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

2. 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

3. Olaudah Equiano
The Interesting Narrative of the Life of Olaudah Equiano or Gustavus Vassa the African
Abolitionist Literature

4. Vocab
Restoration: Restoration of the monarchy in England in 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.

5. 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

6. 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]
Preface: [Shakespeare’s Faults, the Three Dramatic Unities] and [Othello]
3 and 4 Question: How does Equiano’s Narrative help advance the cause of abolitionism? Why?
Narrative: [The Middle Passage]
Narrative: [A Free Man]
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?