Paula Castro
Professor Rumore
ENG 302
20 April 2020
Critical Annotations
Oroonoko by Aphran Behn
- “His eyes were the most awful that could be seen, and very piercing; the white of them 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” (Behn, 15)
In the simile “the white of them being like snow, as were his teeth” the author compares the white in Oroonoko’s eyes and teeth to the snow; suggesting that Oroonoko became cold since he was forced to leave his home land, this could mark the beginning of the Oroonoko’s transformation. Therefore, the simile highlights the before and after of Oroonoko’s settlement in the West. Also, water symbolizes life and by comparing Oroonoko’s features to snow, she could be suggesting that his life has been frozen since he cannot continue with his royal obligations, illuminating the lack of freedom in Oroonoko’s new life.
- “The royal youth appeared in spite of the slave, and people could not help treating him after a different manner without designing it; as soon as they approached him, they venerated and esteemed him; his eyes insensibly commanded respect, and his behavior insinuated it into every soul” (Behn, 43)
According to the Oxford English Dictionary “in spite of” means “in defiance (scorn or contempt) of; in the face of; notwithstanding” meaning that although Oroonoko now appeared (physically) to be a slave, his royal blood still managed to make him different/special, highlighting the theme of Oroonoko being considered “different” among the slaves due to his royal blood. As a prince he still possessed a strong view and that is why “his eyes insensibly commanded respect”; foreshadowing the revolt that he commences on the book due to his strong view that lead him to demand equality. The foreshadowing illuminates the superior/inferior relationship among people throughout the novel, slaves being inferior and the westerners being superior (although even among the slaves Oroonoko was considered to be superior).
- “They fed him from today with promises, and delayed him till the Lord Governor should come, so that he began to suspect them of falsehood, and that they would delay him till the time of his wife’s delivery, and make a salve of that too, for all the breed is theirs to whom the parents belong” (Behn, 48).
In the first sentence the metaphor the author uses compares the satisfaction of being fed with Oroonoko’s satisfaction of the thought of being free. This is important because it resembles the cruelty of the people in charge. And Oroonoko’s suspicion of “falsehood” resembles his ability to analyze and think critically about his situation. They were just trying to appease his thirst of freedom until the baby was born so they could make the baby a slave. The author refers to the baby as “that” as if the baby would be a thing again resembling that they were seen as less than human. This passage highlights Oroonoko’s superior status even as a slave.
“On Being Brought from Africa to America” by Phyllis Wheatley
- “’Twas mercy brought me from my Pagan land,
Taught my benighted soul to understand
That there’s a God, that there’s a Saviour too” (Wheatley, 1-3)
In the first three lines of the poem Wheatley uses personification, literary consonance and enjambment. In the first line “mercy” is given a human characteristic of bringing the author from Africa. This personification implies that due to the white people’s clemency or “mercy” Wheatley was brought to the United States. There is enjambment from “taught” to “too” meaning that the clause does not come to an end at the line break, but it moves to the next line. The reader must read both lines in order for it to make sense and this implies that a benighted soul is not complete without God. The literacy consonance is with the use of “t” in these three lines and besides giving the poem a rhythmic effect, it reemphasizes the idea of being redeemed. These three literary devices help illuminating how being brought to the United States and having God in your life is so beneficial for the salvation of Africans.
- “Some view our sable race with scornful eye,
“Their colour is a diabolic die”
Remember, Christians, Negros, black as Cain,
May be refin’d, and join th’ angelic train” (Wheatley, 5-8)
The “sable race” serves as symbolism since it is representing the African race. According to the Oxford English Dictionary “sable” means “the colour black; black clothing, also, esp. as a symbol of mourning” suggesting that the African race is not worthy of keeping alive, it should be something to mourn. Also, there is alliteration of the “d” in “diabolic die” making the reader focus on this specific phrase, at the same time, it involves the sense of vision since it makes the reader imagine such color (appeals to the reader’s senses). Also, the assonance in the letter /a/ in “may be refin’d and join th’ angelic train” makes the poem flow smoothly while delivering its message of being equal regardless of race. In this case, Wheatley using these literary devices highlights the importance of equality among Christians.
Works Cited
Behn, Aphran. Oroonoko. Penguin Books, 2016.
“On Being Brought from Africa to America” from “Selected Poems by Phyllis Wheatley (1773).”https://cuny.manifoldapp.org/read/untitled-edbd5bb9-ec50-4524-b55d-d5d87ffd0e1e/section/f6d1defd-e474-4d04-9a64-c7f108e6028d
