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Olaudah Equiano 1st published in England 1789 Father of this form of narrative He wrote with a purpose Fought passionately for abolition His words makes you realize he's a human beings Goes right to the heart of men Olaudah Equiano's Form Divided into 3 sections 1st Section - about his home life and his transfer 2nd Section - brought his own freedom, turning point 3rd Section - as a christian he has a morally obligation to fight slavery Purpose of Slave Narratives Slave narratives were designed to persuade readers of the evils of slavery by offering true accounts of its horrors, as well as by demonstrating that slaves were people worthy of freedom. Slave Narrator The slave narrator was a brave, independent, intelligent individual who used his or her literary powers to narrate his/her struggle for freedom and justice. He or she had to be artful enough to hold the reader's attention, yet also had to seem as if s/he was "just talking." Elements of Slave Narratives  Autobiography  Jeremiad  Communal voice  Quest motif  Social criticism Jeremaid The prophesizing element in the text, drawing attention to the doom to befall America if slavery continued. Communal Voice The device employed by the narrator based on the concept that one narrator could, using his or her experience, speak for a group of people in similar circumstances. Quest motif The core of the narrative was the quest is for freedom from bondage, both physical and mental. The quest for freedom is also a quest for literacy; for female narrators, the quest for freedom is also a quest for home, a place of safety for herself and her children. Social Criticism The slave narrator, as an outsider in American society, could and did comment on the moral status of the country. Design of Slave Narrative 1. That the slave was an equal, "a man and a brother." The narrator had to demonstrate his or her moral, spiritual and intellectual fitness to readers. 2. That the narrator told the truth. Narrator had to make the reader believe him/her, so that he or she could be seen as a reliable spokesperson for the race. To demonstrate authenticity, narratives included genuine letters, news articles, and other real life artifacts. They also included the actual names of slave owners and members in the community, as well as meticulously recorded dates of events which took place in the narratives.