The Slave Dancer

by Paula Fox

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The Slave Dancer

In Chapter 6, titled "The Spaniard," Jessie Bollier, kidnapped and forced to play the fife on a slave ship, grapples with the brutal realities of the slave trade. A sailor named Stout unsuccessfully...

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The Slave Dancer

Significant quotes from "The Slave Dancer" highlight major themes such as harsh realities and societal desensitization. Purvis tells Jessie, "You'll see some bad things, but if you didn't see them,...

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The Slave Dancer

Chapter 3 of The Slave Dancer is titled "The Shrouds" because it highlights the punishment of Purvis, who is unjustly accused of stealing the Captain's food. After being flogged, Purvis is tied to...

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The Slave Dancer

The Slave Dancer by Paula Fox is a historical novel that explores the grim realities of the Atlantic slave trade. The purpose is to shed light on the inhumanity of slavery. The tone is somber and...

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The Slave Dancer

Jessie is kidnapped in Paula Fox's The Slave Dancer to play his pipe for the slaves on the ship. His music is believed to keep the slaves healthy by making them dance, thereby increasing the crew's...

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The Slave Dancer

In "The Slave Dancer," slaves were thrown overboard when an American ship approached because America opposed slavery and actively sought to capture slave traders. To avoid arrest and imprisonment,...

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The Slave Dancer

The climax of Paula Fox's novel occurs when Jessie and Ras, after surviving a shipwreck, are rescued by an elderly escaped slave named Daniel. This pivotal moment marks a turning point as Daniel...

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The Slave Dancer

Ned Grime is the ship's carpenter in "The Slave Dancer." He is not a sailor and lacks knowledge about ship operations. Grime presents himself as morally superior and condemns slavery, yet he is...

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The Slave Dancer

Stout smiles at the end of Chapter 3 because he is content that Purvis, not he, was punished for stealing the Captain's egg, even though Purvis is innocent. This smile indicates Stout's satisfaction...

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The Slave Dancer

The main conflict in "The Slave Dancer" is resolved when Jessie returns home after being kidnapped to play music on a slave ship. However, his internal conflict remains unresolved, as the traumatic...

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The Slave Dancer

Key elements in "The Slave Dancer" include the harrowing experience of Jessie, a young boy kidnapped to play the fife on a slave ship, and the brutal realities of the transatlantic slave trade. Major...

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The Slave Dancer

Benjamin Stout is a sailor on the slave ship Moonlight. Initially, he appears friendly to Jessie, offering advice and extra food. However, Jessie instinctively distrusts him, a feeling justified when...

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The Slave Dancer

Jessie had a complex relationship with Purvis, marked by a mix of trust and disappointment. Jessie trusted Purvis more than other sailors, as Purvis sometimes protected him, such as taking the blame...

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The Slave Dancer

Spark was thrown overboard by the captain in The Slave Dancer because he shot a slave who had attacked him, thereby reducing the captain's potential profit. The captain prioritized financial gain...

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The Slave Dancer

The chapter "Nicholas Sparks Walks on Water" in The Slave Dancer is named ironically. Although Sparks falls overboard, Jesse perceives him taking steps on water, alluding to Christ's miracle but...

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The Slave Dancer

The exposition of "The Slave Dancer" introduces the protagonist, Jessie Bollier, a young boy living in New Orleans in 1840. He is kidnapped and forced to play his fife on a slave ship to make the...

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The Slave Dancer

In Chapter 4, Purvis explains to Jessie that the ownership of slave ships is complex and deceptive. It depends on the nationality of the ship boarding the slave ship. Slave ships carry multiple...

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The Slave Dancer

Captain Cawthorne's large chest in his cabin contains luxurious clothing, including women's gowns and seamen's trousers. He uses these clothes to force the slaves on his ship to stage a degrading...

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The Slave Dancer

Jessie's mother, Mrs. Bollier, in The Slave Dancer, is depicted as hardworking, compassionate, and perseverant. After her husband's death, she provides for her children by sewing, despite the...

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The Slave Dancer

During the rain squall in "The Slave Dancer," Jessie experiences intense stress and sickness due to the harsh conditions and his role in the slave trade. Purvis, a crew member, tries to help Jessie...

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The Slave Dancer

In "The Slave Dancer," the crisis occurs during the rising action when chaos ensues as the ship, Moonlight, encounters a squall and another ship while anchored off Cuba, leading to Jessie and Ras...

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The Slave Dancer

In "The Slave Dancer," Jessie returns home after surviving a shipwreck. He and Ras swim to shore and are aided by an elderly man named Daniel, who helps them recover and provides Jessie with...

2 educator answers