Loading Likes... In the section of Douglass’s Narrative we read for Tuesday’s class, Douglass’s writing style is on full display. I find it interesting how matter-of-fact he is about many of the horrors of slavery without ever allowing the reader to lose sight of how horrible the things he is describing are. One incident in particular I found striking was when he described the overseer whipping Aunt Hester for seeing Lloyd. Douglass explains how he hid in a closet because he was so horrified and states, “I expected it would be my turn next.” He had never seen anything like that before, having lived on the outskirts of the plantation previously, so with typical child-like naivety he expects he will be next, not knowing what truly prompted the overseer to whip Aunt Hester. He combines the childish innocence with the harsh reality that he actually could be next if he displeased the overseers. His frank detailing of the horrors of his life are part of what give his writing so much power. He neither overstates not understates the events he witnessed, and doesn’t attempt to over-dramatize them for the sake of a story. I think this is what makes his writing so engaging because he never minces words and tells things very plainly, but quickly, never spending too long on one tale and always keeping the narrative moving forward. Cooper could learn from that.