The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Novel by Mark Twain

PowerPoint by Ana Isaac

Key Background Information

• The novel takes place during the 1830’s and 1840’s.• The setting is in the Midwest, (southern) states along the Mississippi River.

The states are: Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Mississippi, and LA.• During the novel the South wanted to expand the Southern slave states.

The North wanted to end slavery for moral reasons.• Whites thought they were superior to blacksduring this time.• Steam technology was what was used in the industrialized states during the

novel. • When Mark Twain wrote the novel, slavery was banished everywhere, but of

course there was still discrimination against African Americans, there still is racism today.

• Twain wrote The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn with schools in mind. The novel basically ridicules education because there is evidence that you can grow as a person even though you are not educated. The traditional way of living doesn’t always guarantee success.

Themes of the novel• Racism- this is a major theme in the novel because Jim is a slave

and experiences a lot of discrimination.• Slavery- this is a major theme in the novel because Jim is a slave

who escapes slavery and is eventually freed.• Freedom versus Conformity-this is an important theme because in

the beginning of the novel Huck is being forced to be civilized, to wear proper clothing, to be religious, to go to school, all of which are not necessarily on the top of Huck’s priority list, if he has one. Freedom vs. Conformity is both a conflict and theme, it is a conflict because Huck exhibits resistance.

• Youth- this is an important theme because Huck is an adolescent, he’s growing as a person and this the readers can see throughout the novel.

• Education- this is also and important theme because Huck is against being educated and civilized. The readers can see how Twain pokes fun at education in the novel using satire.

Characters and SignificanceJim is the runaway slave from Miss Watson’s home. He accompanies Huck throughout his journeys on the river.

Huck is the antihero in the novel he journeys on the river with Jim and discovers who he is as a person. He matures in the novel from a rebellious adolescent to a “noble savage.”

The King and the Duke are con artists who come aboard the raft and lead Huck and Jim away from their destination, Cairo, they drag Huck and Jim into their insane plots for money.

Suggested Final Exam Questions

• 7. In many works of literature, a physical journey - the literal movement from one place to another - plays a central role. Select two pieces of literature from the list below in which a physical journey is an important element and discuss how the journey adds to the meaning of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary. Be sure to include three relevant examples from each text providing context, evidence, and commentary. Details should include judicious and cogent use of literary or figurative terms as an integral part of elaboration. Avoid mere plot summary.

• 9. Select two pieces of literature from the list below that requires a character to keep a secret. In a well-organized essay, briefly explain the necessity for secrecy and how the character's choice to reveal or keep the secret affects the plot and contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole. Be sure to include three relevant examples from each text providing context, evidence, and commentary. Be sure to include three relevant examples from each text providing context, evidence, and commentary. Details should include judicious and cogent use of literary or figurative terms as an integral part of elaboration. Avoid mere plot summary.

Questions Explained• 7. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck and the runaway

slave Jim, travel up the Mississippi River on a raft in order to find the free states for Jim. Undergoing many adventures along the way, Huck is not only gaining miles, he is gaining compassion and also the ability to learn right from wrong on his own terms. Huck learns to stay true to himself and to remain a “noble savage.” Twain uses the literary element: symbolism, (ex. The Raft symbolizes freedom for both Jim and Huck, the Land, which represents society, and the River which symbolizes goodness. All of which are a major part of the novel and also of the physical journey of both Huck and Jim.

• Three Points of Evidence (Next Slide)• The other piece of literature you could consider using, along with

Huck Finn, is the Ramayana, because Rama’s physical journey leads him to different locations where he experiences different adventures which further the plot.

Quotes for Final Exam Question #71. “When it was dark I set by my camp fire smoking, I set by my camp fire smoking,

and feeling pretty satisfied.; but by-and-by it got sort of lonesome….’there ain’t no better way to put in time when you are lonesome; you can’t stay so, you soon get over it.” (Twain 47) Without any adventure or physical journey Huck feels lonesome and basically incomplete, he needs to have an adventure and he needs to travel down river for the sake of his journey and also for the readers’ interest.

2. “Mister is that town Cairo? No. you must be a blame’ fool.’‘What town is that mister?’‘If you want to know, go and find out.’ (Twain 109) This can be used in this essay because this quote shows that since the town that they thought was Cairo isn’t they will go and find out which town it is, which guarantees another adventure. It furthers the plot.

3. “Don’t you do it. I don’t hear the dogs and horses yet; you’ve got time to crows through the brush and get up the crick a little ways; then you take to the water and wade down to me and get in- that’ll throw the dogs off the scent.” (Twain 141)This quote, surprisingly, can be used for this essay question. This is the quote that introduces the King and the Duke, It was said while Huck was drifting down river and while the King and the Duke were running, this furthers the plot and also shows that, physically, the novel is continuing, as is the journey of Huckleberry Finn.

Questions Explained (cont)

• 9. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a secret has to be kept. The secret is that Jim is a runaway slave, aspiring to make it to the free states. Huck, who was raised in a racist environment has to make the decision of whether or not to tell on Jim, a runaway slave, or to help him make it to Cairo and to reunite with his family. Throughout the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck learns to trust himself and his choices no matter what others think. He does not ever tell on Jim to a law force, because he cares for Jim and Jim cares for Huck. The sworn secrecy furthers the plot and the full character development of Huckleberry Finn.

• 3 Points of Evidence:

• (See Important Quotes Slide)

• Another work of literature you could use, along with Huck Finn, is the Odyssey because Odysseus has to keep his identity a secret.

Quotes for Final Exam Question #9

1. “Well, dey’s reasons. But you wouldn’t tell on me ef I’uz tell you, would you Huck?”‘Blamed if I would Jim.’

‘Well, I b’lieve you Huck. I – I run off ‘‘Jim!’

‘ But mind you said you wouldn’t tell- you know you said you wouldn't tell, Huck.’‘ Well, I did. I said I wouldn’t, and I’ll stick to it. Honest Injun, I will. People would call me a low down abolitionist and despise me for keeping mum-but that don’t make no difference. I ain’t a-going to tell, and I ain’t a-going back there, anyways. So, now, le’s know all about it. (Twain 51)- This is a good quote that can easily be referred to as evidence in the essay for the final. Question #9. (Sworn Secrecy)

2. They (King and Duke) asked us considerable many questions; wanted to know what we covered up in the raft that way for…was Jim a runaway N------? Says I-‘Goodness sakes would a runaway n----- run south?’ (page 148) This is also a good quote to do commentary on in the essay (#9) Huck sticks up for Jim and for his secret.(Twain 148)

3. ‘All right; but wait a minute. There’s one more thing- a thing that nobody don’t know but me. And that is, there’s a runaway n----- here that I’m trying to steal out of slavery.- and his name is Jim- old Miss Watson’s Jim.’ (Twain 263) (#9) This can also work for commentary because Huck tells Tom about the secret which furthers the plot, where they try to get away with Jim escaping unknowingly.