Olaudah Equiano

Olaudah Equiano had to survive brutal injustices at the hands of his captors and owners.  It wasn't until he was able to buy his freedom that he could experience the luxury of adventure.  Write down your memories of an incident in your life when you felt that one of your rights was being restricted or otherwise jeopardized.  What kind of action, if any, were you able to take to protect that right? What did you learn about yourself as a result of the incident?

Beginnings of American Literature

Most readers think of American Literature as starting with the Puritans; however, there was a tradition of oral literature passed on by Native Americans that has eventually found its place in literature anthologies. Before we actually begin our discussion on the Puritans, what do you suspect was the central theme or ideas that stimulated our original inhabitants to tell their stories and traditions?  Be sure to support you responses.