Nightjohn By Gary Paulsen: An Analysis

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“Those to work in the field are always tired. Always caved in with work.” This quote comes from the novel Nightjohn by Gary Paulsen. Many sources can corroborate this novel on facts such as slaves being prevented from learning, being treated harshly, and being withheld of information about their parents. To start, there is proof that slaves were not allowed to learn. Fredrick Douglass states “I have no accurate knowledge of my age…I do not remember to have ever met a slave who could tell of his birthday.” In Nightjohn, Sarny also doesn’t know her age. The only way she had an idea of her age was because of a stick that gets marked every summer. “I never knew a slave escaping with his life from Bayou Bouef. One reason is, they are not allowed

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