The Slave Dancer Questions and Answers
The Slave Dancer
What is the summary of chapter 6 in 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...
The Slave Dancer
What are five significant quotes from "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,...
The Slave Dancer
In The Slave Dancer, why is chapter 3 titled "The Shrouds"?
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...
The Slave Dancer
Overview, Purpose, Tone, Style, and Themes in "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...
The Slave Dancer
Why was Jessie kidnapped in 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...
The Slave Dancer
In The Slave Dancer, why were slaves thrown overboard when an American ship approached?
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,...
The Slave Dancer
What is the climax of Paula Fox's novel 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...
The Slave Dancer
Who is Ned Grime in "The Slave Dancer" and what is his importance to the story?
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...
The Slave Dancer
Why is Stout smiling at the end of chapter 3 in 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...
The Slave Dancer
When is Jessie's main conflict resolved in "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...
The Slave Dancer
Key elements and conflicts in "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...
The Slave Dancer
Who is Benjamin Stout in 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...
The Slave Dancer
What was Jessie's relationship with Purvis in 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...
The Slave Dancer
Why was Spark thrown overboard by the captain in 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...
The Slave Dancer
In The Slave Dancer, why is a chapter named "Nicholas Sparks Walks on Water" despite his overboard fall?
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...
The Slave Dancer
The exposition of "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...
The Slave Dancer
In chapter 4 of The Slave Dancer, what does Purvis say determines ship ownership?
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...
The Slave Dancer
What is kept in Captain Cawthorne's large chest in his cabin?
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...
The Slave Dancer
What is Jessie's mother, Mrs. Bollier's personality in 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...
The Slave Dancer
In "The Slave Dancer", what does Jessie experience during the rain squall and how does Purvis help him?
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...
The Slave Dancer
What is the difference between the climax and the crisis in "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...
The Slave Dancer
Did Jessie return home in "The Slave Dancer" and if so, how?
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...