Author: Mark Twain
Summary:
1. The book is based around the character of Huckleberry Finn, who is a poor boy living with adopted guardians since his father is a alcoholic. He is unhappy with his new way of life and dreams of going back to the way things used to be. Unlike in his past, Finn is forced to be respectable and be a good image towards society. This changes once his father kidnaps him in order to start a new life. Sadly, instead of getting a better life, Huck is locked in a cabin while his father drinks until he can drink no more. In addition, Pap beats poor Huck every time he's intoxicated, which causes Huck to run away and to fake his own death in order to escape from Pap. While on the run, Huck runs into a former slave of his adopted guardian named Jim. Jim has run away from Miss Watson (adopted guardian of Huck) after hearing her talk about selling him to a plantation down the river, where he would be treated horribly and separated from his wife and children. Luckily, the two find a raft and pass my a floating house on the Mississippi river, which leads to them finding a body, but Jim won't let Huck see who it is. The two are soon separated when their raft is destroyed by a steamboat. Huck is able to find shelter with the Granderfords, who have an intense feud with the Shepherdsons. A battle begins between the two families while Huck is there due to the fact that a Grangerford daughter eloped with a Shepherdson son (reminds me of Romeo and Juilet). Huck escapes the battle by finding Jim on the repaired raft and the two hurry down river. As their journey continues, the two pick up a few hitchhikers, who are actually con-artists. The con-artists pull off tons of scams as they traveled along the river, which makes Huck and Jim want to get rid of the two men. Sadly, they tried to by exposing one of their plans, but the con-artists make it to the raft just in time. The two robbers end up selling Jim to a local farmer, which was their worst crime of all. Huck is enraged and decides he was going to save Jim from slavery. Now, Huck finds out that the farmer Jim was sold to was Tom Sawyer's aunt and uncle, so they welcome Huck thinking he was Tom. A few days later, Tom arrives and realizes the plan his friend has devised, so he says that he is his younger brother, Sid. The two hatch a ridiculous plan to free Jim that ends up not working and causing Tom to get shot in the leg. The next morning, Tom tells the truth to his aunt and uncle, which ultimately frees Tom. During that time, Huck also finds out that the body in the house was his father's and instead of being adopted by Tom's aunt, he decides to live out West.
2. “Please take it”, says I, “and don’t ask me nothing- then I won’t have to tell no lies.” This book has various themes, but the two that were most evident to me were racism and the hypocrisy of being civilized or morally/socially acceptable. The struggles with Jim and the fact that Huck is constantly trying to escape from being civilized shows these two themes in a perfect way.
3. “All right, then, I'll go to hell"—and tore it up.” The author's tone changes throughout the novel since the author, Mark Twain, would use it as a way of characterization.
4. Ten Literary Techniques:
-“Right is right, and wrong is wrong, and a body ain’t got no business doing wrong when he ain’t ignorant and knows better.”
cliche: The idea of right and wrong is a common cliche within our culture and was actually a part of my big question.
-“He was sunshine most always-I mean he made it seem like good weather.”
metaphor: This is an example of a metaphor because it's a comparison without using like or as.
-"It's not as bad as it sounds.”
understatement: This technique was used to make the dilemma seem less important and to "understate" it's value.
-“To be, or not to be; that is the bare bodkin
That makes calamity of so long life;”
connection: This was a connection to Shakespeare's "To be or not to be" speech!
-“The widow she cried over me, and called a poor lost lamb, and she called me a lot of other names, too, but she never meant no harm by it.”
pathos: This elicits a connection family and compassion, which causes emotion within the audience.
-“It's lovely to live on a raft. We had
the sky, up there, all speckled with stars, and we used to lay on
our backs and look up at them, and discuss about whether they was
made, or only just happened- Jim he allowed they was made, but I
allowed they happened; I judged it would have took too long to make so
many.”
-“What got you into trouble?"
rhetorical question: This quote established a question that didn't need to be answered, which makes it a rhetorical question.
-“It's as mild as goose-milk.”
simile: This quote is a perfect example of simile because it is a comparison that uses the word as.
-“little smoke couldn't be noticed now.."
allusion: This imagery of smoke alludes to the fact that their position could be compromised.
-“frills. I won’t have it. I’ll lay for you, my smarty;”
“All right, then, I'll go to hell"—and tore it up.”
tongue in cheek: Both of these quotes pokes fun at certain themes, which provides a humorous tone for their characters and the author.
Characterization:
Direct characterization is when the author makes statements about a character's personality directly to the reader.
Indirect characterization is when the author reveals the character's personality through that character's thoughts, words, or interactions with others.
1.
-Direct Characterization Examples:
“here was a free nigger there from Ohio-a mulatter. most as white as a white man. He had the whitest shirt on you ever see, too, and the shiniest hat; and there ain’t a man in that town that’s got...”
“Now she had got a start, and she went on and told me all about the good place. She said all a body would have to do there was to go around all day long with a harp and sing, forever and ever. So I...”
-Indirect Characterization Examples:
“I felt so lonesome I most wished I was dead. The stars were shining, and the leaves rustled in the woods ever so mournful; and I heard an owl, away off, who-whooing about somebody that was dead, and a whippowill and a dog crying about somebody that was going to die;”
“It didn't take me long to make up my mind that these liars warn't no kings nor dukes at all, but just low-down humbugs and frauds. But I never said nothing, never let on; kept it to myself; it's the best way; then you don't have no quarrels, and don't get into no trouble.”
2. The author's diction and syntax didn't change that much when he began to focus on his characters because it allowed the book to have more of a flow.
3. Huck was a static, round protagonist due to the fact he has various traits, but his ideals our civilization doesn't change throughout the book.
4.“All right, then, I'll go to hell"—and tore it up.” Honestly, I feel like I know Huck because the author writes in a way in which the audience is able to truly connect with him on a deeper level. (In addition, I liked Huck's attitude and sarcasm!)
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