Understanding gustavus vassa, or olaudah equiano, was the first successful professional author of african descent in the englishspeaking world. Equiano was viewed as an authority in relation to the slave trade. Commonlit olaudah equiano recalls the middle passage. Abolition, ethnicity, and identity in the interesting narrative. The slaves point of view in the life of olaudah equiano. Equianos visit to guernsey certainly confirms that the island was not free of slaves, but it also highlights the fact that slavetrading in guernsey ships was being carried out in proximity to some of the most influential guernsey families of the mid. Equiano, olaudah, 1745publication date 1837 publisher boston, i. He became a prominent member of the sons of africa, a group of 12. 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. Pdf the life of olaudah equiano ebooks includes pdf.
Originally published in 1789, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vass, the african, played a large role in altering public opinion towards the slave trade in britain. His narrative is extremely valuable not only for the wealth of information it presents on childrens experiences in the slave trade, but also for those examining the abolitionist movement in england during this period of time. Literacy and the humanizing project in olaudah equianos the. Upon arriving, the first thing equiano noticed was the sea holding a slave ship, waiting for cargo. Excerpt from the interesting narrative of the life of. Equiano s autobiography helped in the creation of the slave trade act 1807 which ended the african slave trade for britain and its colonies. Collections north american slave narratives document menu olaudah equiano, b. The following text is an excerpt from equianos autobiography, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, in which equiano tells the tale of his brutal voyage across the. Olaudah equiano, selfproclaimed west african sold into slavery and later freed. I hanover historical texts project scanned and proofread by kathleen diekhoff, may 1998. Enslaved as a child, he was taken to the caribbean and sold as a slave to a royal navy officer.
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 business. Excerpt from the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah. Gutenberg ebook of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. His narrative tells his personal story of kidnapping, being sold into slavery and his experience in the middle passage. Though he spent a brief period in the state of virginia, much of equiano s time in slavery was spent serving the captains of slave ships and british navy vessels. Leader vincent carretta professor of english, university of maryland national humanities center fellow about the seminar. Equiano, olaudah the interesting narrative of the life of. He tells of his abduction from africa at the age of ten, and his subsequent years of labor on slave ships. About the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano.
The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african ebook pdf, epub, mobi, prc about the author olaudah equiano c. Despite the controversy regarding his birth, his book remains an essential work both for its picture of 18thcentury africa as a model of social harmony defiled by western greed and for its eloquent argument against the barbarous slave trade. And although his arguments are outdated today by 1797 the slave trade had been outlawed in the british colonies, equiano s narrative serves as a reminder that at some point, two hundred years ago, they had to be made olaudah equaino. Pdf downloads of all 1282 litcharts literature guides, and of every new. Olaudah equiano, known for most of his life as gustavus vassa, was a writer and abolitionist from, according to his memoir, the eboe region of the kingdom of benin. Excerpt from olaudah equiano, the interesting narrative of the life of oludah equiano 1789.
He wrote and published his narrative in 1789, at the height of the movement to abolish slavery in the british colonies. It was published in 1789, at a time when its author was wellknown in english abolitionist circles. Olaudah equiano 17451797, known by people as gustavus vassa, was a freed slave turned prominent african man in london. 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. Jun 09, 2014 he couldnt breakfree off slavery until he bought his freedom in 1766. Angloamerican slave narratives in the netherlands, 178920. According to equiano, slave traders abducted him and his sister at the age of 11 and shipped them to.
Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Equiano is often regarded as the originator of the slave narrative because of his firsthand literary testimony against the slave trade. Proofread and pages added by jonathan perry, march 2001. He worked on a naval ship and fought during the seven years war, which he felt earned him a right to freedom. For instance raymond hcdin argucs that in general in cighteenth ccntury lave narratives. Mar 27, 2020 olaudah equiano, selfproclaimed west african sold into slavery and later freed. In telling the story of his life from his childhood to the present day, olaudah equiano seeks to acquaint his british readers with the richness of life in his african home by detailing the dances, rites, and other social customs of his village. He was sent to barbados, then to colonial virginia, and then sold to a british naval officer. Olaudah equiano s from the interesting narrative of olaudah equiano is written with the intent of ending the slave trade and aiding the abolitionists movement. Clarifying how does a personal account such as this one help historians analyze the past, and what, specifically, does olaudah equiano report that helps you to better understand. Equiano spent the next ten years as a slave in the.
If one way of reading equiano s narrative is of a path from ignorance to knowledge, another is as a movement from freedom into captivity and back to freedom. Gustavus vassa, the african slave narratives equiano, olaudah on. Eventually, he was able to purchase his freedom and move to england. Through this narrative, the appalling personal experience of each slave is depicted. He was sold twice more but purchased his freedom in 1766. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african is considered the first major slave autobiography in english literature. Olaudah equiano led a remarkable life by the standards of any age. A docudrama based on the book, the interesting narrative of the life of oloudah equiano, or gustavus vaasa the african, which was the first influential slave autobiography. 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.
Olaudah equiano recalls the middle passage 1789 olaudah equiano 1745. 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. Or gustavus vassa, the african ebook written by olaudah equiano. When he was about eleven, equiano was kidnapped and sold to slave traders headed to the west indies. The life of olaudah equiano themes from litcharts the. The life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the.
Get the entire the life of olaudah equiano litchart as a printable pdf. Olaudah equiano the slave trade, yet horrific in its inhumanity, became an important aspect of the worlds economy during the eighteenth century. Narrative of the life olaudah equiano olaudah equiano of in the first several chapters, vassa describes how he and his sister were kidnapped from their home in west arrica by slave traders and transported to the 4frtcan coast. 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. 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 wrote the interesting narrative at a time when many africans remembered their lives before enslavement. Gustavus vassa the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or. The life of olaudah equiano study guide from litcharts the. The following text is an excerpt from equiano s autobiography, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, in which equiano tells the tale of his brutal voyage across the. Summary of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah.
Ocean crossings according to his autobiography, equiano was born a chiefs son in the ibo or igbo culture of presentday nigeria. When he is brought to the coast and sees the slave ship, equiano s first thought is that he will be. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african written by himself behold, god is my salvation. As a freedman in london, equiano supported the british abolitionist movement. 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. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano by. Olaudah equiano was born in 1745 in eboe, in what is now nigeria. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano essays are academic essays for citation. The narrative is argued to represent a variety of styles, such as a slavery narrative, travel narrative, and spiritual narrative. Equiano s autobiography is universally accepted as the fundamental text in the genre of the slave narrative. He was handled by the crew to see if he was strong and healthy.
Full text of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. A remarkable account of early slavery and later freedom, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano is the 1789 autobiography of former slave olaudah equiano. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. Oct 18, 2017 olaudah equiano also known as gustavus vassa was born on 16 october 1746 in southern nigeria. Harriet jacobs, frederick douglass and olaudah equiano 1985 words 8 pages. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano kindle edition by equiano, olaudah. Read a brief narrative about the extraordinary life of olaudah equiano discover how this former black slave became involved in the british abolition movement. Download the dutch edition of the interesting narrative pdf belowthe dutch edition of the interesting narrative equiano 2019 e. 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. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano.
Equiano writes one of the best primary sources from a slaves perspective and masters perspective during slavery. Proceedings of the 3rd international bakea symposium of western cultural and literary studies. A key document of the early movement to ban the slave trade, it includes the earliest known firsthand description by a slave of the horrific middle passage from africa to the americas. Literary scholars and historians credit equianos work with establishing the genre and format of the slave narrative, which other authors would use as a model for their own stories. That part of africa, known by the name of guinea, to which the trade for slaves is carried. Nigerian slave and abolitionist olaudah equiano 17451797 was sold to white slavers when he was eleven and renamed gustavas vassa. 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. Commonlit olaudah equiano recalls the middle passage free. Excerpts from the book now appear in every anthology and on any website covering american, africanamerican, british, and caribbean history and literature of the eighteenth century. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Pdf the life of olaudah equiano ebooks includes pdf, epub. 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. Narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, free ebook global. The slave narratives emerging in the late eighteenth century arose from an.
The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, written in 1789, is the autobiography of olaudah equiano. Olaudah equiano the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african london, 1789. Excerpts from the interesting narrative of olaudah equiano. Equiano s greatest legacy is his classic 1789 autobiography, the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. During a time when thousands of africans were being traded for currency, olaudah equiano became one of countless children kidnapped and sold on the black market as a slave.
Edited and with notes by shelly eversley introduction by robert reidpharr in this truly astonishing eighteenthcentury memoir, olaudah equiano recounts his remarkable life story, which begins when he is kidnapped in africa as a boy and sold into slavery and culminates when he has achieved renown as a british antislavery advocate. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. Full text of the interesting narrative of the life of. He accomplishes his rhetorical purpose of informing the world of the slave experience in this narrative. Pdf teaching guide to the interesting narrative of the. 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. 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. I will trust and not be afraid, for the lord jehovah is my strength and my song. Olaudah equianos the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah. He then voiced out his experience as a slave through his narrative the life of olaudah equiano which later encouraged other enslaved african american to realize that they have rights for freedom. Over the past thirtyfive years, historians, literary critics, and the general public have come to recognize the author of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. During this six or sevenmonth journey, vassa was separated from his. The life of olaudah equiano study guide gradesaver. His interesting narrative is a spiritual autobiography, captivity narrative, travel book, adventure tale, slavery narrative.
Summary of the interesting narrative of the life of. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or. Olaudah equiano, kidnapped at age 11, became one of the most prominent english abolitionists of the 18th century. Olaudah equiano books list of books by author olaudah. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano or. A short documentary in honour of olaudah equiano the nigerian slave who fought for the end of slave trade. 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 autobiography the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, published in 1789 whose. Characteristics of olaudah equiano 1010 words bartleby.
Proofread and posted by raluca preotu, august 1999. He later worked on board royal navy vessels, receiving an education and converting to christianity. Equiano died in 1797, before britain took positive action toward abolition. A teaching guide from the antislavery literature project, with a crosscultural study guide coauthored by shi penglu. 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 11, he was captured and sold as a slave to a. His life is a tale of terror, as well as an exciting adventure. Pdf, epub, kindle ebook of the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa. This is an account by a prominent african abolitionist. Meet the author soldier, sailor, north pole explorer.
Douglass, frederick, jacobs, harriet, equiano, olaudah, prince, mary. Equianos multilayered appeal for abolition of slavery. When he was about ten years old, he was kidnapped by africans known as aros and sold into slavery. The interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavas vassa, the african. Interesting narrative, equiano manages to combine autobiography with arguments against slavery. Olaudah equiano contributes to this horrid history with the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. Equiano purchased his freedom in 1766 and became active in the british antislavery movement. See all books authored by olaudah equiano, including the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano. Gustavus vassa the interesting narrative of the life of olaudah equiano, or gustavus vassa, the african. The interesting life of olaudah equiano or gustavus vassa, the african. And in that shall ye say, praise the lord, call upon his name, declare his doings among the people. The life of olaudah equiano themes from litcharts the creators of sparknotes. Slave narratives, the life stories of people who survived slavery, help us understand the grim. Equiano became an abolitionist and began to record his life story after being freed.
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