adventures of adventures of Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn

--------Themes, motifs, Themes, motifs,

Issues, and MiscellanyIssues, and MiscellanyFeracoFeraco

American literatureAmerican literature

17 january 200817 january 2008

As You Finish HuckAs You Finish Huck

Keep an eye on the topics we Keep an eye on the topics we discuss todaydiscuss today

I I stronglystrongly, , stronglystrongly suggest re- suggest re-reading the text before the finalreading the text before the final– You’ll be amazed by what you can You’ll be amazed by what you can

discover on a second passdiscover on a second pass– It’s a good skill to developIt’s a good skill to develop

You’ll need it for college!You’ll need it for college!

RealismRealism

A Response to RomanticismA Response to Romanticism– Think Trans. And Anti-Trans.Think Trans. And Anti-Trans.

Post-Civil WarPost-Civil WarTried very hard to capture life exactly as Tried very hard to capture life exactly as it was, rather than romanticizing itit was, rather than romanticizing it– Rather than focus on emotion or prize it, Rather than focus on emotion or prize it,

realists tried to prevent their works from realists tried to prevent their works from being filtered through their emotional lensesbeing filtered through their emotional lenses

Characters came from poorer, super-Characters came from poorer, super-rural or super-urban backgroundsrural or super-urban backgrounds– Included workers at factories, people living Included workers at factories, people living

in slums, etc. – the types of people who in slums, etc. – the types of people who never showed up as romantic heroesnever showed up as romantic heroes

R & RR & R

How is Twain’s Novel Romantic?How is Twain’s Novel Romantic?– In what ways does it defy In what ways does it defy

romanticism?romanticism?

How is it Realist?How is it Realist?– Shows the country/society as it Shows the country/society as it

exists, versus the idealized exists, versus the idealized portrayals in other books (such as portrayals in other books (such as the ones Tom reads)the ones Tom reads)

– It’s very pratical, but it can come off It’s very pratical, but it can come off as harshas harsh

Twain as a RealistTwain as a Realist

Twain is one of the greatest Twain is one of the greatest realists – possibly realists – possibly TheThe greatest – of greatest – of all time.all time.

One of the reasons he’s so great is One of the reasons he’s so great is that he dares to examine the that he dares to examine the “whys” – why does society have “whys” – why does society have problems? Why do characters problems? Why do characters experience conflicting emotions? experience conflicting emotions? Why do we act the way we do?Why do we act the way we do?

SatireSatire

””a literary work holding up human a literary work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or vices and follies to ridicule or scorn” – Merriam-Websterscorn” – Merriam-WebsterSatirical Authors usually use Satirical Authors usually use humor or Sarcasm to study an humor or Sarcasm to study an issue, or to attack something they issue, or to attack something they feel needs to be fixedfeel needs to be fixedthe point of satire is often to help the point of satire is often to help point out a way for us to improve.point out a way for us to improve.Think Stephen Colbert, “South Think Stephen Colbert, “South Park,” “The Simpsons,” etc.Park,” “The Simpsons,” etc.

Satire In Satire In HuckHuck

““Persons attempting to find a motive in Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot.” – twain’s find a plot in it will be shot.” – twain’s notice on the first pagenotice on the first pageThink of all of the things Twain takes Think of all of the things Twain takes on and portrays as silly or exaggerated on and portrays as silly or exaggerated – realism, honor, society itself!– realism, honor, society itself!Do you really believe there aren’t any Do you really believe there aren’t any messages, meanings, or storylines in messages, meanings, or storylines in the book? the book?

RacismRacism

This hovers over the text at all This hovers over the text at all times, most obviously when Jim is times, most obviously when Jim is featured.featured.How does the text deal with How does the text deal with racism? is huck Racist?racism? is huck Racist?Check out the hypocrisy of the Check out the hypocrisy of the slaveholders, many of whom are slaveholders, many of whom are supposed to be upstanding citizenssupposed to be upstanding citizensTwain published this Twain published this afterafter slavery slavery was abolished, but set the action was abolished, but set the action before the warbefore the war

InnocenceInnocence

Huck is innocent in a sense; if Huck is innocent in a sense; if nothing else, he is deeply naïvenothing else, he is deeply naïve

However, his naïveté is very However, his naïveté is very different from tom’s, which is different from tom’s, which is usually destructive and smacks usually destructive and smacks of ignoranceof ignorance

Contrast living in nature with Contrast living in nature with living in societyliving in society

DevelopmentDevelopment

Because Huck is Young, He has Because Huck is Young, He has the opportunity to grow and the opportunity to grow and changechange– Contrast this with Pap, who is old, Contrast this with Pap, who is old,

ornery, and ignorantornery, and ignorant

How are we reminded that huck How are we reminded that huck is young? What does huck’s is young? What does huck’s youth contribute to the book?youth contribute to the book?

Honor/PrideHonor/Pride

Honor has its place in the novel; Huck Honor has its place in the novel; Huck often behaves honorably (although you’ll often behaves honorably (although you’ll see by the end of the book that Tom see by the end of the book that Tom Sawyer doesn’t follow his example)Sawyer doesn’t follow his example)

Jim is also honorable, in a lot of different Jim is also honorable, in a lot of different ways – he’s the only decent male figuresways – he’s the only decent male figures

Huck “Sets aside his pride” when Jim Huck “Sets aside his pride” when Jim rebukes him, which shows a lot about himrebukes him, which shows a lot about him

However, the Grangerfords and the However, the Grangerfords and the Shepherdsons kill each other off over a Shepherdsons kill each other off over a misplaced sense of wounded pride & honormisplaced sense of wounded pride & honor

Disappointment – and the Disappointment – and the failure of societyfailure of society

People often lie to huckPeople often lie to huck

His hopes are dashed, but he His hopes are dashed, but he bounces backbounces back

His prayers go unansweredHis prayers go unanswered

No one protects him from papNo one protects him from pap

He doesn’t belong in schoolHe doesn’t belong in school