Oroonoko

The novella depicts different kinds of slavery. What are the differences between them? Is one better than the other? Is slavery ever justified?

Plantation slavery in the United States was predicated on a racial hierarchy that resulted in black people being enslaved, while white people were free. How is the slavery depicted in Oroonoko different?

Aphra Behn’s novella has been praised for its sympathetic portrayal of African characters. How is race represented in the text? Are Behn’s depictions of African people completely positive?

The representation of Surinam’s indigenous people recalls the idea of the “Noble Savage”. Explain what is meant by the “noble savage” and give examples of the idea from the text. 

Aphra Behn is famous for being one of the earliest female English writers. How does she deal with the idea of the woman writer in the novella? How does this relate to the role of women in the text more generally?

Imoinda’s virginity is the object of competition between Oroonoko and his grandfather. Discuss the ways that women’s sexuality is represented in the novella. Are they in control of it? What does this suggest about gender roles in the seventeenth century?

What is the significance of the narrator’s repeated references to the Dutch conquest of Surinam?

Civilization is a central concern of the novel; who is civilized and who isn’t. What makes a culture civilized? Is civilization a fixed idea or does it change over time?