Questions on The Story of My Life and Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, An American Slave
Frederick Douglass & Helen Keller
Short Responses
Helen Keller—“The Story of My Life”
1. In “The Story of My Life,” how does the author learn from her frustration? Use two details from the passage to support your response.
2. In “The Story of My Life,” Miss Sullivan plans an important role in Helen’s life. How does Miss Sullivan play an important role in Helen’s learning? Use two details from the passage to support your response.
3. In “The Story of My Life,” the author states “that living word awakened my soul.” How does the author support this line of thinking? Use two details from the passage to support your response.
Frederick Douglass—“Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave”
4. In “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave,” how does the change in the mistress affect Frederick’s learning? Use two details from the passage to support your response.
5. In “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave,” the author states, “Mistress, in teaching me the alphabet, had given me the inch, and no precaution could prevent me from taking the ell.” How does the author support this line of reasoning? Use two details from the passage to support your response.
6. How does Frederick Douglass show his resourcefulness in the passage? Use two details from the passage to support your response.
Both Passages
7. In “The Story of My Life” and “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave,” the narrators both learn to read and write against all odds. How are their learning methods different? Use two details from the passage to support your response.
8. What central idea is shared between both passages? Use two details from the passage to support your response.
Short Responses
Helen Keller—“The Story of My Life”
1. In “The Story of My Life,” how does the author learn from her frustration? Use two details from the passage to support your response.
2. In “The Story of My Life,” Miss Sullivan plans an important role in Helen’s life. How does Miss Sullivan play an important role in Helen’s learning? Use two details from the passage to support your response.
3. In “The Story of My Life,” the author states “that living word awakened my soul.” How does the author support this line of thinking? Use two details from the passage to support your response.
Frederick Douglass—“Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave”
4. In “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave,” how does the change in the mistress affect Frederick’s learning? Use two details from the passage to support your response.
5. In “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave,” the author states, “Mistress, in teaching me the alphabet, had given me the inch, and no precaution could prevent me from taking the ell.” How does the author support this line of reasoning? Use two details from the passage to support your response.
6. How does Frederick Douglass show his resourcefulness in the passage? Use two details from the passage to support your response.
Both Passages
7. In “The Story of My Life” and “Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave,” the narrators both learn to read and write against all odds. How are their learning methods different? Use two details from the passage to support your response.
8. What central idea is shared between both passages? Use two details from the passage to support your response.