Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Themes
All Themes
The Dehumanizing Effects of Slavery
Sexual Virtue and Sexual Abuse
Motherhood and Family
Christianity
Women
Quotes
Characters
All Characters
Harriet Jacobs / Linda Brent
Grandmother
Dr. Flint
Mother
Father
First Mistress
Mrs. Flint
Mr. Sands
William
Benjamin
Phillip
Ellen
Benny
The Boat Captain
Peter
Mrs. Hobbs
Mr. Thorne
Mrs. Bruce
Young Mrs. Bruce
Emily Flint / Mrs. Dodge
Nicholas Flint
Aunt Nancy
The Carpenter
Symbols
All Symbols
Houses and Homes
Literary Devices
All Literary Devices
Allusions
Dramatic Irony
Ethos
Fallacy
Foil
Foreshadowing
Genre
Imagery
Irony
Logos
Metaphors
Mood
Motifs
Pathos
Satire
Setting
Similes
Situational Irony
Style
Tone
Quizzes
All Quizzes
Chapter One: Childhood Quiz
Chapter Two: The New Master and Mistress Quiz
Chapter Three: The Slaves’ New Year’s Day Quiz
Chapter Four: The Slave Who Dared to Feel Like a Man Quiz
Chapter Five: The Trials of Girlhood Quiz
Chapter Six: The Jealous Mistress Quiz
Chapter Seven: The Lover Quiz
Chapter Eight: What Slaves are Taught to Think of the North Quiz
Chapter Nine: Sketches of Neighboring Slaveholders Quiz
Chapter Ten: A Perilous Passage in the Slave Girl’s Life Quiz
Chapter Eleven: The New Tie to Life Quiz
Chapter Twelve: Fear of Insurrection Quiz
Chapter Thirteen: The Church and Slavery Quiz
Chapter Fourteen: Another Link to Life Quiz
Chapter Fifteen: Continued Persecutions Quiz
Chapter Sixteen: Scenes at the Plantation Quiz
Chapter Seventeen: The Flight Quiz
Chapter Eighteen: Months of Peril Quiz
Chapter Nineteen: The Children Sold Quiz
Chapter Twenty: New Perils Quiz
Chapter Twenty-One: The Loophole of Retreat Quiz
Chapter Twenty-Two: Christmas Festivities Quiz
Chapter Twenty-Three: Still in Prison Quiz
Chapter Twenty-Four: The Candidate for Congress Quiz
Chapter Twenty-Five: Competition in Cunning Quiz
Chapter Twenty-Six: Important Era in My Brother’s Life Quiz
Chapter Twenty-Seven: New Destination for the Children Quiz
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Aunt Nancy Quiz
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Preparations for Escape Quiz
Chapter Thirty: Northward Bound Quiz
Chapter Thirty-One: Incidents in Philadelphia Quiz
Chapter Thirty-Two: The Meeting of Mother and Daughter Quiz
Chapter Thirty-Three: A Home Found Quiz
Chapter Thirty-Four: The Old Enemy Again Quiz
Chapter Thirty-Five: Prejudice Against Color Quiz
Chapter Thirty-Six: The Hairbreadth Escape Quiz
Chapter Thirty-Seven: A Visit to England Quiz
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Renewed Invitations to Go South Quiz
Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Confession Quiz
Chapter Forty: The Fugitive Slave Law Quiz
Chapter Forty-One: Free At Last Quiz
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Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl
by
Harriet Jacobs
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Introduction
Intro
Plot Summary
Plot
Summary & Analysis
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Themes
All Themes
The Dehumanizing Effects of Slavery
Sexual Virtue and Sexual Abuse
Motherhood and Family
Christianity
Women
Quotes
Characters
All Characters
Harriet Jacobs / Linda Brent
Grandmother
Dr. Flint
Mother
Father
First Mistress
Mrs. Flint
Mr. Sands
William
Benjamin
Phillip
Ellen
Benny
The Boat Captain
Peter
Mrs. Hobbs
Mr. Thorne
Mrs. Bruce
Young Mrs. Bruce
Emily Flint / Mrs. Dodge
Nicholas Flint
Aunt Nancy
The Carpenter
Symbols
All Symbols
Houses and Homes
Lit Devices
All Literary Devices
Allusions
Dramatic Irony
Ethos
Fallacy
Foil
Foreshadowing
Genre
Imagery
Irony
Logos
Metaphors
Mood
Motifs
Pathos
Satire
Setting
Similes
Situational Irony
Style
Tone
Quizzes
All Quizzes
Chapter One: Childhood Quiz
Chapter Two: The New Master and Mistress Quiz
Chapter Three: The Slaves’ New Year’s Day Quiz
Chapter Four: The Slave Who Dared to Feel Like a Man Quiz
Chapter Five: The Trials of Girlhood Quiz
Chapter Six: The Jealous Mistress Quiz
Chapter Seven: The Lover Quiz
Chapter Eight: What Slaves are Taught to Think of the North Quiz
Chapter Nine: Sketches of Neighboring Slaveholders Quiz
Chapter Ten: A Perilous Passage in the Slave Girl’s Life Quiz
Chapter Eleven: The New Tie to Life Quiz
Chapter Twelve: Fear of Insurrection Quiz
Chapter Thirteen: The Church and Slavery Quiz
Chapter Fourteen: Another Link to Life Quiz
Chapter Fifteen: Continued Persecutions Quiz
Chapter Sixteen: Scenes at the Plantation Quiz
Chapter Seventeen: The Flight Quiz
Chapter Eighteen: Months of Peril Quiz
Chapter Nineteen: The Children Sold Quiz
Chapter Twenty: New Perils Quiz
Chapter Twenty-One: The Loophole of Retreat Quiz
Chapter Twenty-Two: Christmas Festivities Quiz
Chapter Twenty-Three: Still in Prison Quiz
Chapter Twenty-Four: The Candidate for Congress Quiz
Chapter Twenty-Five: Competition in Cunning Quiz
Chapter Twenty-Six: Important Era in My Brother’s Life Quiz
Chapter Twenty-Seven: New Destination for the Children Quiz
Chapter Twenty-Eight: Aunt Nancy Quiz
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Preparations for Escape Quiz
Chapter Thirty: Northward Bound Quiz
Chapter Thirty-One: Incidents in Philadelphia Quiz
Chapter Thirty-Two: The Meeting of Mother and Daughter Quiz
Chapter Thirty-Three: A Home Found Quiz
Chapter Thirty-Four: The Old Enemy Again Quiz
Chapter Thirty-Five: Prejudice Against Color Quiz
Chapter Thirty-Six: The Hairbreadth Escape Quiz
Chapter Thirty-Seven: A Visit to England Quiz
Chapter Thirty-Eight: Renewed Invitations to Go South Quiz
Chapter Thirty-Nine: The Confession Quiz
Chapter Forty: The Fugitive Slave Law Quiz
Chapter Forty-One: Free At Last Quiz
Theme Wheel
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Previous
Chapter Three: The Slaves’ New Year’s Day Quiz
Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl: Chapter 4 Quiz
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Chapter Five: The Trials of Girlhood Quiz
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What role does religion play for Linda and Benjamin in their approach to slavery?
1 of 9
It inspires them to assert their rights and plan their escape
It serves as a means to justify their enslavement
It inspires them to assert their rights and plan their escape
Religion has no significant impact on their views or actions
What kind of harassment is Linda primarily facing from Dr. Flint?
2 of 9
Financial exploitation
Sexual harassment
Racial discrimination
Verbal abuse only
How does Linda's view on religion evolve throughout the narrative?
3 of 9
She consistently believes religion justifies her subjugation
She remains indifferent to religious teachings
She initially feels religion demands forgiveness but ends up advocating for demanding her own rights
She always sees religion as a tool to empower her abusers
Which of the following causes Linda to become ill in February?
4 of 9
She runs a long errand barefoot in the snow and goes to bed sick
She is forced to work outside in the cold without proper clothing
She eats spoiled food given to her by Mrs. Flint
She catches a cold from young Emily Flint
What lesson does Uncle Benjamin's attempt to escape primarily teach Linda?
5 of 9
The importance of patience and waiting for the right moment to act
The power of taking one's life into one's own hands despite the dangers
The effectiveness of physical resistance against oppressors
The severe consequences and dangers faced by slaves who attempt to escape
Why did Benjamin decide against throwing himself into the river when captured?
6 of 9
Because he couldn't swim
Because he hoped for a legal escape
Because he remembered his mother
Because he realized he was too close to freedom to give up
How does Linda's portrayal of Grandmother reflect the impact of slavery on the sanctity of motherhood?
7 of 9
It shows that slavery enhances the maternal bond
It suggests that slavery has no effect on family dynamics
It illustrates that slavery violates the sanctity of motherhood
It argues that motherhood is respected and protected under slavery
What does Benjamin suggest to Phillip regarding their grandmother's savings?
8 of 9
To use it for his own escape
To use it to buy freedom for Phillip and Linda
To donate it to the abolitionist cause
To invest it in a business venture in New York
How does Grandmother react to the news of Benjamin's freedom?
9 of 9
She is overwhelmed with joy and immediately plans to celebrate
She is more saddened by losing Benjamin than happy about his freedom
She is too absorbed in her own sufferings to focus on the news
She immediately plans to move to New York to be with him
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Connelly, Irene. "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl."
LitCharts.
LitCharts LLC, 2 Mar 2019. Web. 8 Apr 2025.
Connelly, Irene. "Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl." LitCharts. LitCharts LLC, 2 Mar 2019. Web. 8 Apr 2025.
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Chapter Three: The Slaves’ New Year’s Day Quiz
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Chapter Three: The Slaves’ New Year’s Day Quiz
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Chapter Five: The Trials of Girlhood Quiz
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