Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl

Chapters 1-5

Reading Check

1. Crackers (Chapter 1)

2. The Flints (Chapter 2)

3. New Year’s Day (Chapter 3)

Short Answer

1. Those enslaved by Dr. Flint are treated poorly. They are nearly starved, beaten, and forced to comply with his wishes. Dr. Flint also refuses to free Martha and repay the debt owed to her. (Chapter 2)

2. When Martha is to be auctioned off, the citizens are enraged with Dr. Flint because they respect her. Martha’s former enslaver’s sister purchases Martha and frees her. (Chapter 2)

3. Harriet, as she grows older, becomes vulnerable to the sexual advances of the enslavers. (Chapter 5)

Chapters 6-10

Reading Check

1. A carpenter (Chapter 7)

2. To Free States (Chapter 7)

3. Bloodhounds (Chapter 9)

4. Mr. Sands (Chapter 10)

Short Answer

1. She asked her great-aunt to sleep next to her in the bedroom. (Chapter 6)

2. They exaggerate the living conditions of emancipated persons, claiming their housing is deplorable and they are starving. (Chapter 8)

Chapters 11-15

Reading Check

1. Nat Turner’s Rebellion (Chapter 12)

2. She is female. (Chapter 14)

3. A gold chain (Chapter 14)

Short Answer

1. Mr. Pike is callous toward the enslaved people in the community. He promotes ideas supporting enslavers rather than uplifting the enslaved. The nobler clergyman encourages the enslaved by telling them God is concerned about their hearts and not their skin color. (Chapter 13)

2. Dr. Flint is angry that Harriet will not give in to his advances. He refuses to allow Harriet to be happy because she will not give him what he wants. (Chapter 15)

Chapters 16-20

Reading Check

1. Grooming her (Chapter 16)

2. $300 (Chapter 17)

3. New York (Chapter 18)

4. Mr. Sands (Chapter 19)

5. Peter (Chapter 20)

Short Answer

1. The enslaved people had hoped they would receive better treatment after Mr. Flint married, but Mrs. Flint is as callous as Mr. Flint, refusing to feed an elderly man who could no longer work. (Chapter 16)

2. Dr. Flint is angry about Harriet’s self-emancipation. He throws her relatives and children in jail attempting to entice Harriet to come out of hiding. He tells Martha that he will never free Harriet and vows she will die an enslaved person. (Various chapters)

Chapters 21-25

Reading Check

1. A small shed (Chapter 21)

2. A dog (Chapter 23)

3. Congress (Chapter 24)

Short Answer

1. Martha invites the town constable and an emancipated man who betrays self-emancipated people, presumably to solidify her claim that Harriet was not in her house even as she is in hiding just above them. (Chapter 22)

2. Dr. Flint tries to convince Martha that Harriet is miserable in Boston and wants to come home.

Chapters 26-30

Reading Check

1. The Abolitionists (Chapter 26)

2. Mrs. Sands (Chapter 27)

3. Brooklyn (Chapter 27)

4. A waiting-maid (Chapter 27)

5. Six years (Chapter 28)

6. Philadelphia (Chapter 30)

Short Answer

1. William does not believe Mr. Sands will free him. (Chapter 26)

2. Martha initially did not want Harriet to travel North but forgot to lock the shed on one occasion. She realizes that Harriet may be captured if she remains with Martha. (Chapter 29)

Chapters 31-35

Reading Check

1. The Durhams (Chapter 31)

2. Dr. Flint (Chapter 32)

3. Mrs. Bruce (Chapter 33)

4. William (Chapter 34)

Short Answer

1. Harriet notices that Ellen has been neglected and mistreated. She has not been educated as promised by Mr. Sands and Ellen has been given to the Hobbs family as a maid and not an emancipated person. Harriet realizes she cannot trust Mr. Sands to free her children. (Chapter 31)

2. The Hobbs family is unaware of Harriet’s precarious position as a self-emancipated person. Harriet is worried the Hobbs family will tell Dr. Flint where she is located. (Chapter 33)

Chapters 36-41

Reading Check

1. Patriotism (Chapter 36)

2. England (Chapter 37)

3. Fugitive Slave Law (Chapter 40)

4. Mrs. Bruce (Chapter 41)

Short Answer

1. The apprentices were unaware that he was Black until it was revealed to them. Ironically, the people Benny worked with discriminated against him for his skin tone when they were unable to see it in the first place. (Chapter 38)

2. Harriet is determined not to pay for her freedom because she is entitled to freedom as a person and should not be bought and sold. (Chapter 41)