Oroonoko by Aphra Behn (1688)
Oroonoko is a tragic story of love, betrayal, and slavery set in the 17th century. The story follows the life of Oroonoko, an African prince who is tricked into slavery and sold to a plantation in Surinam. He is forced to work in the fields, but his strength and courage make him a leader among the slaves. Oroonoko falls in love with Imoinda, a beautiful African princess, and they plan to marry. However, their plans are thwarted when Imoinda is sold to a different plantation. Oroonoko is determined to rescue her, and he leads a slave revolt against the plantation owners. The revolt fails, and Oroonoko is captured and sentenced to death. He is cruelly tortured and executed, but his courage and dignity remain intact until the end. The story ends with a plea for the abolition of slavery.
By Aphra Behn · First published 1688 · Genre: Romance, Tragedy, Historical Fiction · 28,652 words
First lines
I do not pretend, in giving you the history of this Royal Slave, to entertain my reader with adventures of a feigned hero, whose life and fortunes fancy may manage at the poet's pleasure; nor in relating the truth, design to adorn it with any accidents but such as arrived in earnest to him: and it shall come simply into the world, recommended by its own proper merits and natural intrigues; there being enough of reality to support it, and to render it diverting, without the addition of invention.
What this Textopian page supports
Oroonoko is listed on Textopian as a novel by Aphra Behn, dated 1688 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Novel
- Author: Aphra Behn
- Date: 1688 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Romance, Tragedy, Historical Fiction, Adventure, Satire
- Length: 28,652 words
- Structure: 1 section, 790 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Fairly Difficult (10th-12th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Oroonoko by Aphra Behn
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Oroonoko?
- How does this novel by Aphra Behn fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Romance first become important in the reading?
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Genres
- Romance — The novel follows the story of Oroonoko, a prince from Coramantien, and his love for Imoinda, a princess from the same land, and their struggles to be together.
- Tragedy — The novel follows the tragic story of Oroonoko and Imoinda, and their struggles against slavery and oppression.
- Historical Fiction — The novel is set in the 17th century and is based on the real-life events of the slave trade in the British colonies.
- Adventure — The novel follows Oroonoko's journey from Coramantien to Surinam, and his adventures in the new land.
Tags
'em · Prose Fiction · The Royal Slave · aboan · arms · caesar · called · captain · country · cried · day · dead