Initially i found this book engrossing, and i also found the authors style of writing very creative. Learn the important quotes in the underground railroad and the chapters theyre from, including why theyre important and what they mean in the context of the book. Born in africa and brutally sold into slavery in america. The underground railroad is a pulitzer prize winning novel and new york times best seller. Pdf the underground railroad book by colson whitehead free. Aug 03, 2016 the underground railroad, the latest selection of oprah winfreys book club, chronicles the life of a teenage slave named cora, who flees the georgia plantation where she was born, risking. Feb 11, 2020 the underground railroad reading guide. Some characters are wellformed, while others are caricatures. Conveyed by the underground railroad, which the author has rendered as a literal mode of transportation, cora travels from georgia, to south carolina, to north carolina, to tennessee, and. The storys main narrative, set in the southern united states during the slavery era the early 1800s, is introduced and occasionally interrupted by a number of short chapters that give information about the identity, situations, and stories of secondary characters. Underground railroad station with tunnel leading to another conductors house, centerville, ind. The characters in the novel are looking for freedom and aim to find it by using the railroad. Now, in his new novel, the underground railroad, whitehead returns to his childhood vision of an actual locomotive that carries escaped slaves through tunnels.
Ajarrys daughter, mabel is born into slavery on the randall plantation and is. The underground railroad is an american masterpiece, as much a searing document of a cruel history as a uniquely brilliant work of fiction. He offers her food and the novel ends when he and cora agree to share their. Established in the early 1800s and aided by people involved in the abolitionist movement, the.
This study guide consists of approximately 65 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of the underground railroad. On whiteheads the underground railroad character map. The andersons a white family in south carolina for whom cora works as a maid. Free download or read online the underground railroad pdf epub book. The underground railroad alphabetical character list.
On whiteheads the underground railroad gregory coles. The underground railroad oprahs book club audiobook. Caesar character analysis in the underground railroad. From the very start of the book cora comes across as a strong character. The author talks about racism, writing and barry jenkins directing the television series based on his novel. The underground railroad is a pulitzer prizewinning 2016 novel by american writer colson whitehead. Underground railroad and the materials presented in this booklet. The underground railroad opens in georgia with the story of coras tempestuous upbringing on a plantation and the tenacity that leads to her flight. June lilly julilly is a 12 year old slave in the novel underground to canada. Julilly worked on a plantation in virginia with her mammy sally. Cora aka bessie cora is the heroine of the underground railroad. Ajarry coras grandmother, who was kidnapped from africa and sold as a slave in the american south, eventually. The slave and runaway experiences brought to life will foster empathy and deepen understanding of how the peculiar institution affected individuals and an emerging nation.
Aug 06, 2016 the underground railroad is the latest novel from colson whitehead, a macarthur fellow, whos been one of the most acclaimed young writers in america. The storys main narrative, set in the southern united states during the slavery era the early 1800s, is introduced and occasionally interrupted by a number of short chapters that give information about the. In 2016, the year whiteheads novel was published, the u. It is an uneven book, with marvelous passages and unmarvelous ones. Colson whitehead on the underground railroad, the book. Learn all about how the characters in the underground railroad such as. But they are also seeking liberation from within the confines of enslavement. The underground railroad is the latest novel from colson whitehead, a macarthur fellow, whos been one of the most acclaimed young writers in. This novel, the underground railroad, is touched with greatness.
We see that freedom is a perspective that changes with the person and the time. The underground railroad was the term used to describe a network of meeting places, secret routes, passageways and safe houses used by slaves in the u. The underground railroad character list book companion. Jan 03, 20 in this book she tackles quilting, hat making, the quakers and the underground railroad. The underground railroad character analysis course hero. But first, whats this book about and why should we read it. Colson whiteheads underground railroad is a literal.
Other major characters in the novel include lovey, mabel, valentine, royal, the abolitionist martin, and martins wife, ethel. The underground railroad book club discussion questions. The book is largely narrated from her perspective, as she escapes her life as a slave on a georgia plantation and makes her way on the underground railroad through several states and eventually to freedom. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 306 pages and is available in hardcover format. It tells the story of two slaves in the antebellum south attempting to escape to freedom in. Please put your comments for the underground railroad book club discussion questions in the comment area below. The underground railroad, a 2016 historical fiction novel by colson whitehead, takes place in the early 19th century in georgie and chronicles the life of protagonist cora, ajarrys grandchild. Big anthony a slave who tries to escape the randall plantation after jamess death. Coras fate is never determined, but the book ends on an optimistic note, with ollie. Cora is the books central character and protagonist. The perilous lure of the underground railroad the new yorker. Throughout her journey to freedom, cora and the other characters reflect on. This train conveys cora, caesar, and other escapees first to a south carolina also.
The protagonist of the underground railroad, cora is a discerning, intelligent, and determined character. Quotes from colson whiteheads the underground railroad. New novel takes the underground railroad beyond the. Life is hell for all the slaves, but especially bad for cora. But whitehead, whose eclectic body of work encompasses novels zone one, 2011, etc. When they find themselves on williams doorstep, he. The underground railroad colson whitehead character analysis. The underground railroad, published in 2016, is the sixth novel by american author colson whitehead the alternate history novel tells the story of cora and caesar, two slaves in the southeastern united states during the 19th century, who make a bid for freedom from their georgia plantations by following the underground railroad, which the novel depicts as primarily a rail transport system in. In this book she tackles quilting, hat making, the quakers and the underground railroad. It also won the national book award, the andrew carnegie medal for excellence, and was longlisted for the man booker prize. Summary of the underground railroad by colson whitehead by instaread is a comprehensive analysis of the novel, with discussions of the main characters and themes, and the authors style of writing, which gives a good sense of its worth.
The protagonist of the underground railroad, cora is a discerning, intelligent. May 04, 2020 the protagonist of the underground railroad, cora is a discerning, intelligent, and determined character. When you are done, ask yourself what you have learned about the people, places, and. The first edition of the novel was published in august 2016, and was written by colson whitehead. Her writing is so fluid, almost effortless and her characters are so very interesting. She fiercely defends the tiny plot of land she has inherited from her mother who inherited it from coras grandmother, ajarry when other slaves try to take. The underground railroad character analysis litcharts. Ella worked with stamp paid on the underground railroad. Cora is the book s central character and protagonist. The underground railroad covers five primary periods in the life of cora. The alternate history novel tells the story of cora and caesar, two slaves in the southeastern united states during the 19th century, who make a bid for freedom from their georgia plantations by following the underground railroad, which the novel depicts as primarily a rail transport system in addition to a series of safe houses and secret routes. A powerful symbol of resistance, the underground railroad. The underground railroad was a book also, you know, of escaped slaves, odom jr. Some big liberties are taken with historical accuracy, such as making the underground railroad a literal railroad.
Traumatized by the sexual brutality of a white father and son who once held her captive, she believes, like sethe, that the past is best left buried. Though the horrors inflicted upon cora and her fellow slaves are shocking. Pdf the underground railroad book by colson whitehead. The underground railroad pulitzer prize winner by colson. Throughout her journey to freedom, cora and the other characters reflect on the character and workings of america. It tells the gripping story of a female slave on a heroic quest to escape captivity. Detailed analysis of characters in colson whiteheads the underground railroad. She was born on randall plantation in georgia to her mother mabel, and she never knew her father, grayson, who died before she was read full character analysis caesar is an enslaved man who lives on randall and invites cora to run away with him. Interspersed in the narrative are chapters that follow other characters in the same way the. Caesar character analysis in the underground railroad litcharts. The the underground railroad quotes below are all either spoken by caesar or refer to caesar.
Michael schaub npr think toni morrison beloved, alex haley roots. In cora, whitehead has constructed a believable, endearing, and welldeveloped character. Cora intervenes while he is being beaten and is herself beaten as well. Sam a station agent of the underground railroad and a bartender in south carolina.
Julilly had loved massa hensens plantation and lived there since the day she was born. When they find themselves on williams doorstep, he risked his life to record their stories of courage and. When it surfaces in the form of beloved, ella organizes the women of the community to exorcise beloved from 124. Need help on characters in colson whiteheads the underground railroad. Chester a young slave on the randall plantation, chester accidentally bumps into terrance randall while dancing and is beaten for it.
It tells the story of two slaves in the antebellum south attempting to escape to freedom in the. I never knew there were so many quakers here in the states, but i did know their faith kept them from fighting, drinking, and that they strongly believed that everyone. Caesar is an enslaved man who lives on randall and invites cora to run away with him. Lumbly the underground railroad station agent in georgia. Please put your comments for the underground railroad book club discussion questions in the comment area below discussion questions. Developments in the storys plot, themes, representations of history, and emotional resonance are all defined by her values, choices, and experiences. Michael schaub, npr far and away the most anticipated literary novel of the year, the underground railroad marks a new triumph for whiteheada book that resonates with deep emotional timbre. She was born on randall plantation in georgia to her mother mabel, and she. Colson whiteheads spectacular new novel,the underground railroad, is inspired by reallife eventsbut its a feat of imagination. After carefully reading through the information, test your knowledge of the underground railroad. Her dad got bitten by a snake and died on the day she was born. Its interesting to me that a book predicated on the question of what if the underground railroad was real is the one people are seizing onto. The underground railroad, by contrast, was personal. Interspersed in the narrative are chapters that follow other characters in the same way the beginning of the book depicts ajarrys life.
Dec 23, 2019 the underground railroad was a book also, you know, of escaped slaves, odom jr. The underground railroad, published in 2016, is the sixth novel by american author colson. The underground railroad by colson whitehead is a work of speculative fiction that follows a runaway slave, cora, on a grisly tour through the american south. Published in 2016 by awardwinning american author, colson whitehead, the underground railroad is a gripping account of a runaway slave, cora, as she makes her way through a fictionalized american landscape. Cora is born a slave on the randall plantation in georgia. When coras mother, mabel, runs away, cora becomes a young outcast among the slaves of the randall plantation. Treasury announced harriet tubman would be depicted on a new twentydollar bill. The underground railroad, the latest selection of oprah winfreys book club, chronicles the life of a teenage slave named cora, who flees the georgia plantation where she was born, risking. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one. Colson whiteheads the underground railroad has been a runaway success. Why colson whitehead made the underground railroad.