Reading: Narrative of Sojourner Truth

​Reading: Narrative of Sojourner Truth

By Linh Đào Phương

What to do:

Read and choose the correct answer to each question.

Paragraph 1a

The question in her mind, and one not easily solved, now was, “How can I get away?” So, as Isabella often did, she ‘told God that she was afraid to go in the night, and in the day every body would see her.’ After some time, the thought came to her that she could leave just before the day dawned, and get out of the neighborhood where she was known before the people were much awake. “Yes,” said she, passionately, “That's a good thought! Thank you, God, for that thought!”

Multiple Choice

Question 1: What was Isabella worried about when planning her escape?

The question in her mind, and one not easily solved, now was, “How can I get away?” So, as Isabella often did, she ‘told God that she was afraid to go in the night, and in the day every body would see her.’ After some time, the thought came to her that she could leave just before the day dawned, and get out of the neighborhood where she was known before the people were much awake. “Yes,” said she, passionately, “That's a good thought! Thank you, God, for that thought!”

• The best time to leave

• The transport she could use

• How to carry everything she owned

Paragraph 1b

So, believing that it was coming from God, one fine morning, a little before day-break, she secretly stepped away from the back of Master Dumont's house, her infant on one arm and her wardrobe on the other; the bulk and weight of which, probably, she never found so convenient, a cotton handkerchief containing both her clothes and her provisions.

Question 2: Isabella brought with her .........................

Multiple Choice

Question 2: Isabella brought with her .........................

So, believing that it was coming from God, one fine morning, a little before day-break, she secretly stepped away from the back of Master Dumont's house, her infant on one arm and her wardrobe on the other; the bulk and weight of which, probably, she never found so convenient, a cotton handkerchief containing both her clothes and her provisions.

• Her food and necessary things

• Her baby child and her clothes

• All of these

Paragraph 2a

As she reached the summit of a high hill, a long distance from her master's, the sun came forth in all its pure splendor. She thought it never was so light before; indeed, she thought it much too light. She stopped to look around her, and make sure no one was following her. No one appeared, and, for the first time, the question came up for settlement, “Where, and to whom, shall I go?” In all her thoughts of running away, she had not once asked herself where she should direct her steps.

Question 3: What was the weather like when Isabella stopped?

Multiple Choice

Question 3: What was the weather like when Isabella stopped?

As she reached the summit of a high hill, a long distance from her master's, the sun came forth in all its pure splendor. She thought it never was so light before; indeed, she thought it much too light. She stopped to look around her, and make sure no one was following her. No one appeared, and, for the first time, the question came up for settlement, “Where, and to whom, shall I go?” In all her thoughts of running away, she had not once asked herself where she should direct her steps.

• It was lightly windy.

• It was bright and sunny.

• It was sunny but very cold.

• It was cloudy but not rainy.

Multiple Choice

Question 4: What does the word "settlement" refer to in this paragraph?

As she reached the summit of a high hill, a long distance from her master's, the sun came forth in all its pure splendor. She thought it never was so light before; indeed, she thought it much too light. She stopped to look around her, and make sure no one was following her. No one appeared, and, for the first time, the question came up for settlement, “Where, and to whom, shall I go?” In all her thoughts of running away, she had not once asked herself where she should direct her steps.

• How Isabella could find her way

• How Isabella could hide from her master.

• Where Isabella could live now that she ran away.

• It was cloudy but not rainy.

Paragraph 2b

She sat down, fed her infant, and again turning her thoughts to God, her only help, she prayed him to direct her to some safe asylum. And soon she remembered, that there was a man living somewhere in the direction she had been going, by the name of Levi Rowe, whom she had known, and who, she thought, would be likely to befriend her. She then pursued her way to his house, where she found him ready to invite her in and help her, though he was then on his death-bed. He said he knew of two good places where she might get in, and requested his wife to show her where she could find them.

Multiple Choice

Question 5: What did Mr. Levi Rowe do to help Isabella?

She sat down, fed her infant, and again turning her thoughts to God, her only help, she prayed him to direct her to some safe asylum. And soon she remembered, that there was a man living somewhere in the direction she had been going, by the name of Levi Rowe, whom she had known, and who, she thought, would be likely to befriend her. She then pursued her way to his house, where she found him ready to invite her in and help her, though he was then on his death-bed. He said he knew of two good places where she might get in, and requested his wife to show her where she could find them.

• He welcomed her in his house and let her stay.

• He gave her money and told her to leave the town.

• He could not let her stay, but told her some places she could stay.

Paragraph 2c

As soon as she came near the first house, she remembered having seen it and its inhabitants before, and exclaimed, “That's the place for me; I shall stop there.” She went there, and found the good people of the house, Mr. and Mrs. Van Wagener, absent, but was kindly greeted and invited in by their mother, until the return of her children. When they arrived, she explained her situation to them. They listened to her story, assuring her they never turned the needy away, and willingly gave her employment.

Question 6: What does the word "inhabitants" refer to?

Multiple Choice

Question 6: What does the word "inhabitants" refer to?

As soon as she came near the first house, she remembered having seen it and its inhabitants before, and exclaimed, “That's the place for me; I shall stop there.” She went there, and found the good people of the house, Mr. and Mrs. Van Wagener, absent, but was kindly greeted and invited in by their mother, until the return of her children. When they arrived, she explained her situation to them. They listened to her story, assuring her they never turned the needy away, and willingly gave her employment.

• The first house

• Mr. and Mrs. Van Wagener

• Isabella’s story

Multiple Choice

Question 7: Did Mr. and Mrs. Van Wagener agree to let Isabella stay at their place?

As soon as she came near the first house, she remembered having seen it and its inhabitants before, and exclaimed, “That's the place for me; I shall stop there.” She went there, and found the good people of the house, Mr. and Mrs. Van Wagener, absent, but was kindly greeted and invited in by their mother, until the return of her children. When they arrived, she explained her situation to them. They listened to her story, assuring her they never turned the needy away, and willingly gave her employment.

• Yes

• No

Paragraph 3

She had not been there long before her old master, Dumont, appeared, as she had expected; for when she took French leave of him, she decided not to go too far from him, and not put him to much trouble in looking for her, because he was sure to do so - as Tom and Jack had done when they ran away from him, a short time before. This was very considerate of her, to say the least, and a proof that ‘like begets like.’ He had often thought about her feelings, although not always, and she was equally considerate.

*take French leave: leave without notice or being allowed

Multiple Choice

Question 8: Why did Isabella decide not to go too far from her old master, Dumont?

She had not been there long before her old master, Dumont, appeared, as she had expected; for when she took French leave of him, she decided not to go too far from him, and not put him to much trouble in looking for her, because he was sure to do so - as Tom and Jack had done when they ran away from him, a short time before. This was very considerate of her, to say the least, and a proof that ‘like begets like.’ He had often thought about her feelings, although not always, and she was equally considerate.

• She did not want to make it hard for him to find her.

• She planned to return to him after a short time.

• She was afraid she would be like Tom and Jack before.

Multiple Choice

Question 9: Based on what Isabella thought about Dumont, what do you think “considerate” mean?

She had not been there long before her old master, Dumont, appeared, as she had expected; for when she took French leave of him, she decided not to go too far from him, and not put him to much trouble in looking for her, because he was sure to do so - as Tom and Jack had done when they ran away from him, a short time before. This was very considerate of her, to say the least, and a proof that ‘like begets like.’ He had often thought about her feelings, although not always, and she was equally considerate.

• Afraid of making mistakes

• Careful about other people’s feelings

• Angry but quiet

• Smart enough to tell the future

Paragraph 4

When her master saw her, he said, “Well, Bell, so you've run away from me.” “No, I did not run away; I walked away by day-light, and all because you had promised me a year of my time.” His reply was, “You must go back with me.” Her decisive answer was, “No, I won't go back with you.” He said, “Well, I shall take the child.” This also was stoutly refused by Isabella.

Question 10: Which of Dumont's orders did Isabella agree to?

Multiple Choice

Question 10: Which of Dumont's orders did Isabella agree to?

When her master saw her, he said, “Well, Bell, so you've run away from me.” “No, I did not run away; I walked away by day-light, and all because you had promised me a year of my time.” His reply was, “You must go back with me.” Her decisive answer was, “No, I won't go back with you.” He said, “Well, I shall take the child.” This also was stoutly refused by Isabella.

• "Well, Bell, so you've run away from me.”

• “You must go back with me.”

• “Well, I shall take the child.”

• None of these

Paragraph 5a

Mr. Isaac S. Van Wagener then came in between, saying, he had never bought or sold slaves; he did not believe in slavery; but, not wanting Isabella to be taken back by force, he would buy her services for the rest of the year - for which her master charged twenty dollars, and five in addition for the child.

Question 11: What did Mr. Van Wagener do?

Open Ended

Question 11: What did Mr. Van Wagener do?

Mr. Isaac S. Van Wagener then came in between, saying, he had never bought or sold slaves; he did not believe in slavery; but, not wanting Isabella to be taken back by force, he would buy her services for the rest of the year - for which her master charged twenty dollars, and five in addition for the child.

Paragraph 5b

The sum of money was paid, and her master Dumont left; but before that he had heard Mr. Van Wagener tell Isabella not to call him master, because “there is only one master, and that is God.” Isabella asked what she should call him. He answered, “call me Isaac Van Wagener, and my wife is Maria Van Wagener.” Isabella could not understand this, and thought it was a big change, from calling someone a master whose word she needed to obey, to just simple Isaac S. Van Wagener, who was master to no one.

Question 12: What did Isabella feel about not calling Mr. Van Wagener "master"?

Open Ended

Question 12: What did Isabella feel about not calling Mr. Van Wagener "master"?

The sum of money was paid, and her master Dumont left; but before that he had heard Mr. Van Wagener tell Isabella not to call him master, because “there is only one master, and that is God.” Isabella asked what she should call him. He answered, “call me Isaac Van Wagener, and my wife is Maria Van Wagener.” Isabella could not understand this, and thought it was a big change, from calling someone a master whose word she needed to obey, to just simple Isaac S. Van Wagener, who was master to no one.

Paragraph 5c

With these noble people, she stayed for one year, and from them she derived the name of Van Wagener; they being her last master in the law. At that time, a slave's surname is ever the same as their master, otherwise they are just called by their first name, Tom, Jack, or Guffin. Slaves have sometimes been punished harshly for adding their master's name to their own. But when they have no title to it, it is not a crime.

Question 13: What did Isabella do with her own name?

Multiple Choice

Question 13: What did Isabella do with her own name?

With these noble people, she stayed for one year, and from them she derived the name of Van Wagener; they being her last master in the law. At that time, a slave's surname is ever the same as their master, otherwise they are just called by their first name, Tom, Jack, or Guffin. Slaves have sometimes been punished harshly for adding their master's name to their own. But when they have no title to it, it is not a crime.

• She just used her first name (Isabella).

• She took on a boy's first name.

• She used her own last name.

• She took the last name of Van Wagener.

Open Ended

Question 14: What did Isabella think about taking this last name (Van Wagener)?

With these noble people, she stayed for one year, and from them she derived the name of Van Wagener; they being her last master in the law. At that time, a slave's surname is ever the same as their master, otherwise they are just called by their first name, Tom, Jack, or Guffin. Slaves have sometimes been punished harshly for adding their master's name to their own. But when they have no title to it, it is not a crime.