Mark Twain and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Mark Twain1835 - 1910

Early Years• Born November 30, 1835 in

Joplin, Missouri.• Born the same day Halley’s

comet passed the earth.• Given name “Samuel

Clemens.”• Father was a printer.• Father died when Twain was

eleven of pneumonia.• Known for mischievousness

such as rolling boulders at oncoming wagons.

Early Years of Independence• Dropped out of school

and became a typesetter.• Worked for his brother

Orion as his assistant at a newspaper.

• Wrote short stories for fun and eventually published in the Saturday Evening Post in 1852.

Life on the Mississippi• 1857, at the age of 21, moved

to New Orleans in search of adventure and became a steamboat pilot assistant.

• 1859 earned steamboat pilot license.

• Pilot career ended in 1861 with the outbreak of the Civil War.

• Life as a pilot later described in his book Life on the Mississippi

• Adopted the name “Mark Twain” after a steamboat term meaning “two fathoms deep.”

Gold Rush Years 1862 - 1864• Moves to Nevada with

brother Henry who is appointed acting governor by President Lincoln.

• Becomes fascinated by the greed out West.

• Leaves the territory after fleeing from a gun duel with a local bandit.

The Author Years• Publishes “The

Celebrated Jumping Frog in Calaveras County” to acclaim in 1865

• Lectures across the United States for his wit and personality

• Marries Elvira Livy in 1869

• Publishes Tom Sawyer in 1876.

• Publishes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in 1884.

Twain’s Late Life• During the last 15 years of his life

Twain suffered bankruptcy, the death of his wife, and children, and the publishing of twenty-four novels.

• He became excruciating bitter and depressed.

• Twain moved to Connecticut and dies of ill health on April 21, 1910.

• Twain always said “he would come in and go out with Halley’s Comet.”

• Remarkably, his prediction came true, because the night of his funeral the comet flew overhead in the night sky – the second time in 76 years.

Famous Quotes By TwainOn Congress: “Suppose you were

an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.”

On Lying: “A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is putting on its shoes.”

On Growing Old: “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't mind, it doesn't matter “

On Cauliflower: “Cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education.”

On School: “Don't let schooling interfere with your education.”

Realism• A literary movement from

1865-1900• Emphasized the abolition

of slavery.• Debated legal rights vs.

human rights.• Plots tend be both

dramatic and realistic.• Literature echoed the

slave debate that was ongoing during the Civil War.

Core Beliefs of Realism• South: slavery was

necessary for the agricultural industry.

• North: slavery was a cruel and violated the rights of “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.”

• Enslaved people wrote autobiographies about the horror of slavery as well as their desire for freedom.

Themes within the Text• Through the use of satire, or

making fun of society to bring about change, Twain criticizes feuds, orphans, parents, school, robbery, carnivals, and religion.

• Twain biggest criticism is for the institution of slavery through Huck’s decision whether or not to return Jim to his master.

• Another big theme is the difference between the river (freedom) and the shore (society). On the river Huck and Jim are free men, on the shore they are controlled by society.

Dialect within the Novel• Twain extensively uses

dialect, or the authentic language of a culture.

• The novel has been criticized for the use of the word “nigger” in reference to Jim.

• Critics believe that Twain uses the word out of prejudice.

• Defenders suggest Twain was using the authentic language of the time.

The adventures of Huckleberry Finn

The Plot• Originally written as the sequel

to Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn is Twain’s real masterpiece.

• The book is the story of Huck Finn, a boy who flees his father by rafting down the Mississippi River. He is accompanied on his journey by a runaway slave named Jim.

• The book portrays many of the evils that are present in men and women, as well as integral conflict and a sense of ethics as Huck battles between breaking the law and helping Jim escape.

Charmap

The runaway map

Discussion session Major themes in chapter 16?

The “inner struggle” in Huck?

Although Mark Twain, in his introductory "notice" to the novel, denies that there is a moral or motive in the story, the work itself contradicts its author. How?

Huckleberry Finn has been called the "Great American Novel." However, it is the sixth most frequently banned book in the United States. Discuss why this masterpiece is banned mostly in Christian academies and in all black institutions?

The role of land vs water (the river)?