Final answer:
Slaves used Oral Tradition to preserve spirituals, which often included codes for escape disguised as Biblical hymns. Frederick Douglass's roles on the plantation varied, and his quote on learning to read encapsulates the theme of seeking freedom.
Step-by-step explanation:
Slaves relied on Oral Tradition to create, remember, and pass on spirituals. These spirituals often contained secret codes, disguised as Biblical hymns, which provided directions for escaping slaves. For instance, the spiritual "Follow the Drinking Gourd" recommended escape in Springtime, when the sun rose and birds returned, signaling a safer time to travel. Frederick Douglass, who was a slave, had multiple roles including being a shepherd and an assistant in various tasks. The quote from Douglass, "Mistress, in teaching me the alphabet, had given me the inch, and no precaution could prevent me from taking the ell," best summarizes the theme of the first half of his narrative, indicating how learning to read was a crucial step towards his freedom.