Olaudah Equiano

Study Questions: The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano

1. What can you infer about the author’s beliefs concerning slavery? Cite at least two passages from the text that helped you form your answer.

a. “ However, in a small time afterward he recovered and I was again sold. I was now carried to the left of the sun’s rising, through many different countries and a number of large woods. The people I was sold to used to carry me very often when I was tired either on their shoulders or on their backs. “ – Before the slave ship, life as a slave was bearable. He was treated well.

b. “ The stench of the hold while we were on the coast was so intolerably loathsome that it was dangerous to remain there for any time, and some of us had been permitted to stay on the deck for the fresh air; but now that the whole ship’s cargo were confined together it became absolutely pestilential. – Now that he is on the slave ship, slavery is horrible. He is treated poorly by people he is afraid of and can’t understand.

2. Why do you think the widow and her son treated Equiano so well?

c. I think it was because her son liked him. The son could have a friend at home all the time. Or maybe, they were just really nice people.

3. Why did Equiano faint aboard the slave ship?

d. He was overwhelmed by everything.

4. Describe the conditions aboard the slave ship.

e. There was barely room for people to turn around. The smell was horrendous. The health conditions were very poor. People got sick and died just from the living conditions. If you jumped over board and were captured, you were beaten for trying to kill yourself.

5. Why were Equiano and the other prisoners whipped for refusing to eat?

f. The Englishmen wanted the slaves to remain healthy.

6. What was the “spell” or “magic” that stopped the ship?

g. The anchor

7. Why didn’t the crew want the slaves to see how they managed...