This document provides background information and a synopsis of Mark Twain's classic novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. It notes that the novel takes place along the Mississippi River in the deep south between 1835 and 1845, before the Civil War. It follows the story of Huck Finn, a young boy who leaves home to go on an adventure with his friend, Jim, a slave who is trying to find freedom. The document outlines the major characters of Huck, Jim, and Tom Sawyer and their roles in the story.

1. Huckleberry Finn By, Mark Twain

2. Mark Twain Born on November 30 th , 1835 Otherwise known as Samuel Clemens Langhorne, he is America’s Most famous literary icon. He grew up and lived in a time where the Civil War occurred and where slaves were present where he lived.

3. Where/ When did Huckleberry Finn Took Place? Huckleberry Finn took place in the deep south of the United States along the Mississippi River. The novel took place from around 1835 to 1845 before the Civil War.

4. Synopsis Huckleberry Finn is a young boy with an abusive father and two guardians who take care of him. Huck does not care about school or manners so he happily leaves town to get away from his father and to be on an adventure. Huck is troubled because he does not know whether to turn in Jim (his slave friend) to the authorities or go against society and be a good friend to save Jim. He eventually decides to save Jim and help him to find his freedom because had to keep his word and escape his father because he does not know that his father dead yet. On their journey to freedom Jim is caught by a couple slave owners and Huck is forced to live with those families, making up lies until he can free Jim and get back on their way to Canton. Huck and Tom try to free Jim at the climax of the story and Tom ends up getting shot in the leg. Shortly after Tom tells Aunt Polly that Miss Watson freed Jim in her will. Huck had a chance to be civilized again and live with Tom but he finally decided to live free in the wild and travel west. Meanwhile Jim starts his family from scratch with all the money the got along the way.

5. Major Characters and Descriptions Huck: Protagonist, Tells the Story from first point of view, Tom’s best friend, frequently questions society and acts as if he is above the law. Jim: Huck’s Friend, Miss Watson’s slave, blackmailed Huck to get him to freedom by guilt and a promise to keep his word to not turn him in. Tom Sawyer: Huck’s best friend, strictly follows the rules which contrasts to Huck’s tendency to question the authorities and rules.

6. Works Cited Estate of Mark Twain. &quot;The Official Web Site of Mark Twain.&quot; CMG Worldwide . Web. 24 May 2011. <http://www.cmgww.com/historic/twain/about/bio.htm>. Google Images. Google . Web. 24 May 2011. <http://www.google.com/search?hl=en>.