Tackling the task of reading Toni Morrison's "Beloved" can be quite daunting. A thick, thoughtful, and often circular novel on the trials of new life after slavery, Morrison's book is a hefty and challenging read for even the adept. It's hard enough to simply grasp the twisting story of this book, let alone to understand the underlying themes and insights Morrison hides between her powerful descriptions. In standing strong against the torrent of information and confusing literature, one can find a very powerful and emotional message about the lasting legacy and shackling destructiveness of sla...

• Word Count: 1059
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Frederick Douglass was a well spoken, highly descriptive author. His fluency with the English language was superb and, without a doubt, collegiate level. After reading his book, The Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, one would believe Douglass to be a highly educated man. The reality is, at the time Narrative was written, Douglass was a 27 year old escaped slave. Douglass was self educated, having no formal educational training. I was personally astounded by his spirit to learn, second only to his desire to be free. In 1841, Douglass attended an anti-slavery convention in Nantucket....

• Word Count: 2890
• Approx Pages: 12
• Grade Level: High School

... who's good and kind, And free from all pretence; Who, if without a gifted mind, At least has common sense. In the poem Advice to the Girls, Harper was giving advice to young girls who rush into marriage and/or marry men for the wrong reasons. This point was short and blunt. She was telling girls not to marry a man with any credibility, or takes ... ; His shadow above my silent tomb Would make it a place of fearful gloom I could not sleep, if I heard the tread Of a coffle-gang to the shambles led, And the mother's shriek of wild despair Rise, like a curse, on the trembling air. I could no...

• Word Count: 2134
• Approx Pages: 9
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School