Question 160·Easy·Command of Evidence
In his 1845 Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass, an American Slave, Douglass reflects on the impact that learning to read had on him, asserting that literacy strengthened his resolve to gain freedom, writing, ______
Which quotation from the Narrative most effectively illustrates this claim?
For command-of-evidence questions that ask which quotation best supports a claim, first restate the claim in your own words and underline 2–3 key ideas (here, literacy → stronger resolve → freedom). Then quickly test each answer by asking, “Does this sentence clearly show those ideas, especially the most specific one?” Eliminate choices that describe only emotions (like hatred or envy) or general background points, even if they share keywords with the question. Usually the best answer will closely match both the focus (what it’s about) and the direction (positive vs. negative, determination vs. despair) of the claim.
Hints
Focus on the exact claim in the question
Reread the prompt and underline the key ideas: learning to read, strengthened his resolve, and to gain freedom. Any correct quote must clearly reflect a stronger, lasting determination to be free—not just any emotional reaction.
Check what each quote mainly describes
For each option, ask: Is Douglass mainly describing (1) a strong decision or determination to pursue freedom, or (2) something else, like hatred, envy, or a general statement about slavery?
Beware of word traps
Do not pick a quote just because it repeats a word from the question (like ‘read’ or ‘slave’). Make sure the idea of a stronger resolve to become free is present, not just related vocabulary.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the question is asking for
The question summarizes Douglass’s reflection: learning to read strengthened his resolve to gain freedom. You need a quotation that best matches this specific idea.
Break the claim into key parts:
- It is about the impact of learning to read (literacy).
- That impact is a stronger resolve or determination.
- The resolve is specifically to gain freedom, not just to feel angry or sad.
Keep these three ideas in mind as you check each option.
Eliminate choices that don’t show resolve to gain freedom
Go through the options and ask: Is Douglass clearly talking about a determined desire to become free?
-
Choice A: “The more I read, the more I was led to abhor and detest my enslavers.”
This does connect to reading, but it shows that reading made him hate his enslavers, not that it strengthened his resolve to gain freedom. Hatred and determination are not the same thing. -
Choice C: “I have found that, to make a contented slave, it is necessary to make a thoughtless one.”
This is a general statement about how enslavers keep people content by keeping them ignorant. It does not describe Douglass’s personal resolve or his own desire to get free. -
Choice D: “I envied my fellow-slaves for their stupidity.”
Here he is expressing envy and despair: he wishes he did not understand his condition so clearly. That is almost the opposite of feeling a strong, hopeful determination to seek freedom.
Since A, C, and D do not clearly express a strengthened resolve to gain freedom, they can be eliminated.
Confirm the remaining choice matches the claim
With the other options eliminated, the remaining choice must show the powerful inner change that literacy caused in Douglass—an awakening of a lasting desire for freedom.
Choice B says that “The silver trump of freedom had roused my soul to eternal wakefulness.” A trumpet is a call, and here it symbolizes freedom calling to him. The phrases roused my soul and eternal wakefulness show that this was a deep, permanent awakening: he is now constantly, actively aware and desirous of freedom. This directly matches the idea that learning to read strengthened his resolve to gain freedom.
Therefore, the correct answer is:
“The silver trump of freedom had roused my soul to eternal wakefulness.”