The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

1. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Mark Twain

2. Background • Published in January of 1885 • Follow-up to Tom Sawyer • Huck Finn based on childhood friend • “All modern literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Finn. It’s the best book we’ve had. All American writing comes from that. There was nothing before. There was been nothing as good since” (Hemingway).

3. Banning of Huck Finn • Originally banned in 1885 • Remains in top ten most challenged books • Probably banned originally because of its abolitionist content • Use of “nigger” places it on the list today • Used 213 times • Not derogatory • “Nigger Jim”: honorable, loyal, trustworthy, trusting throughout book; allows Huck to achieve maturity and gain understanding of slavery, humanity, and man’s failings

4. Point of View • First person protagonist • Allows reader to experience wide range of emotions • Author can use wide range of language • Huck is the narrator, not Twain

5. Plot and Structure • Divided into three sections: • Huck living in civilization • Huck and Jim in the wilderness • Huck’s return to civilization • Series of episodes • Several climaxes • Conflict vs. person, nature, society, and self

6. Development of Novel • Wrote first sixteen chapters and stopped for seven years • Causes tone to have three two distinct shifts • Creates appeals to audiences

7. Literary Elements • Coming of age novel • Eavesdropping, disguise, trickery, pretend murders, feuds, character epiphanes • Themes: • The inhumanity of slavery • The conditions for blacks in the south • Nature vs. civilization • Questioning of religion • Morality

8. Questions/Ideas to Consider • Huck’s evolving morality vs. audience’s morality • Static vs. dynamic characters • Father figures in Huck’s life • Mississippi River as a symbol • Foreshadowing provided by weather • Break book in its various episodes • Use of allusions • Huck Finn should or should not be read in modern classes • Dialects utilized and their effects

9. Satire • Sentimentality and gullibility • The average man • Code of honor • Religious beliefs • Romantic literature