1. Society’s laws & values can conflict with personal morals. Topic: freedom, Huck, Jim, nature Topic: freedom, Huck, Jim, nature Huck and Jim disagree with slavery Huck and Jim disagree with slavery Huck thinks stealing anything you don’t need is bad (Wilks) Huck thinks stealing anything you don’t need is bad (Wilks) Huck thinks the feud is hypocritical and brutal Huck thinks the feud is hypocritical and brutal

2. Freedom means different things to different people Topic: freedom, Huck, Jim Topic: freedom, Huck, Jim Huck – getting away from Pap & Widow Douglas & Mrs. Phelps Huck – getting away from Pap & Widow Douglas & Mrs. Phelps Jim – freedom from slavery; being with family Jim – freedom from slavery; being with family

3. People tend to behave irrationally & even cruelly in large groups. Topic: nature, freedom Topic: nature, freedom Grangerford/Shepherdson feud Grangerford/Shepherdson feud Mob trying to bust king and duke Mob trying to bust king and duke Col. Sherburn shoots Boggs and then the mob comes after him Col. Sherburn shoots Boggs and then the mob comes after him King and duke are tarred and feathered King and duke are tarred and feathered Mob chases Tom, Huck & Jim during evasion Mob chases Tom, Huck & Jim during evasion

4. The tension between freedom & conformity can cause inner conflict Topic: nature, Huck, freedom Topic: nature, Huck, freedom Huck – deciding whether to turn Jim in Huck – deciding whether to turn Jim in –Slave hunters –Letter to Miss Watson Conflict between conscience and society’s values – or nature and civilization. Conflict between conscience and society’s values – or nature and civilization.

5. Society’s values & laws need to be examined, questioned, & changed if necessary. Topic: nature, Jim, Huck, freedom, education, religion Topic: nature, Jim, Huck, freedom, education, religion Slavery is wrong Slavery is wrong Practical learning should be valued –Huck vs. Tom Practical learning should be valued –Huck vs. Tom People should practice what they preach People should practice what they preach

6. The life of every person has value. Topic: Huck, Jim, freedom, nature Topic: Huck, Jim, freedom, nature Jim is clearly a human with feelings, intelligence, and compassion Jim is clearly a human with feelings, intelligence, and compassion G/S – poor Buck!! Innocent people shouldn’t be dragged into a stupid feud. G/S – poor Buck!! Innocent people shouldn’t be dragged into a stupid feud.

7. Belief in superstition is often strong in people who have little control in their own lives. Jim, superstition, Huck Jim, superstition, Huck Jim, a slave, has little control and has strong belief in superstition (Huck, too) Jim, a slave, has little control and has strong belief in superstition (Huck, too) Widow & Miss Watson don’t believe in superstition Widow & Miss Watson don’t believe in superstition Phelps’s slave also superstitious Phelps’s slave also superstitious