* Slavery as a cage: Douglass frequently compares slavery to being imprisoned, physically and mentally. He describes his life as a "cage," and emphasizes the feeling of being "shut out from the world."
* Slavery as a death: This metaphor reinforces the idea that slavery destroys individuals and steals their humanity. Douglass writes about feeling "dead" in spirit, and the loss of his identity under slavery.
* Knowledge as freedom: Douglass repeatedly emphasizes the power of education and knowledge in breaking the chains of slavery. He sees the act of learning as an escape from ignorance and oppression.
* The North Star as a beacon of hope: This iconic symbol represents freedom and the promise of a better life. Douglass uses the North Star to guide him physically and metaphorically toward his escape.
* The Underground Railroad as a path to liberation: The literal railroad, and the network of people who aided slaves in their flight to freedom, become a powerful metaphor for the journey toward self-determination.
It's important to note that Douglass's use of metaphor is not just a literary technique. He employs them strategically to expose the brutality and dehumanization of slavery, while simultaneously celebrating the resilience and yearning for freedom that characterizes the human spirit.