Educ w 200 huckleberry finn

Mark Twain’sThe Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
About the author, the novel, and the time period

Samuel Langhorne Clemens
Born in Florida, MO November of1835
Grew up in Hannibal, MO (a port town by the Mississippi River)
Inspired St. Petersburg in Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer
Missouri was a slave state at the time
About the Author

Father, John Marshall Clemens (merchant, attorney, and judge)
Mother, Jane Lampton Clemens
Sixth of sevenchildren
Atage of 12, worked as a
typesetter of articles and
sketches in the Hannibal Journal
Worked as a printer in NYC
and othercitiesat 18
About the Author

Became a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi
Began travelling after the Civil Warbroke out in 1861
Noted as one of the greatest American LiteratureAuthors.
About the Author

Published on February 18, 1885 (20 yearsafter the civil warhadended)
Main themesinvolveracism and slavery
Considered by many to be one of the « Great American Novels »
About the book

YouTube - Should the N-Word Be Taken Out Of Huckleberry Finn?
YouTube - 'N Word' Removed From Huckleberry Finn
Some school systems don’t allow the book to be taught because of the N word.
These videos discuss changes that are being changed.
What do you think? Does it take away from the historical significance or the themes of the novel?
Controversy

YoutubeVideo
Huckhelps Jim (an escaped slave)
Huckconsidersturning Jim in
Ultimately good characters are slave owners
Twain wasalivebefore, during, and after the civil war
He grew up in a slave state
Hisnovelis anti-slavery and racism but alsohighlights the confusion people werefacedwithsuring the time period
The Theme of slavery

It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn't ever sorry for it afterwards, neither. I didn't do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn't done that one if I'd a knowed it would make him feel that way. (15.49)
Huck is racist at the beginning
His general opinion on humanity overshadows his racist views
Example 1

It most froze me to hear such talk. He wouldn't ever dared to talk such talk in his life before. Just see what a difference it made in him the minute he judged he was about free. It was according to the old saying, "Give a nigger an inch and he'll take an ell." Thinks I, this is what comes of my not thinking. Here was this nigger, which I had as good as helped to run away, coming right out flat-footed and saying he would steal his children – children that belonged to a man I didn't even know; a man that hadn't ever done me no harm. (16.8)
Huck doesn’t realize that Jim has a real family
He views Jim as property because that is what he’s grown up with
Example 2

Each person had their own nigger to wait on them – Buck too. My nigger had a monstrous easy time, because I warn't used to having anybody do anything for me, but Buck's was on the jump most of the time. (18.6)
This isafterHuckhides Jim and thenmeets the Grangerfords (a wealthyfamilythatownsseveral slaves)
Huckdidn’tgrow up owning a slave becausehisdadwas a poordrunk, but Buck ( a boy the sameage as Huck) has no problemdemandinganotherbeing to do things for him
Example 3

"Well, I RECKON! There's two hunderd dollars reward on him. It's like picking up money out'n the road." (31.13)
This is said by the “king” (really a con artist) who is completely fine with turning Jim in so that he can get money.
Jim isdescribed as a monetary value
Example 4

Copy down the following questions and take note of any passages in the novelthatmaycontribute in answeringthem. Be sure to write the page number.
Discussion Questions

1. How do youthinkHuck’sviews on slavery change from the beginning of the novel to the end. Remember to findspecificexamples.
Question 1

Why are these changes significant to the themes of racism and slavery?
Question 2

How mightthese changes reflect the author’spersonalexperiences?
Question 3

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Educ w 200 huckleberry finn

by Lauren O'Connor on Apr 28, 2011

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