English Assigment 1
ASSIGNMENT 01 UNIQUE NO: 553290
Student NO: 41771834 NAME: Musekiwa Mathew Chakanyuka
The Negro’s Complaint
1. The voice that is depicted in the poem is of William Cowper and the significance of this choice of narrator is socioeconomic issue of slavery. During the time of 1700s slavery was an issue and Cowper wrote this poem in support of the abolition of the slave trade. He presented this poem to the reader in the voice of a slave. The 18th century, African Americans were considered to be mere property and had very few rights as the whites. This poem is critiquing slavery is brought to the forefront. During this time it was not safe a slave to speak up about being wronged, so often feeling of antislavery were expressed through poetry instead of speaking out directly to slave owners. Cowper made a strong statement about society at that time with this poem; it was emotional graphic and straight forward, demanding the attention of the pro slavery advocates.
2. The poem was meant to leave a lasting impression through graphic details comparisons and religion. Religion self-association and gruesome scenes effective ways to get someone to remember what their were doing was wrong. This poem was to instill guilt into the slave owners. The owners told their slaves about God and made a point to state that worshiped God it was instructed to them to deny God was wrong. In the passage of the poem the speaker brings up the God and makes it a point to state that it was the slaves’ owners that taught the slaves about God. God was taught as being a loving God and Merciful God to the slaves. The speaker points out that the slave owners were contradicting themselves to their teachings about religion and by treating their slaves the way that their did and even enslaving them in the first place. The second and third stanza of the poem states “skins may differ but affection Dwell in white and black the same Think ye masters iron-hearted lolling at your jovial
Student NO: 41771834 NAME: Musekiwa Mathew Chakanyuka
The Negro’s Complaint
1. The voice that is depicted in the poem is of William Cowper and the significance of this choice of narrator is socioeconomic issue of slavery. During the time of 1700s slavery was an issue and Cowper wrote this poem in support of the abolition of the slave trade. He presented this poem to the reader in the voice of a slave. The 18th century, African Americans were considered to be mere property and had very few rights as the whites. This poem is critiquing slavery is brought to the forefront. During this time it was not safe a slave to speak up about being wronged, so often feeling of antislavery were expressed through poetry instead of speaking out directly to slave owners. Cowper made a strong statement about society at that time with this poem; it was emotional graphic and straight forward, demanding the attention of the pro slavery advocates.
2. The poem was meant to leave a lasting impression through graphic details comparisons and religion. Religion self-association and gruesome scenes effective ways to get someone to remember what their were doing was wrong. This poem was to instill guilt into the slave owners. The owners told their slaves about God and made a point to state that worshiped God it was instructed to them to deny God was wrong. In the passage of the poem the speaker brings up the God and makes it a point to state that it was the slaves’ owners that taught the slaves about God. God was taught as being a loving God and Merciful God to the slaves. The speaker points out that the slave owners were contradicting themselves to their teachings about religion and by treating their slaves the way that their did and even enslaving them in the first place. The second and third stanza of the poem states “skins may differ but affection Dwell in white and black the same Think ye masters iron-hearted lolling at your jovial