A Slave Ship

Analysis

1. Why is the chapter called "The Moonlight"?
2. In this chapter several things are explained to Jessie Bollier. They can be grouped into a few categories. List these categories.
3. Make a list of the members of the crew, and from the information you gathered in this chapter, tell what each one of them does, and what kind of personality each one of them has. You will be adding further information to that list as you keep on reading the book. Keep the list for a later character description exercise
4. Pick out five other sentences that make comparisons to describe, or to make something clear.
5. "That means there are thirteen of us now, all because of you, so watch your step for if something goes wrong, it 'll be your fault. Don' t forget Jonah and what happened to him, only you shall land up in the belly of a shark-" says Purvis. Explain what Purvis means. What is he referring to when he talks about a Jonah? Where can the story about Jonah be found? Where did Jonah end up?
6. On a map find the Bight of Benin. What present day country is situated there now?

The noun sport means physical activity or athletic games engaged in for recreation Sport is a shortened form of disport, a word that was out-of-date even for Shakespeare. The Latin root of sport is portare, which means "to carry". Below are ten other words derived from portare. See if you can use them correctly in the sentences that follow.

1. The captain of the British warship that captured the slave ship was a _____ man. (large and heavy in a dignified manner)
2. The dull mayor of New Orleans hoped to change his image with some new _____ clothes. (flashy showy)
3. It was obvious from the old man's _____ that he had been well-bred. (manner in which one conducts oneself)
4. The sounds from his pipe _____ Jessie to another time when he still lived in New Or1eans.(taken from one place to another)
5. The reason for Jessie's popularity was that he was a real _____ . (person who is gracious winner and a good loser)
6. The means of _____ in Jessie's time were quite different from those of today. (means of conveyance or travel from one place to another)
7. Incredibly, the enemy was giving the secret agent a _____ opportunity to save his life. (fair or even)
8. Jessie's pipe was a very _____ music instrument. (capable of being carried or moved about)
9. After a few days aboard the slave ship, Jessie made an _____ discovery. (valuable)
10. The puppies were so _____ and full of life that Jessie couldn't keep up with them. (frolicsome, playful)

Character Reference

Ship in moonlight

The Slave Dancer contains many portraits of memory able people. The process of recalling or creating memorable details about individuals is called characterization. The personalities of people in a book can be conveyed by

- what the author states directly about the character

- what the character says and does

- what others say or think about the character

Since The Slave Dancer  is told by Jessie - not the author or an all-knowing narrator - readers must rely on the last three methods to gain information about characters.

Directions

Each of the following charts lists some traits possessed by a character in the book. Find sever; specific pieces of evidence for each trait (from anywhere in the book as you read the text) t prove the character does have that characteristic.

Then decide which characterization method (or methods) in each piece of evidence is used t reveal that trait. Check the appropriate column.

a = what the character says

b = what the character does

c = what others say or think about the character

d = how others act toward the character

Below you will find an example of a chart for Jessie. Make a similar chart for each of the following characters in the book.

Clay Purvis

Captain Cawthorne

Nicholas Spark

Benjamin Stout

Jessie
Trait	Evidence	How trait is revealed
curious	observing the black woman against the doorpost	b
persistent
sensitive
brave

2. Purvis

a. ignorant

b. compassionate

c. understanding

 

3. Captain Cawthorne

a. dictatorial

b brutal

c. corrupt

 

4. Spark

a. stupid

b. corrupt

c cruel

 

4. Stout

a. sadistic

b. two-faced

c. corrupt

 

One Step Further

Choose a character from the preceding charts for an interview. First write that character's name, then write down three questions that are designed to gain information about that character's personality traits.

Finally, prepare answers for your character that seem consistent with his or her personality and speaking style. Write the character's initial before each response.

Chapter 1 - Chapter 2 - Chapter 3 - Chapter 4 - Chapter 5 - Chapter 6 - Chapter 7 - Chapter 8 - Chapter 9