"Twelve Years a Slave" in the classroom. Background information, ideas and suggestions for teaching about slavery

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Historical Contextualization
  • Slavery in the Antebellum South
  • Fugitive Slave Act
  • The Antislavery Movement
• Slave Narratives - The Literary Genre
• The Uniqueness of Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup
  • Synopsis of Twelve Years a Slave
  • Popularity of the Book
  • Historical Evidence
  • Themes
    • Work
    • Slave Resistance
    • The Slave Family
    • Gender
    • Religion
    • Education
• The Movie by Steve McQueen
  • Differences between the Movie and the Book
  • Criticism
  • Important Scenes
• The Revitalization of African American Literature and Movies
  • Connection between Obama and the Popularity of African American Medium
  • African American Culture and Modern Slavery
• Slavery as a Teaching Subject
  • Slavery and Twelve Years a Slave in the American Classroom
  • Slavery in the German Classroom
    • German Curriculum and School System
    • The Adaption of Twelve Years a Slave to the Curriculum
• The Life Story of Solomon Northup in Classroom
  • Twelve Years A Slave: Full Book and Comprehensive Reading Companion
  • Solomon Northup's Twelve Years a Slave: 1841-1853
  • Stolen into Slavery
  • Twelve Years a Slave - Enhanced Edition by Dr. Sue Eakin
  • The Relevance of Twelve Years a Slave
• Twelve Years a Slave Teaching Unit
  • General Information about the Teaching Unit
    • Unit Vision
    • Subject Matter and Learning Objectives
    • Precise Goals
    • Lesson Structure
    • General Methodology
    • General Didactic and Common Core Standards
  • Unit Outline
• Exemplary Lesson
  • Lesson Goals
  • Planned Lesson Structure
  • Methodology
  • Blackboard Outline
  • Reflection

Objectives and Key Themes

This paper investigates the suitability of "Twelve Years a Slave" for German classrooms and provides a teaching unit outline. It explores the historical context of slavery, analyzes the book and its film adaptation, and offers practical teaching suggestions for high school teachers. The goal is to equip educators with the necessary resources to effectively integrate this powerful narrative into their curriculum.

• The historical context of slavery in the Antebellum South and its lasting impact.
• An analysis of Solomon Northup's "Twelve Years a Slave" as a slave narrative and its literary significance.
• A comparison of the book and the film adaptation, highlighting their strengths and weaknesses.
• The pedagogical considerations for teaching "Twelve Years a Slave" in a German classroom setting.
• The development of a practical teaching unit with lesson plans and activities.

Chapter Summaries

Introduction: This chapter introduces the central question of the paper: whether "Twelve Years a Slave" is suitable for German classrooms and how it can be effectively taught. It highlights the importance of understanding slavery's historical context and the power of slave narratives in engaging students with this difficult topic. The introduction also lays out the structure and goals of the paper, setting the stage for the subsequent chapters' in-depth analysis.

Historical Contextualization: This chapter provides essential background information on slavery in the Antebellum South, tracing its development from the early 17th century. It discusses the economic drivers of slavery, particularly the role of cotton production, and the inhumane conditions endured by enslaved people. The chapter emphasizes the importance of understanding this historical context to fully appreciate the narrative presented in "Twelve Years a Slave." It highlights the shift from tobacco to cotton as the major cash crop fueling the expansion of slavery in the South.

Slave Narratives - The Literary Genre: This section delves into the history and significance of the slave narrative as a literary genre. It positions "Twelve Years a Slave" within this broader context, highlighting its unique features and contributions to the understanding of slavery. The discussion likely explores the literary techniques used by authors of slave narratives to convey their experiences and the impact these stories had on the abolitionist movement and public perception of slavery. This would help set the stage for a more thorough analysis of Solomon Northup's work.

The Uniqueness of Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup: This chapter provides a detailed overview of Solomon Northup's narrative, focusing on its key themes, historical accuracy, and lasting impact. It will likely discuss the book's popularity, its use of historical evidence, and the various themes explored such as work, slave resistance, family life, gender roles, religion, and education within the context of slavery. A close examination of the unique aspects of Northup's narrative compared to other slave narratives is anticipated.

The Movie by Steve McQueen: This chapter focuses on the film adaptation of "Twelve Years a Slave," comparing it to the original book. The analysis likely discusses the differences between the two versions, the critical reception of the film, and the impact of its success on the public awareness of slavery. A comparison of the strengths and limitations of both the book and the film adaptation, considering aspects of artistic interpretation and cinematic storytelling would likely be featured.

The Revitalization of African American Literature and Movies: This chapter likely explores the renewed interest in African American literature and films following the success of "Twelve Years a Slave," exploring the connections between this resurgence and broader socio-political shifts. It might examine the impact of cultural events such as the election of Barack Obama and discuss the relationship between African-American culture and themes of modern slavery. This chapter would offer broader context to the continued relevance of the narrative.

Slavery as a Teaching Subject: This chapter delves into the pedagogical aspects of teaching slavery, particularly using "Twelve Years a Slave," in both American and German classrooms. It compares and contrasts the approaches, considering cultural differences and curriculum requirements. It might also address challenges and opportunities presented by using this text in the classroom, highlighting its unique potential to promote deeper understanding of the complexities of slavery and its historical impact.

The Life Story of Solomon Northup in Classroom: This chapter focuses on different resources available for teaching Northup's story and its relevance in the classroom. The chapter discusses available books, materials, and teaching companions designed to facilitate the use of "Twelve Years a Slave" in an educational context, offering resources and possibilities for diverse teaching methods.

Twelve Years a Slave Teaching Unit: This chapter presents a detailed teaching unit designed for high school students, outlining learning objectives, lesson plans, and suggested activities. This unit offers teachers a structured approach to integrating the narrative effectively into their curriculum, providing practical tools and guidance for instruction.

Exemplary Lesson: This chapter provides a detailed example of a single lesson from the teaching unit, demonstrating practical application of the methodology and addressing specific aspects of lesson planning and execution within the larger context of the developed teaching unit.

Keywords

Slavery, Antebellum South, Slave Narratives, Solomon Northup, Twelve Years a Slave, Historical Context, Film Adaptation, Pedagogy, Curriculum, Teaching Unit, African American History, Human Trafficking, Modern Slavery, Classroom Instruction.

Twelve Years a Slave: A Teaching Unit - Frequently Asked Questions

What is this document about?

This document is a comprehensive language preview for a teaching unit centered around Solomon Northup's "Twelve Years a Slave." It includes a table of contents, objectives, key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords. The unit aims to equip educators with the resources to effectively integrate this powerful narrative into their high school curriculum, specifically within a German classroom setting but with broader applications.

What topics are covered in the teaching unit?

The unit covers a wide range of topics, including the historical context of slavery in the Antebellum South, the literary genre of slave narratives, a detailed analysis of both Northup's book and the Steve McQueen film adaptation, pedagogical considerations for teaching this sensitive subject matter, and the development of practical lesson plans and activities.

What is the historical context explored in the unit?

The unit delves into the historical context of slavery in the Antebellum South, examining its economic drivers (particularly cotton production), the inhumane conditions endured by enslaved people, and the significance of understanding this history to appreciate "Twelve Years a Slave." It also explores the Fugitive Slave Act and the Antislavery Movement.

How does the unit analyze "Twelve Years a Slave"?

The unit provides a detailed analysis of "Twelve Years a Slave," examining its literary significance as a slave narrative, its unique features, and its key themes (work, slave resistance, family, gender, religion, and education). It also compares and contrasts the book with Steve McQueen's film adaptation, highlighting similarities, differences, and the critical reception of both.

What is the focus on the film adaptation of "Twelve Years a Slave"?

The unit analyzes the film adaptation by Steve McQueen, comparing it to the book and discussing the differences, critical reception, and its impact on public awareness of slavery. It explores the strengths and limitations of both the book and film as mediums for conveying this historical narrative.

How does the unit address the teaching of slavery in the classroom?

The unit addresses the pedagogical challenges and opportunities presented by teaching slavery, particularly using "Twelve Years a Slave," in both American and German classrooms. It offers practical teaching suggestions for high school teachers, including lesson plans, activities, and resources. It also compares and contrasts teaching approaches considering cultural differences and curriculum requirements.

What resources are provided for educators?

The unit provides a detailed teaching unit outline with specific lesson plans and activities. It also lists various resources including books and teaching companions designed to support the use of "Twelve Years a Slave" in the classroom, aiming to provide a structured and effective approach to teaching this complex subject.

What is the target audience for this teaching unit?

The primary target audience is high school teachers, particularly those in Germany, seeking to effectively integrate "Twelve Years a Slave" into their curriculum. However, the principles and resources offered could be adapted for other educational settings and contexts.

What are the key objectives of the teaching unit?

The key objectives include equipping educators with the resources to teach "Twelve Years a Slave" effectively, fostering a deeper understanding of the historical context of slavery, analyzing the book and film adaptation, and promoting critical engagement with this important topic.

What are some key themes explored in the unit?

Key themes include slavery in the Antebellum South, the literary genre of slave narratives, the historical accuracy and impact of "Twelve Years a Slave," the comparison of the book and film, pedagogical considerations for teaching slavery, and the development of effective lesson plans and activities.