CHAPTERS 1–3: The First Years

[Pages:16]StudySync|Harriet Tubman

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CHAPTERS 1?3: The First Years

KEY PASSAGE | Chapter 3, Paragraphs 32?33

This passage foretells the beginning of a new period of toil in the life of young Harriet, or Minta, as she was called. The gruff old woman who supervises the slave children makes it her business to hold Minta's future labors over her head like a curse. The woman has contempt for Minta's attraction to the wonders of nature, which she considers wasting time. Spitefully, she warns Minta again and again of the jobs the Overseer has in store for her.

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Discussion Prompt: What does the contrast between Minta's preoccupation with the trees and sky and the old woman's warning about the overseer tell you about each person? What does the key passage imply about Harriet's life so far and what it may be like in the future?

VOCABULARY

roughhewn rough?hewn adjective Cut roughly; lacking a finished surface The treehouse was made from roughhewn logs, hacked with an axe.

recalcitrant re?cal?ci?trant adjective Having a rebellious, uncooperative attitude The babysitter was having no luck at all in persuading the recalcitrant toddler to go to bed.

haphazardly hap?haz?ard?ly adverb In a careless manner; at random Jacob distributed the candy haphazardly, with some trick-or-treaters getting more than others.

prophecy pro?phe?cy verb To declare or foretell by or as if by divine inspiration The fortune-teller at the fair only seemed to prophecy "You will meet a tall, dark stranger."

revolt re?volt noun A rebellion or uprising against authority I led the revolt against the substitute teacher after she refused to let students use the restroom during a test.

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Reading Guide

StudySync|Harriet Tubman

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1. According to Harriet's mother, what is the worst job for a slave?

2. What are the Big House and the Quarter?

3. Compare and contrast Harriet's mother and father. What makes them "good" slaves?

4. What does it mean for a slave to be "hired out"?

5. Author Ann Petry ends each chapter with a summary of national historical events, roughly coinciding with the period of Harriet's life in the chapter. What is the purpose of these summations?

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CHAPTERS 4?5: Testing Her Wings

KEY PASSAGE | Chapter 5, Paragraphs 39?40

In this passage, Harriet recalls an occasion when she was hired out as a sevenyear-old to look after a baby in a neighboring household. In the family room, Harriet sees a bowl of sugar lumps on a table. Never having eaten any sweets before, she gives in to temptation when her mistress is bickering with her husband to help herself to one lump, but before she can take it, the woman sees what she's up to. Down comes the woman's dreaded rawhide whip and Harriet, pursued by her mistress and master, flees the house, and keeps on running, trusting no house she passes as a possible refuge.

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Discussion Prompt: What does Harriet's first flight to freedom reveal about her character and her values at age seven? Discuss the gains and losses resulting from the act of running away from a whipping and enslavement. What counter-argument would the mistress of the house be likely to express?

VOCABULARY

quality qua?li?ty noun High social status or standard of excellence From the deep, complex chime of the doorbell, the salesman could tell that a family of quality lived here.

timbre tim?bre noun The tone or richness of a voice or musical sound We listened to the wild, hollow timbre of a distant pack of howling coyotes.

huskiness husk?i?ness noun A hoarse, gravelly vocal tone, as when speaking with a cold or from grief She was quite young, but her singing voice possessed the huskiness of an adult who'd known some pain.

hanks hanks noun Coils or thick, gathered amounts of yarn, hair, or other material The weaver picked up two hanks of dyed wool and asked if we'd ever felt anything so soft.

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wharves wharves noun Platforms built on the waterfront of an ocean harbor or river for the docking, loading, and unloading of ships We walked along the foggy wharves and watched for incoming lobster boats.

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1. Why did Harriet decide to run away at age seven?

2. What is the "Rolling Road," and how was it named?

3. Why did slaves consider being "sold south" to be the worst fate of all?

4. How does Mrs. Cook respond to Harriet's illness?

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CHAPTERS 6?8: Wounded and Renamed

KEY PASSAGE | Chapter 8, Paragraphs 10?11

In Chapter 7, we learned about Harriet's serious head wound. She had been blocking an overseer from chasing a fleeing slave, and the heavy weight the overseer hurled at the runaway hit her instead. This passage comes after Harriet's long recuperation, nursed back to health by Old Rit, her mother. Old Rit disapproved of her teenage daughter's impulsive actions, but stopped using the childhood names of Minta and Minty. Everyone called her Harriet now, a more serious name for a girl who wore a scar as a badge of courage.

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Discussion Prompt: What does Harriet's scar symbolize for other slaves? Why does it translate into seeing her with new respect, a Harriet rather than a Minty? Put the scar and its cause into the context of Harriet's growth and her other character-shaping experiences to this point. Do you think Harriet sees herself differently after the wound? Explain.

VOCABULARY

intractable in?tract?a?ble adjective Not easily controlled or managed The governess stormed out of the palace, calling the royal twins completely intractable.

conjure con?jure verb To call or bring into existence, as if by magic With little food in the house, my grandfather still managed to conjure up a delicious meal.

desultory des?ul?to?ry adjective Marked by a lack of definite plan, regularity, or purpose My mother dragged me from store to store on a desultory shopping trip to the mall.

emancipation e?man?ci?pa?tion noun The fact or process of being set free from legal, social, or political restrictions; liberation My mother loves to talk about the emancipation of feminist ideas in the 1960s.

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Reading Guide

StudySync|Harriet Tubman

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1. What accounts for the new respect Harriet's fellow slaves show her after her long recuperation from her head wound?

2. Who is "The Prophet," and what did he become famous for?

3. In the Quarter, what clothing item signifies a child's transformation into a young woman?

4. Who was Tice Davids, and what was his legacy?

5. Why is Harriet confused when she hears about the Underground Railroad?

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CHAPTERS 9?10: Freedom Calling

KEY PASSAGE | Chapter 9, Paragraphs 31?35

In this passage, Harriet realizes how deeply she has misjudged her husband, John Tubman. A free man himself, John shocks Harriet with his grim response when she confides her plan to run away. More than unsupportive, he has vowed to thwart her by alerting the master. She wonders what happened to the man she fell in love with. Why has he become so hateful and cruel toward her?

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Discussion Prompt: How does the scene in this passage affect the way you see Harriet Tubman? How does this perception of Harriet match up with the historical Harriet Tubman, the famously daring conductor on the Underground Railroad? Discuss how one view of Harriet relates to the other.

VOCABULARY

defiant de?fi?ant adjective Boldly resistant or challenging Brett's defiant attitude with his teachers often lands him in the principal's office.

hoard hoard verb To gather or accumulate, often in excessive amounts Because of his tendency to hoard newspapers, towers of them are stacked around his apartment.

concealment con?ceal?ment noun The act of hiding or preventing something or someone from being known The thief almost escaped notice, but a fit of sneezing gave away his concealment.

handbill hand?bill noun Flier, handout, or poster Someone had taped a handbill advertising the chess club on everyone's locker.

haycock hay?cock noun A haystack Ruth stood on the haycock and announced to the audience of pigs, cows, and chickens that the play was about to begin.

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Reading Guide

StudySync|Harriet Tubman

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1. According to Big Rit, how do men and women each feel about change? How do Big Rit and Harriet each fit this pattern?

2. What are the two recurring dreams that Harriet discusses with her husband?

3. Who was Thomas Garrett, and what did he do for runaway slaves?

4. Harriet's second escape is thwarted when her brothers force her to turn back. Why is she reluctant to travel alone?

5. What does the white lady in the faded sunbonnet ask Harriet when she passes her in the fields? What offer does the lady make later, and how does she fulfill it?

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