On Being Brought from Africa to America

On Being Brought from Africa to America

by Phillis Wheatley

Phillis Wheatley (c. 1751-1784)

• first African American to publish a book of poetry

• owned by John Wheatley and was the personal assistant of Susannah, his wife

• Wheatleys tutored her in literature, Latin, and Greek

• she published her first poem in 1767 at the age of 13

• she was given her freedom in 1774 when Susannah died

Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral

• Wheatley's first and only book of poems

• publish in 1773

• to prove she was the author, 17 (white) men had to sign assertions

• she was the first African American, the first slave, and the third American woman to publish a book of poetry

​Genre Elements of Poetry

• ​Poetry develops a theme (or multiple themes) in the text

• Is more condensed and suggestive than prose (meaning, you have often have to make more inferences)

• Uses a variety of sound devices to create voice, add emphasis, and convey meaning

Analyzing Poetry - The Speaker​

• ​Speaker - the voice that “talks” to the reader.  Sometimes may be identified with the poet, but not always!

• Persona - a fictional character adopted by the poet as the speaker.

Multiple Choice

True or False - The Speaker of the poem is ALWAYS the author

• True

• False 

Open Ended

What are some of the elements of poetry we just discussed?

​Analyzing Poetry - Sound Devices and Voice

​Sound devices - devices like rhyme, rhythm, alliteration, etc. 

Voice - the unique style of the author or speaker 

Rhyme - occurrence of similar or identical sounds at the end of two or more words

Internal rhyme - use of rhyming words within a single line of poetry

End rhyme - use of rhyming words at the ends of two or more lines of poetry

While we read, look for...

• use of rhyme and rhythm

• alliteration

• word choice (pay attention to connotations)

• voice

On Being Brought from Africa to America

’Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,

Taught my benighted soul to understand

That there’s a God, that there’s a Saviour too:

Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.

Some view our sable race with scornful eye,

“Their colour is a diabolic die.”

Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,

May be refin’d, and join th’ angelic train.

Multiple Choice

What type of rhyme does the poem use?

• internal rhyme

• end rhyme

Open Ended

How does the rhyme contribute to the poem's sound? How does it contribute to the poem's message?

On Being Brought from Africa to America

’Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,

Taught my benighted soul to understand

That there’s a God, that there’s a Saviour too:

Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.

Some view our sable race with scornful eye,

“Their colour is a diabolic die.”

Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,

May be refin’d, and join th’ angelic train.

Multiple Select

Which words from the poem have a positive connotation about America? (choose 3)

• mercy

• Pagan

• Saviour

• redemption

• diabolic

'Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,

Taught my benighted soul to understand

That there's a God, that there's a Savior too:

Once I redemption neither sought nor knew.

Open Ended

Summarize the first half of the poem. What is the speaker's attitude toward being brought to America?

Open Ended

What transition has the speaker experienced? What has the speaker gained from this transition?

Some view our sable race with scornful eye,

"Their colour is a diabolic die."

Remember, Christians, Negroes, black as Cain,

May be refin'd, and join th' angelic train.

Open Ended

Summarize the second half of the poem. What is the speaker's attitude about how African slaves are treated?

Open Ended

What contrast does the rhyme in the last 2 lines of the poem help emphasize? ("black as Cain" / "th' angelic train")

Multiple Choice

Who is the speaker of the poem?

• An enslaved woman in America

• A free woman of color in America

• A Christian slave owner

• The friend of a Pagan slave

Multiple Choice

Which phrase reveals the speaker's attitude about going to America?

• 'Twas mercy brought me

• redemption neither sought nor knew

• our sable race

• May be refin'd

Multiple Choice

How would you characterize the voice in "On Being Brought from Africa to America"?

• Angry

• Grateful

• Disturbed

• Indifferent

Multiple Choice

A theme of the poem is (remember to consider the speaker's tone)

• freedom rests on the ability to read

• all people need understanding

• bigotry toward African Americans is morally wrong

• being brought to America from Africa was an act of oppression

Open Ended

How do you think the poem's speaker would answer our essential question "What does oppression look like?"