Document Analysis Assignment I: The Middle Passage

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Pages: 3

Document Analysis Assignment I: "The Middle Passage", from Olaudah Equiano's Interesting Narrative
By: Naiké Owens

What type of document is it? What is the title of the document?
The document that I choose to write about is apart of a slave narrative from Olaudah Equiano’s book called The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa.

What date was the document written?
This document from Olaudah’ s book talks about his experience during the voyage to America in 1755. Olaudah was 44 years old when he decided to write this document and it was published in 1789.

Who was the author of the document? Provide a short biography of the author (be sure to provide a citation for the source used; see the citation guide embedded
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Olaudah was sold into slavery at the tender age of eleven from his birthplace Nigeria, Africa. Olaudah revolted countless times during his voyage to America and would frequently wish death upon himself due to the extremely unbearable living conditions of his slave ship. Once he made it to America, Olaudah was considered “not saleable”. He was shipped to North America to be a slaver for a plantation owner in Virginia, where he worked until he bought his own freedom.

For what audience was the document written?
The document was written for anyone that is curious about the first-hand experience of being captured into slavery in West Africa and the brutal living conditions and experience of the slaves during the middle passage.

What evidence in the document helps you know why it was written? Quote from the document.
“Often did I think many of the inhabitants of the deep much more happy than myself. I envied them the freedom they enjoyed, and as often wished I could change my condition for theirs. Every circumstance I met with served only to render my state more painful, and heighten my apprehensions, and my opinion of the cruelty of the whites”

What three things are found in the document which tells you about life in the United States at the time it was written? Quote from the