12 Years a Slave Review Exercise Zaheer Ali Instructions: Complete the background reading (listed below), view the

film 12 Years a Slave, and answer the questions listed below. Background Reading: Henry Louis Gates, Jr., 12 Years a Slave: Trek from Slave to Screen, TheRoot.com, October 14, 2013. Access the article online here. Nelson George, An Essentially American Narrative, New York Times, October 11, 2013. (Attached PDF) Questions: 1. Who was Solomon Northup, and why is his story so unique from the narratives of other antebellum enslaved African Americans? 2. As an institution slavery undermined community among the enslaved, even as they attempted to form bonds of kinship. In the film can you identify an example that demonstrated slaverys negative impact on community ties among the enslaved people? And can you identify an example that demonstrated how the slaves fashioned kinship bonds in spite of slavery? 3. What role did religion play in slavery as depicted in the film? Discuss (compare/contrast) the different ways religion were used in the following instances: Master Fords sermon Master Eppss sermon The enslaved community (the funeral service) 4. How would you characterize the relationship between Master Epps and Patsey? What about Master and Mistress Shaw? Think about the ways patriarchy and racism intersected to shape the experiences of enslaved women. 5. In the scene when Solomon is finally freed and gets on the wagon to depart the Epps plantation, what happens to Patsey? What do you think this is meant to signify? Think about the ways Solomons freedom may or may not merit celebrationfor him, his family, and the larger enslaved community.