Paul Laurence Dunbar's poem "Frederick Douglass". How are Douglass' efforts in the struggle for the freedom of the Afro-American people epitomized? (PDF)

Seminar paper from the year 2016 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Culture and Applied Geography, grade: 1,3, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel, language: English, abstract: The aim of this term-paper about the poem "Frederick Douglass" by Paul Laurence Dunbar is supposed to reveal that its formal features point out the ambition, Douglass displayed in his struggle to fight for the equal rights for black people. The choice to have a close look at this specific poem, was made because the two men are both of African American descent, parts of Douglass' profession resemble Dubar's, as they both were writers and the men knew each other. Furthermore, it is a tribute to Douglass and his achievements in the Abolitionist Movement. This is why this poem is of such an interest and importance.

This term-paper is composed of an objective analysis of the poem, followed by a connective part, in which the most striking formal features are linked to the relevant historical background. In the first part, the focus therefore is on examining the structure of the poem with all its stylistic and rhetorical devices. To achieve a suitable overview, this examination is done stanza by stanza. It is supposed to provide a dispassionate look on the poem. As this section only is concerned with the poem itself, there is no regard to research-literature. In the next chapter the paper then deals with the references, the poem Frederick Douglass suggests. At this point, the already disclosed formal features are reconsidered with their specific link to genuine occurrences in the life of Douglass. Therefore selected secondary literature is provided and enwrought in this chapter. This approach allows a more detailed and structured view and therefore supports the understanding of how Dunbar's poem is interwoven by the efforts, Douglass took for his race.