Huckleberry finn An Introduction

Major Themes and Motifs The conflict between the individual and society- Huck’s struggle against his “deformed” conscience Appearance versus reality (hypocrisy and phoniness) Tolerance versus predjudice Dehumanization of oppression Death and rebirth Coming of age- the Hero’s Journey The nature and significance of human traits

Terms to know Satire: A style of writing using humor and hyperbole to ridicule some aspects of human behavior in order to draw attention to it or initiate change. The behaviors Twain satirizes include: greed, racism, bravado, Southern chivalry, gullibility, lack of altruism, romanticism, and“religious” people (but not religion). The Hero’s Journey: an archetype of literature in which the protagonist leaves the known world for an unknown world. In the unknown world, the main character experiences trials and overcomes obstacles, eventually experiencing a an atonement or rebirth. In the end, the protagonist returns transformed to the known world. Some examples of literature that employ the Hero’s Journey archetype would be Homer’s Odyssey and Paolo Coehlo’s The Alchemist.

Discussion Questions 1. Describe the Widow Douglas. How does Huck respond to the Moses story? What does this tell the reader about Huck’s character? Discuss superstition as a motif. Provide examples. Discuss Huck’s view of death and the afterlife. Death is mentioned frequently in Chapter 1. Why do you think that is? Comment on the trick Tom and Huck played on Jim. “Jim was most ruined for a servant…”Discuss the significance. Considering some of themes in this novel, comment on Tom’s decision to leave 5 cents for candles. Do you think Huck would have done the same thing? Why or why not? Compare and contrast the characters of Tom and Huck. Discuss Huck’s conflict over Miss Watson’s view of prayer. Reflect on Huck’s relationship with his father. What themes are at play here? Comment on Pap’s drunken tirade over government. What message is Twain sending through this character and his attitude.