Samuel Johnson 1709-1784 Poet, essayist, literary critic, smart guy Wrote one of the first Dictionaries Preface to his edition of Shakespeare Resists “bardolotry”

Britain and the Slave Trade Britain outlawed slavery in 1807—in Britain Still slave trade Slavery remained an institution in British colonies 1843 abolished completely

Olaudah Equiano 1745-1797 The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa the African Abolitionist Literature

Vocab Restoration: Restoration of the monarchy in England in 1660. It marked the return of Charles II as king following the period of Oliver Cromwell's Commonwealth. Autobiography: A narrative account of an extended period of some person's life, written by, or presented as having been written by, that person; or the practice of writing such works.

Count off 1-4 Sit together, elect a scribe Half of you will work on Johnson’s Preface (Groups 1 and 2), the other on Equiano’s An Interesting Narrative (Groups 3 and 4) You should summarize your section Pull out the most significant quote Answer the question posed to you

Preface: [Shakespeare’s Excellence, General Nature] 1340-4 Summarize your section Pull out the most significant quote Answer the question posed to you 1 and 2 Question: How does Johnson change or add to our reading of Shakespeare? How and Why? Preface: [Shakespeare’s Excellence, General Nature] 1340-4 Preface: [Shakespeare’s Faults, the Three Dramatic Unities] and [Othello]1344-50 3 and 4 Question: How does Equiano’s Narrative help advance the cause of abolitionism? Why? Narrative: [The Middle Passage] 1386-90 Narrative: [A Free Man] 1390-4 Question for all groups to consider when done: How does it shape our understanding of the 18th century to read praise of England’s greatest author and condemnation of England’s greatest crime in one class period?