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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. By Mark Twain. Background. Written between 1876-1883 Setting: Mississippi River, ca. 1840 Genre: Realism/Regionalism (1860-1900) Realism: “Life through a clear glass window”

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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

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  1. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain

  2. Background • Written between 1876-1883 • Setting: Mississippi River, ca. 1840 • Genre: Realism/Regionalism (1860-1900) • Realism: “Life through a clear glass window” • Regionalism: Literature that attempts to capture the characteristics of a particular region • A satirical novel—mocking society to provoke change • A Bildungsroman—coming of age novel • Uses vernacular language, or local dialects

  3. Background • Two main controversies: • Is the book racist? (use of the “n” word and depiction on Jim) • Is the ending appropriate? • Twain said the novel revolves around the conflict between Huck’s “sound heart and deformed conscience”

  4. Setting = St. Petersburg, MOmodeled after Twain’s hometown of Hannibal, MO http://www.hanmo.com/

  5. Mark Twain in front of his childhood home in Hannibal, MO

  6. Chapters 1-2 • Opening satire—establishes narrative voice & tone • “Notice” to reader—why ironic? * • “Sivilization” (1) • Religion/hypocrisy (2-3) • Widow “grumbles” prayer over food • Huck: “I don’t take no stock in dead people” • Widow forbids smoking but takes snuff • “Good place” & “bad place” • Superstition (3) • “The books”—Romantic literature (7-10)

  7. Chapter 3 Q: What is Huck’s relationship with and attitude toward each character? Widow Douglas and Miss Watson “I judged I could see that there was two Providences, and a poor chap would stand considerable show with the widow’s Providence, but if Miss Watson’s got him there warn’t no help for him anymore.” (*11)

  8. Chapters 2-3 • The Boys’ Gang • Trip to cave—anticipates river as escape (7) • The Oath (7-8) • Tom elected leader (10) • Ambushing a Sunday School picnic (12-14) • Don Quixote reference (13) Q: How do Huck and Tom serve as foils for each other? (*14)

  9. Chapters 2, 4 • Meeting Jim • Tom’s prank & Jim’s witch story (5-6) • Heavy use of n-word (6) • Hairball prophecy (17) Q: How does Mark Twain characterize Jim in the opening chapters of the novel?

  10. Chapters 5-7 • Pap • Vivid character portrait (*19) • Scolds Huck for attending school (irony) (19-20) • Dupes new judge (21-22) • Holds Huck captive / alcoholism & abuse • Rant against “govment” (irony) (*27) • Chases Huck around cabin with knife (slapstick humor) (*29) Q: What characteristics does Twain satirize in Pap? To what extent is he a funny character?

  11. Chapter 7 Q: How and why does Huck fake his own death? What does Huck’s escape plan show us about his character? (30-36) • Ferry boat search party—superstition & irony (cannon shots, bread with mercury) (37-39)

  12. Chapters 8-11 • Huck & Jim on Jackson’s Island • Both seeking freedom—from what? • Two-story house and dead man (50) • Superstition as foreshadowing—handling snake skin (52-53) • Huck’s prank (snake) (53) • News from Mrs. Judith Loftus & escape from Jackson’s Island (55-63) Q: What are the early signs of Huck and Jim’s friendship?

  13. Chapter 12 • Huck and Jim on the river • Build wigwam and travel nights (64-65) • Pass St. Louis—“it was like the whole world lit up” (65) • Justify “borrowing” (65-66) Q: What do Huck and Jim have in common? What are their differences?

  14. Chapters 12-13 • Walter Scott incident (66-76) • Jim Turner to be murdered by Bill and Jake Packard • Huck’s motive to save murderers? (*72) • Rescue attempt • Miss Hooker and rich Uncle Hornback • Satire of human motivation—greed of ferryman (75) • Mood at end of chapter 13? (*75-76)

  15. From printmakers Currier & Ives, 1863 http://steamboattimes.com/artwork_currier_ives.html

  16. Sir Walter Scott, Scottish Romantic poet (1771-1832) Sinking of Walter Scott represents “sinking” of Romanticism

  17. Chapter 14 King Solomon & the French language (*76-80) Q: What does this conversation tell us about Jim—his character traits and values? Q: Who has the superior logic in this scene—Huck or Jim?

  18. Chapter 15 • Prank gone bad • Separation in fog (81-84) • River as place of danger and turbulence • Huck’s trick & Jim’s response (*84-87) • Huck’s racism Q: What does this scene show about Jim’s character? How does this mark a turning point in his friendship with Huck?

  19. Chapter 16 • Heart vs. conscience takes center-stage • Jim’s excitement for freedom prompts Huck’s internal torment (*88-89) • Slave hunters—Huck’s lie to save Jim (90) • Satire—hunters give $40 to avoid personal risk (91-92) • Current winner of Huck’s internal conflict? (*92) Q: Although Huck considers turning in Jim, what makes him different from the slave hunters?

  20. Chapter 16 • Bad luck from snake skin (93-95) • Missed Cairo in fog • Lose canoe • Raft run over by a steamboat

  21. Chapters 17-18 • Shepherdsons vs. Grangerfords(96-117) • SATIRE: • Feuds, violence…Civil War? • Southern aristocracy (code of honor/chivalry; gaudy household decorations) • Romantic literature & sensibility (Emmeline) • Religion (guns to church, sermon on brotherly love) • Harney Shepherdson and Sophia Grangerford = parody of Romeo & Juliet • Closing mood = dark, somber

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