The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Chapters 14 through 18 Block G Jenie Michael.Neil Sharma.Richa Singh.Xiaomei Chen 

Characters Preexisting Characters: New Characters: Huck: An adventurous young boy who has run away from his home with Miss Watson. He is racist at first, but starts to appreciate slaves more, especially his travel companion Jim. Jim: An African Slave who has run away from his master Miss Watson and has joined Huck, he starts to grow attached to Huck and worries for him New Characters: Buck: He is a part of the Grangerford family and is around the age of Huck. Miss Sophia: Twenty year-old who is one of the gentle Grangerfords. She is in love with Harney Shepherdson, who is on the opposing family whom the Grangerfords are feuding with Harney Shepherdson: Part of the Shepherdson family whom the Grangerfords are feuding with and is the young man who elopes with Miss Sophia Col. Grangerford: The patriarch of the Grangerford family who is  a gentleman and well mannered. The Grangerford family follows him like a leader Miss Charlotte: The ill-tempered Grangerford Tom & Bob Grangerford: The young strapping Grangerfords that are strong

Basic Summary: Chapter 14 Huck starts to tell stories about Kings and Queens to Jim and how they can do whatever they want. The concept enthralls Jim. Huck then tells Jim the story of King Solomon the Wise, though Jim doesn't think that Solomon is actually wise. Jim and Huck argue whether King Solomon was wise or not. Huck finally gives up and concludes  that all black slaves are too stubborn  to reason with and can't be taught.

Quote Analysis (Ch. 14) : "I doan' k'yer what de widder say, he warn't no wise man nuther. He had some er de dad-fetchedes' ways I ever see. Does you know bout dat chile dat he 'uz gwyne to cop in two?"  (Twain, 70) Translation: I don't care what the widow says; he wasn't a wise man. He had some of the wildest ways I've ever seen. Do you know about that child that he was going to chop in two? Analysis: This quote, by Jim, is a challenge to Huck. This is a big step, as far as their relationship goes; Jim is almost demanding Huck's respect. He not only tells Huck that he is wrong, but he says that the widow is wrong, and even more, thay he "doan' k'yer what de widder say." Since negros are never supposed to know anything that a white person doesn't, this challenge is more than just a silly squabble between friends; it is a fight for power, and for respect. Jenie Michael

Quote Analysis (Ch. 14) : "I see it warn't no use wasting words - you can't learn a n***er to argue. So I quit." (Twain, 72) Analysis: Despite Jim's attempt to gain Huck's respect or at least acknowledgement of his knowledge, Huck is too stubborn to cede. Instead of admitting the possibility that he's wrong, he tells the reader that he gave up because there wasn't any "use wasting words," because there was no way Jim could ever understand. However, he may have just had no counter argument to Jim's point. Jenie Michael

Basic Summary: Chapter 15 Huck and Jim try to get to Cairo, Ohio so that Jim can be free, but they get stuck in foggy weather.  While Huck is on the canoe, the weather gets foggier and he gets separated from the raft and Jim, and then lost.  Finally Huck ends up back on the shore to find Jim asleep. Jim relays the story of the fog and getting lost to him, but Huck tries to trick Jim into thinking it was all a dream. Jim at first believes him but then sees dirt and debris around the raft and gets angry at Huck and tells him how worried he had been. Huck feels bad for hurting Jim and vows never to trick him again.

Quote Analysis (Ch. 15): "Well this is too many for me, Jim. I hain't seen no fog, nor no islands, nor no troubles, nor nothing...you went to sleep about ten minutes ago, and I reckon I done the same...of course you've been dreaming." (Twain, 76) Analysis: This quote further develops or confirms Huck's character as a trickster; he knows perfectly well that everything Jim has been describing is accurate and true, but for his own personal amusement, he plays with Jim's mind. Jenie Michael

Quote Analysis (Ch. 15): "It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a n***er; but I done it, and I warn't ever sorry for it afterward, neither. I didn't do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn't done that on if I'd 'a' knowed it would make him feel that way." (Twain, 78) Analysis: At this point, Huck realizes that blacks do feel, that they are humans. He understands that what he did was wrong, and not because the widow slapped him on the wrist, but because he recognized Jim's pain. This really shows Huck's growth as a person, and his progress toward understanding equality and pulling away from racism. Jenie Michael

Basic Summary: Chapter 16 Jim is getting excited to finally be free in Cairo but Huck starts to feel guilty for what he has done.  Huck thinks to himself that he will give Jim up but after Jim says how Huck was the only one to keep his promise to him, he decides against it.  Huck meets two men who want to search his raft for run away slaves; Huck makes up a lie that his family is on board and that they have small pox so the men leave him alone. He still feels somewhat bad for not giving Jim up but then realizes, that if he gave up Jim he would still feel bad anyway.  Worried that they passed Cairo; stop in the middle of the night to rest only to have their canoe stolen.  Their raft collides with a steam boat causing Jim and Huck to be separated, Huck gets to the shore only to be surrounded by dogs.

Quote Analysis (Ch. 16)(Xiaomei Chen): "They went off and I got aboard the raft, feeling bad and low, because I knowed very well I had done wrong, and I see it warn't no use for me to try to learn to do right...s'pose you'd 'a' done right and give Jim up, would you felt better than what you do now? No, says I, I'd feel bad-I'd feel just the same way I do now...what's the use you learning to do right when it's troublesome to do right and ain't no trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same? I was stuck. I couldn't answer that" (Twain 82).   Analysis:  What Huck is thinking points out how two "good" actions are conflicting. Huck does not want to harm Jim, but also wants to be loyal to Miss Watson. His thoughts show that although slaves has to be freed, it would be wrong to just take away all the slaves from the owner because back then they were still properties and stealing property was not right. It proves that everyone is responsible for allowing slavery and the owners should not be the only ones punished. The process of freeing slaves is not as simple as it seems. 

Quote Analysis (Ch. 16)(Xiaomei Chen): "'Dah you goes, de ole true Huck; de on'y white genlman dat ever kep' his promise to ole Jim.' Well, I just felt sick" (Twain 81).   Analysis: Huck has chosen to tell on Jim but was still struggling.  The quote shows that when people are conflicted and do not know which side to go on, outside input tends to be very influencial. After Jim spoke to Huck, he feels pressured to side with Jim because this gave him awareness of the negative effect his action would cause. This pressure leads to the result that Huck chose to help Jim out.    Xiaomei Chen

Basic Summary: Chapter 17 Huck is found by the Grangerfords who are a rich family who take him in  Huck tells the Grangerfords that his name is George Jackson. He is treated nicely and even given a slave. He shares a room with a boy around his own age; Buck. Huck admires the Grangerfords's nice house and seemingly perfect life. He starts to learn a bit about the Grangerfords family and their dead daughter Emmeline. Huck learns that Emmeline was a very good artist and poet who was also very smart culturally. Huck reads some of Emmeline's poetry and  looks at the paintings that she had made which she enjoys.

Quote Analysis (Ch. 17): "Buck looked about as old as me - thirteen or fourteen or along there, though he was a little bigger than me...He came in gaping and digging one fist into his eyes, and he was dragging a gun along with the other one." (Twain, 88) Analysis: This quote introduces a character who is meant as a sort of foil to Huck; and Twain even gives him a similar name. Buck is the same age as Huck, though a great deal different. Buck has grown up with two parents, and a lavish and rich lifestyle. Huck, on the other hand, has grown up with one unsuited parent, and a less than extravagant upbringing.  Jenie Michael

Quote Analysis (Ch. 17): "Every time a man died, or a woman died, or a child died, she would be on hand with her "tribute" before he was cold." (Twain, 92) Analysis: This quote is an example of irony: In this quote, "she" is Emmeline Grangerford. Emmeline died at a young age, which is ironic since she was constantly writing for and about dead people. She seemed enthralled with the idea with death, and then she was able to experience it earlier than she had probably planned on it. Jenie Michael

Basic Summary: Chapter 18 Continued Huck finds out that Jim was right behind him when they were swimming to shore but was separated from Huck and had to stay with the Grangerford's slaves, and tells him he got the raft back.  The next day he finds that everyone is gone and  his slave Jack tells him that Miss Sophia ran away with Harney to elope and this has infuriated the Grangerfords and the Shepherdsons. When he is leaving the Grangerfords house he gets caught in the middle of the feuding family and hears gun shots and hides in a tree. After he gets down from the tree he finds Buck and another Grangerford dead- this saddens Huck because Buck was his friend Huck finds Jim and they run off together and escape the feud between the Grangerfords and the Shepherdsons 

Basic Summary: Chapter 18 Huck admires the members of the family and how smart and polite they are i.e. Col. Grangerford, Miss Sophia, Bill & Tom   Huck and Buck walk through the woods and come across Harney Shepherdson, Buck shoots at Harney, then he starts to chase after the boys and shoot at them Huck asks why he shot at Harney and Buck tells him about the feud between the Grangerfords and Shephersons  and how many have died from each side Even though they hate one another Buck says that both the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons are brave After a day at church Miss Sophia asks Huck to get the Testament she left at the church, Huck agrees to it Finds it and gives it back to Miss Sophia but finds a note that says "Half past two" (Twain 99)  Huck's slave Jack tells him he wants to show him some water moccasins but instead reunites him with Jim 

Quote Analysis (Ch. 18): "We said there weren't no home like a raft" (Twain 105).   Analysis: Huck and Jim escaped from the chaos in society and returned to the peaceful raft. It represents how both enjoy being away from society's rules and be able to act indipendently. The use of "we" indicates that they both consider the raft to be their home, that they are both agreeing and shares a common feeling. Huck starts to see Jim as a close conpanion instead of a slave, and even as a family member. Xiaomei Chen

Quote Analysis (Ch. 18): "It was Jim's voice-nothing ever sounded so good" (Twain 104).   Analysis: The fact that Huck is so pleased to meet Jim again shows Huck's growth, having less racist views. It seems that he no longer cares about whether or not Jim is black, and is getting to know Jim well, leading to a stronger relationship, where Huck understands that Jim could be as good as white person. Xiaomei Chen

Themes! (Richa) 1. It is more important to follow your conscience than to follow society's norms. Huck struggles between turning Jim in or not when the men come to check his boat.  

Themes (contd.) 2. Too much pride can cut through and obscure logic. Grangerfords feud with the Shepherdsons Sophia and Harney (modern Romeo and Juliet)   

Themes (contd.) 3. It is all right to lie sometimes, especially when you are helping someone, but also not hurting anyone else either. Huck does not turn in Jim and tells the men his 'family' has smallpox, in order to save Jim and himself. He lies to the Grangerfords about who he is and where he is from.  

Discussion Questions: Question 1 (Richa): In this part of the book, Huck questions whether Mrs. Watson is a "good person," even though she owns slaves.  What do you think?  Can people be "good" even if they own slaves?  What is your definition of a "good person?"

Discussion Questions (contd.) In chapter 15 Jim clearly shows that he is glad to see Huck again, but Huck does not express that he is delighted . Why does Huck decide to joke around in this kind of situation? Why did he chose to fool Jim?   Xiaomei Chen

Bibliography Works Cited Angel and devil on shoulder. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. Behind the Wood Pile. N.d. University of Virginia Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2011. <http://etext.virginia.edu/‌images/‌modeng/‌public/‌Twa2Huc/‌twah173.jpg>. Boys behind a pile. N.d. Gutenberg. Web. 12 Nov. 2011. Buck. N.d. University of Virginia Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2011. <http://etext.virginia.edu/‌images/‌modeng/‌public/‌Twa2Huc/‌twah150.jpg>. Huck and Finn on a Raft. N.d. People of Brandeis. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2011. <http://people.brandeis.edu/‌~teuber/‌hf_p93.gif>. Huck and the Grangerfords. N.d. Gutenburg.. Web. 13 Nov. 2011. huck+and+jim.jpg (555×366). N.d. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2011. <http://1.bp.blogspot.com/‌_HyyDHyAwI6k/‌TTep7e5-7vI/‌AAAAAAAALXE/‌PrBPTn1Ruxo/‌s1600/‌huck%2Band%2Bjim.jpg>.

Bibliography (contd.)             In the Cave. N.d. berkley.edu. Berkley, n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2011. <http://www.berkeley.edu/‌                          news/‌features/‌2001/‌huckfinn/‌slideshow/‌images/‌inthecave.gif>. Kneeling slave in chains. N.d. American Literature. NCSU. Web. 12 Nov. 2011 Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Needham, Massachusetts : Prentice Hall, 1884. Print. Young Henry Shepherdson. N.d. Virginia.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Nov. 2011. <http://etext.virginia.edu/‌images/‌modeng/‌public/‌Twa2Huc/‌twah163.jpg>.                 Asleep on the Raft. Web. 14 Nov. 2011. <http://www.1st-art-                 gallery.com/thumbnail/233393/1/Asleep-On-The-Raft.jpg>