Jessica Umana 

Professor Rumore 

ENG 302

12 May 2020

Critical Annotation 

Quotes from Oroonoko by Aphran Behn

1. “This old dead hero had one only daughter left of his race; a beauty that, to describe her truly, one need say only, she was female to the noble male; the beautiful black Venus to our young Mars; as charming in her person as he, and of delicate virtues. I have seen an hundred white men sighing after her, and making a thousand vows at her feet, all vain, and unsuccessful; and she was, indeed, too great for any, but a prince of her own nation to adore.”

• In this passage of Oroonoko, the author focuses on racism. Behn specifically emphasizes how this young beautiful woman is black and how she is considered to be noble to any man. She then goes on and states that even white men have not been able to captivate her attention because she is too good for them. I found this quote to be very interesting because it contradicts what black females are known for. During the 1800’s, they were very few black females who were noble and beautiful. Instead, they were known for being slaves and not looked at by white men. 

2. “The King of Coramantien was himself a man of an hundred and odd years old, and had no son, though he had many beautiful black wives: for most certainly there are beauties that can charm of that color.”

• In this passage of Oroonoko, Behn uses characteristic in order to describe the King of Coramantien. I wouldn’t consider it so much imagery although when the author states that he is one hundred odd years old, the reader definitely creates an image of an old person in their head. However, I believe that characterization takes over  especially since it’s not so common for a man to be over 100 years old nowadays. Also, it describes how noble of a King he was since he has plenty of beautiful wives. 

3. “His face was not of that brown rusty black which most of that nation are, but of perfect ebony, or polished jet. His eyes were the most awful that could be seen, and very piercing; the white of ’em being like snow, as were his teeth. His nose was rising and Roman, instead of African and flat. His mouth the finest shaped that could be seen; far from those great turned lips which are so natural to the rest of the negroes.”

• In this passage of Oroonoko, the author uses imagery. It is evident when the author begins to describe Oronookos features. Everything about this quote is clearly emphasising imagery. For instance, the author says that his mouth was the finest shape that has been ever seen and his lips were natural. This allows the reader to create a better picture in their head of the character. The more intense the description is, the better the imagination. 

4. “He was adorned with a native beauty, so transcending all those of his gloomy race that he struck an awe and reverence even into those that knew not his quality; as he did into me, who beheld him with surprise and wonder, when afterwards he arrived in our world.”

• This passage is another example of imagery. The author is stating that his beauty was better than those of any other race, basically allowing the reader to comprehend how beautiful he was and ranking him better than any other normal men. The point of incorporating this literary element is to allow the reader to grasp a vivid imagery and comprehend why Oroonoko differed from everyone else. 

5. “I do not pretend, in giving you the history of this Royal Slave, to entertain my reader with adventures of a feigned hero, whose life and fortunes fancy may manage at the poet’s pleasure; nor in relating the truth, design to adorn it with any accidents but such as arrived in earnest to him.”

• This passage in Oroonoko,gives the reader historic context. At the beginning of the story, the author presents what they story is going to be about and uses “Royal Slave” allowing the reader too understand that it will be from the 1800’s and about slavery.  However, this quote also allows the reader to grasp the idea that a kingdom will be involved aside from slavery which also brings it back a couple centuries ago. 

Work Cited Behn, Aphran. Oroonoko. Penguin Books, 2016.