Point View- A certain way of looking at matter or the attitude of looking at matter.
Quote: “ Having been born a freeman, and for more than thirty years enjoyed the blessings of liberty in a free state- and having at the end of that time been kidnapped and sold into slavery…”(3).
The author of this book is telling the story of his experience in slavery and the dominance white people have over black people. Being African-American, the author, Solomon Northup, has a rare point of view that most of the audience can’t relate to. This quote is at the very beginning of the book, so the reader immediately knows that the point of view this story will be told with the rarity of someone who has actually experienced the worst forms of slavery.
Tone-
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The mood is dark and heavy, corresponding to the plot.
Flashback- a vivid memory of an event that happened in the past.
Quote: “The letter written by Bass, directed to Parker and Perry, and which was deposited in the post office in Marksville on the 15th day of August, 1852, arrived in Saratoga in the early part of September.” (183)
This whole chapter is a flashback telling the story of how Bass’ letters he sent from the northern side, enclosed the gaps that Solomon and Bass could not know from being in the South. The letters were a success and Platt soon was free. This flashback resembles one of the most important aspects of this book, Solomon’s freedom.
Conflict- a clash between the characters, setting, plot, etc., that causes a problem.
Quote: “but when consciousness returned, I found myself alone, in utter darkness, and in chains.”
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However, the violin played a huge role into Solomon getting kidnapped. His excellent skills were one of the reason Burch and Radburn discovered him and kidnapped him.
Setting- a type of surrounding where an event takes place.
Quote: “Fords plantation was situated on the Texas road, twelve miles from Lamourie, in the Great Pine woods.”
The setting in which this novel is based on is very important to the dynamic of the story. It is set in the south and the plantations that Solomon transfers to play a huge role into the jobs that he has to do, the pain he has to endure and the treatment he receives.
Bibliomancy- an interpretation of a biblical passage
Quote: “And that servant, which knew his lord’s will, and prepared not himself, neither did according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes.”
Solomon is making the point that people pick and choose the verses they live by and how those verses should be applied to their life. Many biblical references are made throughout his story, and that is one of the reasons that Solomon keeps hope and doesn’t kill himself even though that would result in less pain than he is