1. Who wrote this letter, and who is its intended audience? Is this a reliable source?
2. What is the tone of the letter?
3. Do you think this is a typical letter that an African American might write to a former master after the Civil War? Why or why not?
4. How did Anderson gain his freedom, according to his letter (page 1)?
5. What does Anderson request from his former master, in order to “forget and forgive old scores” (page 2)?
6. What does Anderson mean when he asks “if there would be any safety for my Milly and my Jane” (page 2)?
7. This letter is sometimes referred to as “satire” and compared to the writings of Mark Twain. What about the letter seems to fit with this categorization? What about it falls outside of that category, and why?