12 Years a Slave Questions

12 Years a Slave

Quarter Assessment:

8 Questions

Nelson Gonzalez
12 Years a Slave Questions

Question 2

Twelve Years a Slave ​by Solomon Northup, tells the story of how the Author was

thrown into slavery and his experience. This book was meant to familiarize with what the slaves

face in their bondage. It was aimed for a white democratic and as such he had to make it appeal

to them by using a few choice words.

Northup starts of with an introduction of him and his family's history. This was aimed to

introduce the reader to Northup in order for them to understand more about his life before

slavery so that they may understand what it is that he lost. He later talks about his opinion of

slavery before his bondage. ​“I was too ignorant, perhaps too independent, to conceive how

anyone could be content to live in the abject condition of a slave(Northup, pg 16)”​ He

announced that he was just like them. He wants the reader to connect to him and for the events

that will later happen to cause more of an effect on the white reader.

The people, the slaves that that were with him, they were named, they had identities. He

talked about Eliza and how she was in comfort with her master, ​“she resided with him there nine

years, with servants to attend upon her, and provided with every comfort and luxury of

life.(Northup, Pg.35)” ​He talked about how Eliza and her kids were sold by her old master’s

daughter. Her children were taken by her, she wept and wept and wept. They soon got sick of her

behavior and they killed her. Northup did the same thing for other slaves that he encountered.

Told them of their story in order the readers to understand that these slaves have story. They are

people that were born or tricked into slavery, by attempting to gain the reader’s sympathy, he can

attempt to further make them see how bad slavery actually is.
12 Years a Slave Questions

Sometimes, the challenge of writing a story is to make it appeal to a specific

demographic. Solomon Northup's challenge was to make a story on slavery appeal to white

folks. These people have never been on the receiving side of things. The goal it to make them

properly understand, if the just read it, it may cause a small effect. As such Northup has to make

them mentally experience by understanding and seeing it through his eyes. Not just him, by

understanding the lives of those around him it can help with further gain more sympathy. The

choices Northup made greatly affected what the reader got out of it.
12 Years a Slave Questions

Question 4

It won't stop. The pain, the agony, it is still their. Lord save me, why? Why does it hurt so

bad? It all started over the stupidest of reasons. Upp was throwing a fit, asking for my

whereabouts. I only went to Shaw's to obtain some soap. When I returned Masta was screaming

and hollering to everyone for my locations. I should have talked to him first. Mr. Shaw has a

black wife, Harriet, who was so kind to me and allowed to come over anytime I pleased. But

Masta and Mr. Shaw are not on speaking terms with each other. He must of been suspicious and

with me leaving without his notice must have caused him to further think his suspicions to be

correct.

He went up to me in a rage and started demanding answers. I was so scared that I could

not properly respond, I feel as if that course of action was a mistake on my part. I managed to get

my bearings and I said​, “"Missus don't give me soap to wash with, as she does the rest," said Patsey,

"and you know why. I went over to Harriet's to get a piece," and saying this, she drew it forth from a

pocket in her dress and exhibited it to him. "That's what I went to Shaw's for, Massa Epps,"(Northup, pg.

180)” ​He did not believe me and so he had me striped of my clothes and he tied me up. Upps

looked at Platt and gave him the whip, told him to whip, ​“he took a heavy whip, and placing it in

my hands, commanded me to lash her.(Northup, pg 181).​ Platt did what he was told and began to

whip me. Oh god, the pain I’ve felt, the pain that I still feel. Mistress Epp, the B---h, was there,

she was watching and I knew she was living this. I begged, I cried out, but it did not stop. Platt,

bless his soul, lost the will to keep doing this, so Epp took the whip and just kept on whipping

me until he lost his strength. It’s over now, but I can’t take it. I just can’t, I want all this to be

over, I want to die.

Question 3

Slavery in the South, was a key aspect in the South’s history. With the agricultural focus

in the south, having hands that would work from dusk to dawn was a greatly profitable thing.

The people who greatly suffered were said slaves, since they were beat and forced to work down

to the last man. But Slavery had a very negative effect on everyone, not just the blacks, but the

whites as well.

Slavery has corrupted the white man, the absolute power that they contain is not

something they are able to handle. One example was when Tibeats yelled at Northup, known as

Platt during his enslavement, over a simple matter of nails. Northup told him that the overseer

said it was fun. But Tibeats, in a rage, went to whip Northup, only to be stopped by the overseer.

Now, if it was a regular free man, Tibeats may have ceased, but Northup was a slave, so Tibeats

came back to hang the man. Had the overseer not come again to free Northup, he would have

died. Slavery allowed terrible men to be in a position of power. Blacks, the main ones to be

affected by slavery, suffered the worst fate. Poor Eliza lost both of her children. ​“ Eliza never

ever saw or heard of Emily or Randall. Day nor night, however, where they ever absent from her

​ he women has just lost both of her children in a blink of an eye, and
memory(Northup, pg. 61)” T

she will die never seeing their faces ever again.

The biggest issue with slavery is that it has become a lucrative business. Northup was

lead to the capital and then sold into slavery, despite his status as a freeman. Northup’s captor

said, ​“If ever I hear you say a word about New-York, or about your freedom, I will be the death

of you-i will kill you; you may rely on that(Northup, Pg. 41)”
12 Years a Slave Questions

The quote revealed that Burch, Northup’s captor, knows full well that Northup is a freeman. He

is committing a criminal activity, sending a free and innocent man into slavery, for money. The

slave owners read to their slaves on how slavery is allowed in the bible, but the actions that have

befallen Northup and other free blacks, proves that whatever divine right the South claims to

have has become lost.

Slavery is a truly negative thing for both the Whites and the Blacks. The absolute power

causes absolute corruption for the whites. Men like Tibeats use their power to kill and abuse any

slave that talks back or makes him angry. Blacks like Eliza can have her children taken from her

during a sale, never knowing if she will ever see her children again. Slavery is overall a horrible

thing and Northup was trying to show that both sides are affected because of it.
12 Years a Slave Questions

Black Man Missing- ​Question5

Solomon Northup was seen with two men. A local witness, who choses to remain announce,

saids,​ “They were connected, as they informed me, with a circus company, then in the city of

Washington; that they were on their way thither to rejoin it, having left it for a short

time(Northup, Pg.19)”​ The witness claims that the two men convinced Northup to go on a tour

with thanks to his violin prowess, something he is locally famous for.

The next sighting was when Northup entered, reportedly, a Customs House. The man the

was at worked that day claimed the Northup obtain free papers. Another man saw him at

Gadsby’s Hotel, on Pennsylvania Avenue. Then lastly in the state of Washington.

An anonymous tipper claimed to know what had happened to Northup. he claims that

Northup, ​“was handcuffed.” a​ round his ankles,​ “were a pair of heavy fetters. ONe end of a chain

was fastened to a large ring in the floor, the other to the fetters on my ankle. (Northup. Pg 25)

He claims that his captor was one James H. Burch, ​“a well-known slave-dealer in the

Washington; and then, or lately, connected in business, as a partner, with Theophilus Freeman,

of New-Orleans(Northup. pg 27)

No charges has been claimed on Burch as there is no solid evidence that Northup has been

actually enslaved by Burch. As such we can only speculate that Northup is still in Washington. If

anyone knows the whereabouts of Northup, please contact us via post.

Slavery was an active part of American History and the History of other nations as well,

Slavery worldwide has been abolished and outlawed. But in the words of Mr. Hanford, “A law is

only a law if someone enforces it.”All throughout the world, human trafficking is still a very

active thing. Human Trafficking is the modern day world for slavery, those affected by it can

range from women to men, young to old, and people of any race.

Human trafficking has become a major problem throughout the work and it can be take

several different forms. In the United States, sex trafficking is a major problem that is a very

serious problem. The ​National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) ​, ​” received reports

of 9​ ,298 unique cases of human trafficking”​ ​These cases have been reported in a span five years.

The most common trafficking types are that of pimp-controlled prostitution, commercial front

brothels(like motels), or just plain old escort services. This is happening outside in the world

right now, while we’re old their fights for the freedom of people in other countries, people hear

in the states are being forced into slavery right under our noses. Women have it bad worldwide

“In some parts of the world, women trafficking women is the norm.(UNODC)” 7​ 9% of human

trafficking worldwide is that of sexual exploitation.

Human trafficking comes in other forms as well and is world-wide. “​worldwide, almost

20% of all trafficking victims are children. However, in some parts of Africa and the Mekong

REGION, children are the majority (up to 100% in parts of West Africa).” ​Human trafficking is

a sick thing, they enslave children forcing them to work for little to no money. Some forms of

trafficking involve moving the victim away from their home, so know one will recognize them,

but a lot of human trafficking is of a domestic nature with the person being forced by their family

to keep their actions secret.

Whether or not we wish to deny it, human trafficking is a very major problem that most

people seem to overlook. People assume that things like that only happen in other countries,

places we consider uncivilized and prone to barbaric practices. But us here in the states have to

realize that it's a major problem here in the states too. Just by watching the news, people can very

likely here a report of a human trafficking case that accorded. The internet contains loads of

reports and first hand accounts of these transactions. Slavery has not left, it has only taken

another name.

Human Trafficking Trends in the United States | Polaris | Combating Human Trafficking

and Modern-day Slavery. (n.d.). Retrieved June 4, 2015, from ​http://www.polarisproject.org/hum

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. (n.d.). Retrieved June 5, 2015, from

http://www.freedomcenter.org/​an-trafficking/overview/human-trafficking-trends

UNODC report on human trafficking exposes modern form of slavery. Retrieved June 2,

2015, from

http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/global-report-on-trafficking-in-persons.html
12 Years a Slave Questions

Question7
Slaves earned plantation owners a lot of money. The thing that confused a lot of people is

the way the slaves were treated. The slaves would be whipped at times to the point that they

could not work for weeks at a time. The reason why is actually very easy. The slaves were

considered in league with barn animals. As such they are expendable.

According the Northup’s account, if the slaves did not meet a certain quota every day,

they would get whipped, ​“i​ t was rarely that a day passed by without one or more whippings, This

occurred at theim the cotton was weighed. The delinquent, whose weight had fallen short, was taken out,

stripped, made to lie upon the ground, face downwards, when he received a punishment proportioned to

​ pps worked the slave constantly , ​“usually his whip was in his
his offence.(Northup, pg 126)”​ E

hand, ready to fall about the ears of the presumptuous thrall, who dared to rest a moment, or

even stop to catch his breath.(Northup. Pg.128) I​ t makes one wonder how making the slaves

weaker via lashing would accomplish anything. But the answer is simple, fear. The reason why

the slaves would be punished so, was nothing more than a tactic used to instill fear into their

hearts.

By using the other slaves as an example, Epps and other slave owners like him, were able

to make the slaves fear the whip. He used it as motivation for them to work harder and faster. If

they did not perform up to par, they would get whipped, it was as simple as that. That was plenty

motivation for the slaves for they all have experienced it before, and they do not want it to

happen again.
12 Years a Slave Questions

Question 8
As many die-hard nerds have said in the past, “it was different in the book/That didn’t

happen in the book” The book​ Twelve Years a Slave​ By Solomon Northup is a story of the

Author and his experience when he was a slave. This book later became a major motion picture

and as such certain things were added to make the story more relevant filmwise.

The biggest change is the way it was presented, the movie extended or put emphasis on

the scene that cause major emotion, Northup’s whipping, his hanging, the whipping and rape of

Patsey. This was because of several reasons. Since slavery is abolished and has not been around

for generations now, the movie’s goal was to show the world what slavery was like make then,

emphasising the cruelty of it. The movie did not talk about how, ​“the number of lashes is

graduated according to the nature of the case(North. Pg 127)” ​but rather just showed that the

slaves would get whipped if they did something bad, not going to specific detail on the offences.

When Northup wrote the book, he used it to make people understand how slavery works.

Everyone during that era new what slavery is but Northup went into detail on how it worked and

everything.

Nowadays no one really finds that type interesting, so the filmmaker made sure the show

how awful it was, the basics where shown and views got an idea on how it worked, not as

detailed as the books but it was more traumatic. In the book it said, “​When i had stuck her as

many as thirty times, I stopped, and turned round towards epps, hoping he was

satisfied(Northup, pg 182)”
12 Years a Slave Questions

The movie depicted the whipping of Patsey through the use of dramatic camera angles, crying,

screams of pain, whipping sounds; the scene was extremely sad and it caused major emotional

effect on the reader.

The difference between the book and the movie is the way it is presented. The book can

offered to go into very vivid detail about every little detail. The movie on the other hand, had to

be more presentable for the cinema, it was aimed to cause an effect of a person. The goal of the

movie is to make sure that the essence and that the important parts of the book are properly

presented. As such, some scenes had to be removed while others were more emphasized.
12 Years a Slave Questions

Questions 1
Twelve Years a Slave​ by Solomon Northup, was a story telling the man's life during

bondage. The story he has written are true accounts on the way he was treated and the people he

met along the way. Some of these people died of multiple reasons, why others were the one’s

responsibilities for said deaths. Overall the main goal Northup had when writing this story was to

tell people about what slavery actually is. People just know about it from newspapers, books, or

even from seeing slaves in the fields. Northup wrote the book to tell the story through a slave’s

point of view, to show the reader what the daily life of a slave was like.

“Since my return to liberty, I have not failed to perceive the increasing interest throughout the Northern

States, in regard to the subject of Slavery. Works of fiction, professing to portray its features in their more pleasing

as well as more repugnant aspects, have been​ ​circulated to an extent unprecedented, and, as I understand, have

created a fruitful topic of comment and discussion.(Northup, Pg 18-19)” N

felt like it was the right time. As he said, people in the North were becoming more interested on

the topic of slavery, as such, his book would and did, pose as a very popular book. Thanks to his

good judgement he was able to make sure that he can have as many people reading the book as

possible. The more people that read the book, the more they will actually begin to understand

how it actually works.

Northup pointed out the injustice that he had to suffer through. When Tibeats was

enraged and later failed to hand Northup for his rebellion against him, Master Ford came and

made Northup sleep in his house for,​ “had he stabbed me to the heart in the presence of a

hundred slaves, not one of them, by the laws of Louisiana, could have given evidence against

him.(Northup, pg. 124)

Tibeats can very easily kill Northup and so long as no whites catch him in the act, he can

essentially get off scot free. This is just unfair that, if ever Northup were to have gotten

murdered, his murder would have lived his life as if nothing ever happened.

An interesting fact the Northup pointed out envolved that of the bible, “​His mistress gave

him a Bible, which he carried with him to his work. Whatever leisure time was allowed him, he spent in perusing it,

though it was only with great difficulty that he could master​ ​any part of it. I often read to him, a favor which he well

repaid me by many expressions of gratitude. Sam's piety was frequently observed by white men who came to the

mill, and the remark it most generally provoked was, that a man like Ford, who allowed his slaves to have Bibles,

was "not fit to own a nigger(Northup, Pg 98-99)."” ​At this time, everybody their was Christian, and so

were the readers. This quote points out the the Southerners are deny the slaves their faith,

something that most Christians would be outraged over, a man is nothing without his faith is a

man with nothing. This served to instill further hatred for slavery making the goal of the book to

become one step closer.

Northup had a reason for writing his story, he had a goal in mind. He wanted to make

everyone aware on how slavery is actually run. He wanted to enlighten his readers so that they

may fully understand what it is that he went through, they had to understand that slavery is an

awful, horrible thing. This is why Northup, wrote his story, so that everyone will know once and

for all the evils that the slave's face, and the cruelty their masters are capable of.
12 Years a Slave Questions

Citations.
Book: Northup, S. (2014). Twelve years a slave Narrative of Solomon Northup, a Citizen of

New-York Kidnapped in Washington City in 1841, and Rescued in 1853 (p. 251). Richard J.

Shiffer.

Websites:​ G
​ rooms, R. (n.d.). Black Slave Owners Civil War Article by Robert M Grooms.

Retrieved June 7, 2015, from ​http://americancivilwar.com/authors/black_slaveowners.htm

Human Trafficking Trends in the United States | Polaris | Combating Human Trafficking

and Modern-day Slavery. (n.d.). Retrieved June 4, 2015, from ​http://www.polarisproject.org/hum

National Underground Railroad Freedom Center. (n.d.). Retrieved June 5, 2015, from

http://www.freedomcenter.org/​an-trafficking/overview/human-trafficking-trends

UNODC report on human trafficking exposes modern form of slavery. Retrieved June 2,

2015, from

http://www.unodc.org/unodc/en/human-trafficking/global-report-on-trafficking-in-persons.html