(4) Base Camp

The "Main Idea" section is the way into "The Hypocrisy of American Slavery." Once you've got that key concept down, you can explore how Douglass supports his points. Now, Douglass was speaking in 1852, so there are some old-timey words and phrases that can throw you for a loop, but keep coming back to "Main Idea," and you won't go too far wrong.

The other element that can trip readers up is Douglass' frequently sarcastic tone. As we know from text messages and email, sarcasm that comes across fine in person can be tough to read for meaning. And because Douglass often switches from sarcasm to sincerity, you've got a recipe for confusion. Read slowly, paying close attention to tone, and you should be fine.