The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
1. Huckleberry Finn spent most of his childhood growing up without a
father figure’s presence. When his father returns to town after hearing about
his son's great discovery, Huck's father becomes enraged when he finds out that
Huck no longer has the money. His father goes into remission and becomes
abusive towards Huck. Huck has had enough and decides to fake his own death and
go to Jackson's Island where he meets Jim, the slave of Miss Watson. Jim, like
Huck, has also run away in order to avoid abuse, but more specifically, to
avoid being sold. The two begin down the Ohio River, having quite the multitude
of adventures. At the end of the satire, Jim is freed and Huck is overwhelmed
and decides to set out West to continue on with his life.
2. One of the most outstanding themes of Huckleberry Finn has the audience’s attention focused on racism. It is so evident that racism was still very prominent in America and especially in the South even after it had been abolished. Even today racism is still prominent, maybe not to the severity that is was back then, but still exists in America today.
3. The author's tone is moralistic. From the beginning of the novel, Huck is contemplating his decision in joining Jim down the river because he isn't sure if it is morally right. This is not the first or the last time that Huck questions morality and as he is the voice of the novel it is only logical to decipher that he has a moralistic attitude.
4. Characterization-- The characterization of Jim and Huck really depict how the novel is going to go. The fact that Huck is merely a child, not yet a young adult has much to do with the progression of the novel.
Conflict-- Mark Twain provides a conflict that both the main characters Jim and Huck can relate to. The two characters are both trying to escape something; Jim from being sold as a slave by Mrs. Watson and Huck from his abusive drunk of a father.
Diction-- The diction used by the characters as previously mentioned, is what defines them. Huck is defined by his speech a well as Jim.
Foreshadowing-- Twain uses foreshadowing through Jim telling Huck of his fortune in chapter 4.
Hyperbole-- Hyperbole's are used throughout the novel by both Jim and Huck. Because of their struggle with speech, the two tend to over exaggerate and use run-on sentences for lack of a better word in order to make their points.
Imagery-- Throughout the novel images are created in the readers head. Most often this is because of the characters and Twain's telling of them.
Mood-- the mood of the novel is most often uplifting and hopeful. The mood comes from the tone set by Twain and the events that occur throughout the novel.
Motif-- There is more than just one motif within the novel. The one I'd consider to be most prominent would be the reiteration of racism. The concept of racism and the large presence that it still had in America at the time is constantly being reiterated over the course of the novel. The racism never goes away and Jim is always present and a prime example of this.
Setting-- the setting of the novel is what makes the novel. The fact that the novel is set prior to the Civil war, in the 1800's, right after the 13th amendment was passed has a significant impact on the events that take place. It is apparent that slavery still exists although the amendment had been passed to ban it. Also, the fact that the novel is set in St. Petersburg Missouri influences the direction of the novel as Jim and Huck venture down the Ohio River nearby.
Point of View-- the author's point of view is prominent in the novel. Twain's beliefs of the time are shown through the tone, mood, and theme of the novel.
CHARACTERIZATION
1. An example of indirect characterization in the novel would be Huckleberry Finn. He is distinctly characterized by his speech. Huck is also characterized by how the other characters respond to him, more specifically by what they think and say about him.
2. The author, with the narrator being Huck himself, does change both the syntax and diction when focusing on a character. Huck has the most distinguishing diction/syntax of all because of his young age and illiteracy.
“Just because you’re taught that something’s right and everyone believes it’s right, it don’t make it right.”
“All kings is mostly rapscallions, as fur as I can make out.”
“But I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of therest, because Aunt Sally she's going to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can't stand it. I been there before.”
3. I would say that Finn is a dynamic/round character. Although he doesn't change much, Huck does change in his views. He see's people and the world around him differently by the end of the novel.
4. After reading this novel for the second time I feel like I understand it better. The first time I read it I did not pay much attention to literary techniques or the characterization of each character which makes it easy for me to know the characters better now. This time I feel like I got to know Huck and Jim and all the pain that they went through on their journey.
2. One of the most outstanding themes of Huckleberry Finn has the audience’s attention focused on racism. It is so evident that racism was still very prominent in America and especially in the South even after it had been abolished. Even today racism is still prominent, maybe not to the severity that is was back then, but still exists in America today.
3. The author's tone is moralistic. From the beginning of the novel, Huck is contemplating his decision in joining Jim down the river because he isn't sure if it is morally right. This is not the first or the last time that Huck questions morality and as he is the voice of the novel it is only logical to decipher that he has a moralistic attitude.
4. Characterization-- The characterization of Jim and Huck really depict how the novel is going to go. The fact that Huck is merely a child, not yet a young adult has much to do with the progression of the novel.
Conflict-- Mark Twain provides a conflict that both the main characters Jim and Huck can relate to. The two characters are both trying to escape something; Jim from being sold as a slave by Mrs. Watson and Huck from his abusive drunk of a father.
Diction-- The diction used by the characters as previously mentioned, is what defines them. Huck is defined by his speech a well as Jim.
Foreshadowing-- Twain uses foreshadowing through Jim telling Huck of his fortune in chapter 4.
Hyperbole-- Hyperbole's are used throughout the novel by both Jim and Huck. Because of their struggle with speech, the two tend to over exaggerate and use run-on sentences for lack of a better word in order to make their points.
Imagery-- Throughout the novel images are created in the readers head. Most often this is because of the characters and Twain's telling of them.
Mood-- the mood of the novel is most often uplifting and hopeful. The mood comes from the tone set by Twain and the events that occur throughout the novel.
Motif-- There is more than just one motif within the novel. The one I'd consider to be most prominent would be the reiteration of racism. The concept of racism and the large presence that it still had in America at the time is constantly being reiterated over the course of the novel. The racism never goes away and Jim is always present and a prime example of this.
Setting-- the setting of the novel is what makes the novel. The fact that the novel is set prior to the Civil war, in the 1800's, right after the 13th amendment was passed has a significant impact on the events that take place. It is apparent that slavery still exists although the amendment had been passed to ban it. Also, the fact that the novel is set in St. Petersburg Missouri influences the direction of the novel as Jim and Huck venture down the Ohio River nearby.
Point of View-- the author's point of view is prominent in the novel. Twain's beliefs of the time are shown through the tone, mood, and theme of the novel.
CHARACTERIZATION
1. An example of indirect characterization in the novel would be Huckleberry Finn. He is distinctly characterized by his speech. Huck is also characterized by how the other characters respond to him, more specifically by what they think and say about him.
2. The author, with the narrator being Huck himself, does change both the syntax and diction when focusing on a character. Huck has the most distinguishing diction/syntax of all because of his young age and illiteracy.
“Just because you’re taught that something’s right and everyone believes it’s right, it don’t make it right.”
“All kings is mostly rapscallions, as fur as I can make out.”
“But I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of therest, because Aunt Sally she's going to adopt me and sivilize me, and I can't stand it. I been there before.”
3. I would say that Finn is a dynamic/round character. Although he doesn't change much, Huck does change in his views. He see's people and the world around him differently by the end of the novel.
4. After reading this novel for the second time I feel like I understand it better. The first time I read it I did not pay much attention to literary techniques or the characterization of each character which makes it easy for me to know the characters better now. This time I feel like I got to know Huck and Jim and all the pain that they went through on their journey.
