Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry

FinnAbout 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 seven children At age of 12, worked as a typesetter of articles and sketches in the Hannibal Journal Worked as a printer in NYC and other cities at 18

About the Author

Became a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi Began travelling after the Civil War broke

out in 1861 Noted as one of the greatest American

Literature Authors.

About the Author

Published on February 18, 1885 (20 years after the civil war had ended)

Main themes involve racism 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

Youtube Video◦ Huck helps Jim (an escaped slave)◦ Huck considers turning Jim in◦ Ultimately good characters are slave owners

Twain was alive before, during, and after the civil war

He grew up in a slave state His novel is anti-slavery and racism but also

highlights the confusion people were faced with suring 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 is after Huck hides Jim and then meets the

Grangerfords (a wealthy family that owns several slaves)

◦ Huck didn’t grow up owning a slave because his dad was a poor drunk, but Buck ( a boy the same age as Huck) has no problem demanding another being 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 is described as a monetary value

Example 4

Copy down the following questions and take note of any passages in the novel that may contribute in answering them. Be sure to write the page number.

Discussion Questions

1. How do you think Huck’s views on slavery change from the beginning of the novel to the end. Remember to find specific examples.

Question 1

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

Question 2

How might these changes reflect the author’s personal experiences?

Question 3