Group Four: Maya, Cassie, Eunace, Brandon, Sam

1. Symbolism Group Four: Maya, Cassie, Eunace, Brandon, Sam

2. Symbol :“A person, place or object which has a meaning in itself but suggests other meanings as well. Things, characters and actions can be symbols. Anything that suggests a meaning beyond the obvious” (Bokesch).

3. Mississippi River “Soon as it was night, out we shoved; when we got her out to about the middle, we let her alone, and let her float wherever the current wanted her to; then we lit the pipes, and dangled our legs in the water and talked about all kinds of things– we was always naked, day and night, whenever the mosquitos would let us” (Twain 121) Freedom • Direction of the journey • South- they made a mistake and are headed toward MORE slavery and abuse • Temporary comfort- their fun is coming to an end soon • “…We was always naked, day and night…” • Escape from “sivilization” • Do whatever they want with no regard to social rules or customs Theme- Society Vs. Freedom

4. The Raft “It’s lovely to live on a raft. We had the sky up there, all speckled with starts, and we used to lay on our backs and look up at them, and discuss about whether they was made or only just happened” (Twain 64) Jim and Huck’s Friendship • Brings them closer together • Huck looks beyond Jim’s color • Sees him as a real person and eventually a fatherly figure • Leaves behind society’s views on slavery • Safe Haven • The two have a lot of fun being independent on the raft Theme- Society vs. Huck’s view on slavery

5. Sadie’s Knife “They know that. That’s why one of the take my knife. I pretends not to notice. Acts like that knife ain’t nothing to me. But when I goes in my pocket I can’t feels my mama’s hand and head hurt” (Rawles 70). Security and Her Mother • Connection to Jim • Cut the umbilical cord • First meeting • Belonged to her mother • Piece of her • Felt her mother’s strength through the knife • Has no family, so helped her feel like she does • Protection • Literary meaning Theme- The importance of family and strength for slaves

6. The Bowl “See this mark. you can feel it with your fingers. For this bowl broke that’s the Congo cross. Not a Christian cross. A Congo cross. One line up to the gods one line down to the ancestors in the spirit world. One line over for this life right now and this death too. A circle tying it all together. My mamas mama a healer. She the first doctor in the family this side the water. When my grandmamma give my mama this bowl she know the power in it” (Rawles 101). African roots/heritage • Her family • Passed down through generations • Very sentimental • African roots • Healing • More literal meaning Theme- Heritage is important to preserve

7. The Quilt “You take that quilt wherever you go. When you old and wore you think on me and all the others you love. You close your eyes and feel our love coming up behind you. That’s all you got in this world” (Rawles 161). Connection Past to Present bowl, hat, button, Tobacco, knife, tooth, different colors, scarf, pipe • Granddaughter's future • Importance of family Theme- Past generation’s memories helps present generation’s struggles

8. Jim “It raining heavy but I knows in my bones Jim coming to me” (Rawles 94). “I had the middle watch, you know, but I was pretty sleepy by that time, so Jim he said he would stand the first half of it for me; he was always mighty good, that way, Jim was” (Twain 117) Father-figure/SlaveHope/Love • Took care of Huck/protection/sidekick • Represents all of the slaves at this time • Sadie sees being with him as being free • Her goal throughout the whole book Theme- (Huck) Society vs. Slavery (Jim) Slavery vs. love/family

9. Literary Criticism “He has been recognized by critics as a complex character, at once a superstitious and ignorant minstrel-show stereotype but also an intelligent human being who conveys more depth than the narrator, Huck Finn, is aware of” (Telgen 5).

10. Miss Watson “Well, I got a good going-over, from old Miss Watson, on account of my clothes; but the widow she didn’t scold, but only cleaned off the grease and clay and looked so sorry that I thought I would behave a while if I could” (Twain 13). Civilization • Huck’s feelings toward this? • Teenage kid • Adventure • What does she represent? • Propriety • “Sivilization” Theme- Captivity vs. freedom

11. Literary Criticism “She represents a view of Christianity that is severe and unforgiving. It is her attempts to ‘sivilize.’ Huck that he finds most annoying… (Hacht 7)”

12. Jim’s Hat “White man’s hat. Hat like a bowl. Brown with a yellow sash. No hat for a nigger. Not a free colored either. I wants to say take off that hat fore they catch you boy” (Rawles 60). Pride • Hat for Jim ? • Pride • Equality • Independence • Hat for Sadie? • Fear for safety • A “dreamer” Theme- Slavery vs. Freedom

13. Essential Questions What does the language allow and encourage? Twain and Rawles use symbols to make the readers read between the lines. They can interpret the hidden meanings behind different objects and characters to give them more meaning in the story. Symbols give more depth to the plot to effectively express the overall message that the authors are trying to covey.

14. Essential Questions • Quilt, Knife, Bowl- Family Tale • Raft and Mississippi River, Jim’s hate, Jim, Miss Watson- Boy’s tale and Abolitionist’s tale

15. Bibliography • Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Literary Themes for Students: The American Dream. Ed. Anne Hacht. Vol. 1. Detroit: Thomson Gale, 2007. p41-55. 2 vols. • Bokesch, Laura. "Literary Terms." OUSD Online. OUSD. Web. 4 Nov. 2009. <http://www.orangeusd.k12.ca.us/yorba/literary_elemen ts.htm#SYMBOLISM>. • The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Novels for Students. Ed. Diane Telgen. Vol. 1. Detroit: Gale. 1997. p1-21.