Magpie
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Did you find yourself on edge when reading the
book or viewing the movie? Why? In a
small way did if help you relate to the ongoing anxiety slaves endured?
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Both in book and the film Brown and Hamilton are
viewed as outsiders looking in as conspirators.
Why did Northup struggle to think badly of them in the narrative? Is he naive?
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What kept Solomon from falling into despair
while living in this situation? In the
film he says he wants to live and not survive.
In the book how do we see Solomon do that?
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Although born free how was Northup equipped with
skills to be a slave because of his race and position in New York?
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As good as Ford was heaving knowing about the
work done up north being able to swim and how different he was, why not look
closer into Northup’s history? What do
you think the conversation was like between Epps and Ford when it was revealed?
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Had Solomon not experienced time as a slave
would abolition have been as important for him to work towards?
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What made Ford good and Epps bad? In your opinion can a good slave owner exist?
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How does gender shape the experiences of the
slaves in Northup’s telling of his experience?
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Both escape and revolt are mentioned in the
narrative why were so few successful?
What factors worked against them?
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Did you find yourself enjoying Tibeats’
beating? Is some violence then
justified?
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Did the efforts of those like the kidnapped
slave Arthur’s rescuers, the sailor John Manning, Ford, Bass, and Northup
outweigh all the bad? Do most movements
of change begin with the work of a few?
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Why Epps so hard on Patsey? Because he loved her? Was it a hard thing to understand so he had
to break it?
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Did Northup’s “willingness” to serve as a driver
and take part in lies and beatings compromise him as a “hero”?
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In the book and film the differences between
being born free or born a slave are mentioned numerous times? DO you think Solomon believers himself
“superior”?
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Why “flash-forward” scenes, sex, writing, and
cane work at the beginning of the movie?
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Did you feel more a part of the experience in
the film because the way the story is told through experience and not in
voice-over?
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Why do you think Steve McQueen took time to show
natural beauty of Louisiana?
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Did the narrative and film have more of an
impact because here in Louisiana and familiar – did it make you
uncomfortable? Guilty?
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Why show Indians in movie when other things from
the book were left out?
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Why depict Northup hanging and not just
bound? Why leave camera shot up so long?
Why show others going about their business?
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Why not show Solomon’s escape attempt?
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Why was the whipping scene with Patsey shot the
way it was? Not seeing back until Epps
took lash?
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Over and over McQueen puts cruelty and beauty in
opposition – any that struck you?
Why? (sex, nature, masters, human
contact, slave pen in the capital)
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P. 185 “I was in a fever of suspense whenever
Bass visited Marksville, and could scarcely close my eyes until his
return.” Is this where McQueen drew the
inspiration for the scene with the up-close of Northup? Did his “stare” make you uncomfortable? Why?
Was it a call to action?
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