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Analyze the adventures of huckleberry finn
Huckleberry finns conflict
Mississippi river symbolism in huck finn
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Growing up kids always hear about The Adventures Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, and all they really knew about was that their grandparents or parents loved the book and that for some reason it was controversial. When they got older they learned about how the racial standpoints in book made it so controversial but also what made it such a great book and that the theme of racism is still as relevant in our current time as it was when Twain wrote the book. Then after reading How To Read Literature Like A Professor By Thomas C. Foster many more things jump out at them while reading the novel. The use of setting and symbolism in the novel also helps make it such a fantastic piece of literature. Huck Finn is an iconic book that deserves to be as …show more content…
famous as it is. Setting is one of the most important aspects in a book; it sets the scene and it can allude to future events. An interesting foreshadowing in Huck Finn is when Twain was describing the outside he talks about how Pa’s footprints were in the snow. Now this a great foreshadowing for Pa’s character, as Foster said in his novel “ Winter with old age and resentment and death.(186)” So to elaborate a little on that basically Foster is saying that winter time usually has to do with resentment and death which both connect to Pa. When Huck found the footprints foreshadows his father return “There was an inch of new snow on the ground, and I seen somebody's tracks. (180) ” It could also be alluding to the way Huck feels about his dad, the resentment he has for him being a drunk, only caring about getting more money to feed his addiction, and being abusive. It so unique how Twain used the snow to foreshadow Pa’s death. The use of setting in such a indepth way is way that Huck Finn is a great piece of the literature. One of the most prominent symbols in Huck Finn is Missippi River.
The river symbolizes multiple things in the novel. It symbolizes the journey that Huck and Jim are on and how the further south they get the harder it becomes. That particular symbolization is mentioned by Foster specifically; “It matters when they reach Cairo and the Ohio empties into the big river; it matters when they reach the Deep South, because Jim is running away in the worst possible direction. The great threat to a slave was that he might be sold down the river, where things got progressively worse south you went, and he’s floating straight into the teeth of the monster. (173)” The further south they traveled down the river the worse their luck gets, so worse that Jim ends up getting put back into slavery. Another thing the River symbolizes is an area of peace for Huck and Jim, they are both finally in place where they both can free and don’t need to worry about anyone for once in their lives. “So in two seconds away we went a-sliding down the river, and it did seem so good to be free again and all by ourselves on the big river, and nobody to bother us. (186)” The use of the symbolism in the novel is truly a reason why this is such a great piece of literature. Twain's use of the River to multitask many different symbols makes it the standard for River symbolism and he uses it to paint an even stronger setting that is truly connect to the plot of the story. Mark Twain's use of symbolism is a reason a that Huck Finn a great piece of
literature. Racial issues are probably one the most mentioned things throughout history, from all the way during the revolution to our current times. Huck Finn definitely was challenging the racial norms of its time, becoming one of the most controversial book. In a time when in the South black people and white people were not close at all. A reason people protested the novel was the fact that Huck and Jim would have never been friends since that was so against the social norms of the time period. Knowing this it make sense that Huck is so young when the book is taking place, according to Foster “The real reason for a quest is always self-knowledge. That’s why questers are so often young, inexperienced, immature, sheltered. (3)” So knowing that it does make a lot sense that Huck is so young because he is learning an important message about racial differences. Huck was learning that even though Jim is black he isn't very different, something that was an idea that is completely unheard of in the time period the book is taking place. It is obvious this is the case because in the beginning of the novel Huck is making fun of Jim with his friend Tom sawyer, but by the end of the book Huck thinks about all the memories he has made with Jim and his new found opinion of him: “And got to thinking over our trip down the river; and I see Jim before me, all the time, in the day, and in the night-time, sometimes moonlight, sometimes storms, and we a floating along, talking, and singing, and laughing. But somehow I couldn't seem to strike no places to harden me against him, but only the other kind. (194)” This shows the appreciation Huck has built for Jim in their adventure down the river. It also shows the respect that Huck has built up for Jim over there time together. As stated before it is said to be a highly controversial friendship because in the south this relationship would most likely never happen during this time period. But Huck this young kid who learn to overlook the social stander and appreciate Jim in a way that he never would have if he didn’t go on this adventure. This issue of race is still relevant today in parts of America and this lesson that we are equal no matter what race is still highly relevant make this book a better piece of literature and keeps it message relevant . The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a great novel and How To Read Literature Like A Professor by Thomas C. Foster helps prove just how great of a novel it is. The use of Symbolism in Huck Finn is phenomenal and the use of setting to foreshadow makes the novel an even better piece of literature. Throughout the novel it’s constant message of Racial Issues makes it a great read and relevant read even now over a hundred years after it was published. Huckleberry Finn is undeniably stellar piece of literature through and through.
These problems, that have been faced and are being faced in America must be talked about. Just not with The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as the platform. Jane Smiley said that “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has little to offer in the way of greatness” and honestly she couldn't be more right. (Say it ain’t so Huck 356) There are an overwhelming number of novels that could explain American slavery and racism. Jane Smiley said that “Uncle Tom’s Cabin’s portrayal of an array of thoughtful, autonomous, and passionate characters leaves Huck Finn far behind.” (Say it Ain’t so, Huck 358) The discussion of slavery and the harsh racism from whites to blacks need to happen in classrooms. Not with Huckfinn because it is outdated. Mark Twain once said that, “a ‘classic’ is a book which people praise but don't read.” Contradicting to his own novel, Twain’s HuckFinn was praised without being truly read. Meaning that its title as a classic is wrong. Its way easier for HuckFinn to be taught wrong then right. Looking at one of the first encounters of the book, in the scenes where all the boys are in a “gang” “some thought it would be good to kill the families.” (Twain 21) The book set in pre-civil war time. From the prospective a white kid’s opinion on slavery. One of the pure goals of the book it is to talk about how people were racist and didn't even realize it. Huck’s whole mentality towards Jim shows this. Jane Smiley noted that twain really saw Jim as no more than Huck’s sidekick.” (Say it Ain’t so Huck 335) While slavery is very present in today’s day and age it is very different then it was during the antebellum time period. In fact, racism today is completely different then it was just 25 years ago. Jane Smiley says “Jim is never autonomous, never has a vote, always finds his purpose subordinate to Huck’s, and like every good sidekick, he never minds.” Every high school student knows that America has a history
The Adventures of Huckelberry Finn has been called one of the greatest pieces of American literature, deemed a classic. The book has been used by teachers across the country for years. Now, Huck Finn, along with other remarkable novels such as Catcher in the Rye and To Kill a Mockingbird, are being pulled off the shelves of libraries and banned from classrooms. All the glory this majestic piece by Mark Twain has acquired is slowly being deteriorated. This is
Set in pre-civil war America, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn takes place along the Mississippi river. As Huckleberry travels along it he learns lessons about life, society and most importantly; himself. Surrounded by a world of prejudice and racism, Huck is forced to learn to make decisions on his own. He is able to learn from the imperfections in the rest of the world as he views them. While on the river, Huck and Jim are at peace. The river symbolizes freedom for both Jim and Huck. The river is Jim’s path to freedom from slavery, and it is Huck’s freedom from society. When Jim and Huck journey onto the banks of the river they see the inhumanity to man that goes on in the world. This juxtaposition of the river and the land help emphasize the peacefulness of the river in comparison to the crazy society on land. Huck learns to think for himself, and tries not to conform to the ways of the people on the land. Although the world that he lives in teaches him to be a racist, his journey down the river teaches him to use his own mind, and find out what he really believes in.
Throughout literature and novels we can find authors who will reference history, other authors works and most often the Bible. One may ask themselves the reasoning behind allusions and how it can affect our perspective and the authors meaning when reading the novel. In the late sixties, Julia Kristeve, who studied the elements of literature and other communication systems, introduced the word “Intertextuality”. In Kristave’s essay “Word, Dialogue, and Novel” she went into deep analysis of an authors work and its text, “A literary work, then, is not simply the product of a single author, but of its relationship to other texts and to the strucutures of language itself. Any text," she argues, "is constructed of a mosaic of quotations; any text
Ransomed? Whats that???.. it means that we keep them till they're dead (10). This dialogue reflects Twains witty personality. Mark Twain, a great American novelist, exploits his humor, realism, and satire in his unique writing style in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain, born in 1835, wrote numerous books throughout his lifetime. Many of his books include humor; they also contain deep cynicism and satire on society. Mark Twain, the author of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, exemplifies his aspects of writing humor, realism, and satire throughout the characters and situations in his great American novel.
Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” is said to be one of the greatest American novels to ever be written and is what all other pieces of American literature are based off of. The novel has been debated for over an entire century and will continue to be debated for much longer. Never the less, Huckleberry Finn teaches young students and adults the important life lessons. ”The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain should remain required reading in American Literature classes because it enlightens students about the horrors of racism and slavery, familiarizes students with the South during time period, and properly portrays the powers of conformity.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been banned from many high school classrooms over the years. This novel by author Mark Twain is one of the most controversial books in the United States. Huck Finn should not be removed from high school curriculums for mature students. Twain’s writing not only exposes the vices of 19th century Southern society and teaches about topics that spark debates, it also opens students’ eyes to social issues that are still problems in today’s society. Mature students should be exposed to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in the classroom setting.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is very important to the American culture. When Mark Twain was around, the use of the word “nigger” was quite common. That was how they referred to African Americans in that time. In the book, Twain makes Pap look like the worst possible white trash where as Huck and Jim, the slave, get closer throughout the book. The book shows how people felt towards African Americans back in the day and how it was wrong. They considered them as “inhuman.” In The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn, Aunt Sally seems to be a nice person, but when the little black boy was killed she does not care since “no human was hurt.” This shows how far along we have come since this time period. Huck plays three jokes on Jim, but in the end begs for his forgiveness because he felt he had done something indeed quite wrong. This shows that not all Southerners in the day were “racist.” Mark Twain makes fun of how many people in the South were wrong to think badly towards the African Americans. This book is a very good book to get an understanding of how things were wrong back then and how far we have come since then.
The raft was a place where Huck and Jim could talk and get to know each other man-to-man and not master-to-slave. It was a place where race didn’t matter. They were equals. Huck said, "We… let her [the raft] float wherever the current wanted her to; then we lit the pipes, and dangled our legs in the water, and talked about all kinds of things—we was always naked, day and night, whenever the mosquitoes would let us" Huck did not care that Jim was black; Jim did not care that Huck was white. Floating down the middle of the river just might be the only place this black man and white boy can speak together as equals. For this reason, the raft is a very important symbol.
In the novel, Huck's main goal is to get away from a terrible, abusive drunk of a father. Without the access of the Mississippi, Huck might not have ever escaped his father, and his father could have easily killed Huck. For Jim, who's goal was not only freedom, but to see his family again, the river was a free way to reach the free states. With Huck's fortune he could have bought a train ticket or paid another way to get to Cairo, but it was important for him to make his journey with Jim. In that time a black runaway slave could not have ridden on a train or even walked on land in the light of day without being caught in a matter of minutes.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, is considered a classic novel from the realism period of American Literature that accurately depicts social conventions from pre-civil war times. Despite this reputation as a historical lens of life on the Mississippi River, elements of blatant racism overshadow the regionalist and realist depictions. Huck Finn does not promote racism because all derogatory or racist remarks are presented as a window to life during the 1850s, in a satirical context, or to show Mark Twain's moral views on racism.
...ion. Twain ends his novel by setting Huck up for a new experience and personal growth. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn taught an important lesson, one that showed the importance of the self in the maturing process. We saw Huck grow up by having the river as a place of solitude and thought, where he was able to participate in society at times, and also sit back and observe society. Through the child's eye we see how ignorant and mob-like we can all be. Then nature, peace, and logic are presented in the form of the river where Huck goes to think. Though no concise answer is given, the literature forces the reader to examine their surroundings, and question their leaders.
Rivers flow freely, and smoothly, and people usually go to the river to escape from society and civilization. They feel free with the nature surrounding them, which allows them to rest, and relax in peace. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Twain uses symbolic importance of the Mississippi River. Throughout the story, the Mississippi River plays an important symbolic figure, and significance to the story's plot. For Huck and Jim, the river is a place for freedom and adventure. Mark Twain uses the Mississippi River to symbolize freedom, adventure, and comfort.
The Adventure’s of Huckleberry Finn’s unique ability to incorporate moral lessons through satire and simmilar literary techniques prove it to be vital for High school students, especially at Rye, to read. The vast nature of things it teaches is something very rare for one book to do. It not only provides the reader with important life themes like other great novels do but it also shocks the reader to show the power of racism which makes it one of the greatest pieces of literature of all time. Just think of how different things would be if no one had read such an important book.
Despite all the criticism, of racism and other questionable material for young readers, Mark Twain’s The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn is a superbly written novel, which in the opinion of this reviewer should not be remove the literary cannon. Twain’s novel is a coming of age story that teaches young people many valuable lessons and to some extend makes students reexamine their own lives and morals. The most common argument for its removal from the literary canon is that the novel is too racist; it offends black readers, perpetuates cheap slave-era stereotypes, and deserves no place on today’s bookshelves. However one must ask if Twain is encouraging traditional southern racism or is Twain disputing these idea.