53 pages • 1 hour read
Frederick DouglassWhat to the Slave Is the Fourth of July?
Nonfiction | Essay / Speech | Adult | Published in 1852A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Essay Topics
Throughout the speech, Douglass continues to reference the United States Constitution. In what ways do these references support Douglass’s overall arguments? Explain using specific evidence from the speech.
One of the strongest images that Douglass refers to several times is a storm. What function does this imagery serve in regards to the larger purposes of the speech? Why would Douglass use this particular image? Examine using specific moments in the text.
The most famous moment of this speech occurs when Douglass states the titular question: “What, to the American slave, is your 4th of July?” Look at this passage more closely. What is interesting about the rhetoric Douglass uses when he presents these central points of his speech? Explain in detail.
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By Frederick Douglass
