The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Mark Twain

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).

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

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

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

Development of Novel

• Wrote first sixteen chapters and stopped for seven years

• Causes tone to have three two distinct shifts• Creates appeals to audiences

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

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

Satire

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