This thesis will go in depth in an effort to answer whether Twelve Years a Slave is an appropriate book to teach in German classrooms and how it can be taught. Furthermore, this paper will equip high school teachers with a step-by-step outline offering background information, teaching ideas and suggestions.
The details in this paper, along with the analyses and presentation, provide the reader with essential information that will later be referred to in the teaching unit. Different themes that are considered of high importance are presented to equip the teacher for a unit using the narrative Twelve Years a Slave.
Slavery is alive and well in our society today, nearly one hundred fifty after its legal end. Human trafficking, brothel houses, and franchise owners enslaving undocumented workers are just a few instances of modern day slavery. Consequently, this begs the question if, and what, is the importance of learning about slavery? Furthermore, what is the best and most influential way to portray this controversial issue?
History books are a common source in history lessons all over the world, even if they involve factual texts that do not have a great effect on students. When teaching the institution of slavery, though, the genre of slave narrative is worth considering using. In recent years slave narratives have resurfaced, shedding light and insight into the peculiar institution of slavery in the antebellum South. Frederick Douglass and Harriett Jacobs -to name a few- are examples of former slaves who shared their story and expedited the antislavery movement. Solomon Northup, a free black man who was kidnapped, sold into slavery and deprived of liberty for twelve years wrote one of the most popular slave narratives, documenting his experiences during his time in bondage.
The peculiar institution of slavery is a complex history topic that is hard to summarize. With his book, Northup created a work that involves the individual life of a slave and presents the institution from a micro perspective.
In 2013, the story of his book resurfaced and with the help of British director Steve McQueen and participating actor Brad Pitt, and the 19th century slave narrative turned Hollywood Blockbuster hit. Following the movies big success, Twelve Years a Slave was subsequently added to the national curriculum in the United States.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Historical Contextualization
2.1 Slavery in the Antebellum South
2.2 Fugitive Slave Act
2.3 The Antislavery Movement
3 Slave Narratives – The Literary Genre
4 The Uniqueness of Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup
4.1 Synopsis of Twelve Years a Slave
4.2 Popularity of the Book
4.3 Historical Evidence
4.4 Themes
4.4.1 Work
4.4.2 Slave Resistance
4.4.3 The Slave Family
4.4.4 Gender
4.4.5 Religion
4.4.6 Education
5 The Movie by Steve McQueen
5.1 Differences between the Movie and the Book
5.2 Criticism
5.3 Important Scenes
6 The Revitalization of African American Literature and Movies
6.1 Connection between Obama and the Popularity of African American Medium
6.2 African American Culture and Modern Slavery
7 Slavery as a Teaching Subject
7.1 Slavery and Twelve Years a Slave in the American Classroom
7.2 Slavery in the German Classroom
7.2.1 German Curriculum and School System
7.2.2 The Adaption of Twelve Years a Slave to the Curriculum
8 The Life Story of Solomon Northup in Classroom
8.1 Twelve Years A Slave: Full Book and Comprehensive Reading Companion
8.2 Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave: 1841-1853
8.3 Stolen into Slavery
8.4 Twelve Years a Slave - Enhanced Edition by Dr. Sue Eakin
8.5 The Relevance of Twelve Years a Slave
9 Twelve Years a Slave Teaching Unit
9.1 General Information about the Teaching Unit
9.1.1 Unit Vision
9.1.2 Subject Matter and Learning Objectives
9.1.3 Precise Goals
9.1.4 Lesson Structure
9.1.5 General Methodology
9.1.6 General Didactic and Common Core Standards
9.2 Unit Outline
10 Exemplary Lesson
10.1 Lesson Goals
10.2 Planned Lesson Structure
10.3 Methodology
10.4 Blackboard Outline
10.5 Reflection
11 Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
This paper investigates the educational applicability of Solomon Northup's slave narrative, "Twelve Years a Slave," within the context of German senior high school classrooms. It aims to determine if this work is a suitable medium for teaching the history of slavery, analyzing its narrative structure, historical validity, and the impact of the subsequent Hollywood film, while simultaneously providing a practical, step-by-step teaching unit for educators.
- The historical context of slavery in the antebellum South and the evolution of slave narratives as a literary genre.
- The unique characteristics of Northup's work and its historical accuracy compared to other narratives.
- The impact of Steve McQueen's film adaptation on the popularity and educational relevance of the book.
- Methodological approaches to teaching sensitive historical topics like slavery in German foreign language classrooms.
- Connections between contemporary American politics, the "Obama Effect," and the revitalization of interest in African American history.
Auszug aus dem Buch
4.4.1 Work
In the antebellum South, most of the slaves worked on large sugar or cotton plantations in a so called “gang labor system”, which assured with the help of a supervision that the slaves work continuously and at the same pace throughout the whole day (Heuman & Burnard 113). A plantation working day started before the sunrise, giving the slaves some time to eat a spare breakfast and to march to the field. White overseers and black drivers controlled the worked and punished the slaves with the whip as disciplinary measure. Slaves had long and grueling hours of work throughout the whole year. Northup describes the constant engagement of the slaves in the following: “ploughing, planting, picking cotton, gathering the corn, and pulling and burning stalks, occupies the whole of the four seasons of the year” (Eakin 226). During the busy harvesting time, slaves did not get much sleep and had to work until they were utterly exhausted.
At Epps plantation, slaves never seemed to be safe. The real threat mostly started at night after a long day of working in the fields. Northup repeatedly experienced how alcohol turned his master into a cruel merciless and aggressive person who did not need a reason to punish his slaves.
Some slaves climbed the social ladder of slavery and advanced from the field to work in more skilled labor. They worked as cooks, house slaves, butlers, room attendants, gin operators or carpenters (Heuman & Burnard 109). Since Northup was experienced he was asked to help out the as a carpenter. This promotion turned out to be the key to his freedom. While working as a carpenter, he met and work together with Bass, a white free man who helped him send his letter to Saratoga (Eakin & Northup 426 ff).
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: This chapter introduces the historical and societal importance of understanding slavery and outlines the paper's objective to evaluate the narrative "Twelve Years a Slave" for educational use.
2 Historical Contextualization: This section provides essential background on the antebellum South, the Fugitive Slave Act, and the abolitionist movement, which are necessary for understanding Northup's narrative.
3 Slave Narratives – The Literary Genre: This chapter analyzes and defines the specific literary genre of slave narratives, using comparisons to other famous works to establish its classical features.
4 The Uniqueness of Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup: This chapter discusses why Northup's narrative is unique due to his status as a born-free man, the accuracy of his recollections, and the intense themes he addresses.
5 The Movie by Steve McQueen: This chapter examines the film adaptation, its success, and its role as a powerful tool for visual education while also analyzing differences between the book and the movie.
6 The Revitalization of African American Literature and Movies: This chapter discusses the contemporary resurgence of interest in African American history and art, linking it to the political climate of the Obama era.
7 Slavery as a Teaching Subject: This chapter explores the educational challenges and opportunities of teaching slavery in both American and German school curricula.
8 The Life Story of Solomon Northup in Classroom: This chapter reviews various available editions of Northup's story, evaluating their suitability for different student age groups and school settings.
9 Twelve Years a Slave Teaching Unit: This chapter presents a structured, 4-week teaching unit, including general objectives, lesson structures, and methodology for secondary school classrooms.
10 Exemplary Lesson: This chapter documents one specific, detailed lesson plan that serves as a practical model for the overall teaching unit.
11 Conclusion: This final chapter synthesizes the research, reaffirming the educational value of Northup's narrative as a compelling and historically grounded tool for teaching the realities of slavery.
Keywords
Twelve Years a Slave, Solomon Northup, slavery, antebellum South, slave narrative, abolitionism, African American history, teaching methodology, Steve McQueen, modern day slavery, curriculum, historical evidence, resistance, education, Obama Effect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this paper?
This paper investigates the potential of using the slave narrative "Twelve Years a Slave" by Solomon Northup as an educational resource in English advanced courses at German senior high schools.
What are the core thematic areas discussed in the work?
The work covers the historical reality of slavery, the literary characteristics of slave narratives, the role of film in education, and the methodological strategies for teaching sensitive historical topics.
What is the main research question or goal?
The primary goal is to answer whether "Twelve Years a Slave" is an appropriate and effective text for the German classroom and to provide teachers with a comprehensive teaching unit.
Which scientific methods are utilized?
The paper employs a literary and historical analysis of Northup's narrative, combined with pedagogical research on teaching "issue-centered" topics and creating curriculum-based teaching units.
What content is included in the main section of the paper?
The main sections include historical background, an analysis of the slave narrative genre, the uniqueness of Northup’s account, criticism and analysis of the film adaptation, and a detailed teaching unit with lesson structures.
Which specific keywords best characterize this research?
Key terms include "Twelve Years a Slave," "slave narrative," "antebellum South," "pedagogy," "historical evidence," and "modern slavery."
How does the author categorize the differences between the book and the movie?
The author identifies that the film occasionally invents scenes to emphasize the injustice of slavery, but notes that these changes generally align with the historical realities and emotional truth of Northup’s original account.
Why does the author suggest "Twelve Years a Slave" is particularly suitable for the classroom?
The author argues it is suitable because it is highly accessible, engaging, and provides a compelling "micro-perspective" of a free man's journey into slavery, which helps students relate more deeply to the history than purely factual texts might.
What role does the "Obama Effect" play in the author’s argument?
The author uses the "Obama Effect" to explain the modern cultural and political shift that led to a resurgence of interest in African American stories and historical productions, providing a relevant connection to contemporary society for students.
- Quote paper
- Andrea Letzel (Author), 2015, "Twelve Years a Slave" in the classroom. Background information, ideas and suggestions for teaching about slavery, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/344440
