An anecdote is a story or experience found in many articles and essays. They are often used to convey an idea or opinion in a more personal way. In The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass by Frederick Douglass, anecdotes are a common tool Douglass uses to prove his points and are seen throughout the book. In the narrative, Douglass shares his firsthand experiences of all the evils of slavery. He has seen and been a victim of coldhearted whippings and beatings as well as the mental toll slavery takes on both slaves and slaveowners. Throughout his time as a slave, Douglass has undergone episodes of hope and resilience by standing up to his cruel masters, as well as times of severe depression in which his spirit is almost entirely crushed. …show more content…
I have [Douglass has] frequently found myself [himself] in tears while hearing them” (Douglass 49). Douglass shares his story of listening to the slaves sing. He illustrates how those songs show the horrible effects slavery has on slaves through his own experience, impacting the reader in a personal way. Furthermore, when he was enslaved as a field hand and forced to overexert himself by working, Douglass “was prompted to take my [his] life, and that of Covey, but was prevented by a combination of hope and fear” (Douglass 47). Douglass vividly portrays the depression he felt when being a slave, and how he was even willing to kill himself. He uses this personal experience to portray the negative effects slavery has on the mental state of those who are enslaved. All in all, Douglass shares experiences of what he has seen and endured during his time being enslaved to give a personal account of how slavery is terrible for slaves. Personal anecdotes are seen throughout The Narrative by Frederick Douglass as he uses them to portray the negative effects slavery has on