of the main differences–of geography and culture–to which Equiano testifies.
2. For these questions, briefly summarize the main points in one paragraph.

What are the main facts about Equiano’s eventual achievement of his freedom?
What things does he attribute to providence?
What things does he attribute to his own self-reliance?

 

What evidence does the book provide about Equiano’s role in the antislavery movement?

 

4. Equiano served in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years’ War (called the French and Indian War in America) under Admiral Edward Boscawen. He saw action including the siege of Louisbourg (1758) in Canada and the battle of Lagos Bay (1759) off the coast of Portugal. In 1773 as a civilian mariner he embarked on an Arctic voyage in search of a Northeast Passage to India.

What insights does Equiano provide from his years at sea?

 

5. Equiano witnessed the early industrialization of England.

What conclusions did he draw about the impact of the Industrial Revolution?

 

6. What evidence does the book provide about Equiano’s religion?

 

7. How did Equiano’s religion affect his actions?

 

Part II

 

8. What was the author’s (Equiano’s) purpose in writing the book? To put it another way:

Where is the author coming from?
Where is he going with this book?

 

9. How well did the author achieve that purpose?

 

10. What specific core audience did the author hope to reach with this book?

 

11. What devices did Equiano use to establish the historical credibility of his Interesting Narrative?

To what extent did the author set standards for accuracy in writing history?
To what extent did the author blur the distinction between fiction and nonfiction?

 

12. What are the book’s strengths and weaknesses?

 

Part II Conclusion

 

Examples and footnotes must be used here.

 

13. To what extent are the author’s expectations and standards of accuracy similar to or different from our own?

To what extent have our expectations and standards of accuracy changed since the author’s time?

 

14. How did the author deal with the challenges and dilemmas that he encountered?

Select two challenges and dilemmas the author encountered and explained how you would deal with the same experiences.