Chapters 1-3
1. Setting: The woods are an extremely significant place to the character of Huck. The woods function as his escape from his everyday life. The widow and Miss Watson often force Huck to partake in activities he has no interest in, so he sneaks out frequently with Tom Sawyer and his gang to the woods. The woods represent freedom for Huck, and allow him to act freely with no reprecussions from those supervising him. Due to his upbringing and his nature, Huck feels much more comfortable in the woods than he does in higher society situations.
2. Characterization: From the start of the novel, Twain portrays Huck Finn as a rascal who doesn't wish to conform to the behavior of those in society. Twain directly characterizes Huck by stating that he behaves as a rascal, told through the story of Huck and Tom discovering the treasure. Huck and Tom are two adventurous boys who had previously discovered a large sum of money, leading the reader to believe that Huck is a mischievous boy who looks for trouble and adventure. Huck is also indirectly characterized by the actions he takes when he sneaks out of the widow's home. Twain shows Huck playing practical jokes on Jim and creating secret oaths to murder and steal with his gang. The action's shown and told by Twain prove that Huck is a mischievous rascal.
3. Narrator and Point of View: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is told from first-person point of view, and is narrated by Huck Finn. The first-person point of view presents events from the way Huck sees them and the way he feels about them, and makes the reader more subjective to Huck because the reader is able to understand how Huck is feeling and what his thoughts are. The style of the narration is simple in following the thought process of Huck, yet Huck comes across many moral conflicts that add depth to the simple way that Huck thinks. Twain incorporates humor and irony through Huck's point of view by detailing the events that Huck encounters. For example, Twain creates humor in the scene when Huck joins Tom Sawyer's gang. The gang takes an oath that promises they are going to kill and steal, yet the oath falls apart, mainly due to the fact that they are young boys who have no business in making oaths. The humor is created in the thought process of Huck, for the reader knows that Huck and the boys won't kill anyone, yet the thought that the will is laughable.
4. Syntax: Twain uses many run-on sentences in this passage regarding the formation of the gang. The run-on structure solidifies the way that Huck thinks of this, for it creates a sense of urgency and excitement. The word "musn't" is also repeated often, showing how much force and weight Huck has invested into this gang. The structure of this passage, as well as the diction, prove how important the gang and it's members are to Huck, and how he views the oath as important.
2. Characterization: From the start of the novel, Twain portrays Huck Finn as a rascal who doesn't wish to conform to the behavior of those in society. Twain directly characterizes Huck by stating that he behaves as a rascal, told through the story of Huck and Tom discovering the treasure. Huck and Tom are two adventurous boys who had previously discovered a large sum of money, leading the reader to believe that Huck is a mischievous boy who looks for trouble and adventure. Huck is also indirectly characterized by the actions he takes when he sneaks out of the widow's home. Twain shows Huck playing practical jokes on Jim and creating secret oaths to murder and steal with his gang. The action's shown and told by Twain prove that Huck is a mischievous rascal.
3. Narrator and Point of View: The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is told from first-person point of view, and is narrated by Huck Finn. The first-person point of view presents events from the way Huck sees them and the way he feels about them, and makes the reader more subjective to Huck because the reader is able to understand how Huck is feeling and what his thoughts are. The style of the narration is simple in following the thought process of Huck, yet Huck comes across many moral conflicts that add depth to the simple way that Huck thinks. Twain incorporates humor and irony through Huck's point of view by detailing the events that Huck encounters. For example, Twain creates humor in the scene when Huck joins Tom Sawyer's gang. The gang takes an oath that promises they are going to kill and steal, yet the oath falls apart, mainly due to the fact that they are young boys who have no business in making oaths. The humor is created in the thought process of Huck, for the reader knows that Huck and the boys won't kill anyone, yet the thought that the will is laughable.
4. Syntax: Twain uses many run-on sentences in this passage regarding the formation of the gang. The run-on structure solidifies the way that Huck thinks of this, for it creates a sense of urgency and excitement. The word "musn't" is also repeated often, showing how much force and weight Huck has invested into this gang. The structure of this passage, as well as the diction, prove how important the gang and it's members are to Huck, and how he views the oath as important.
Chapters 4-7
1. Motivation: Huck "sells" all of his money to Judge Thatcher because he knows that Pap has returned to town. Huck is smart enough to realize that Pap has returned because he is motivated to receive the money that Huck now has after discovering lost treasure with Tom Sawyer. Pap fights for custody of Huck, not because he wants to be a better parent, but because he hopes to take control of his son's funds. Pap has no other motive for trying to gain custody of Huck, for he is not supportive of Huck and bullies him for attending school and acting like he's better. Huck is therefore motivated to escape so that he does not have to live under the rule of Pap. Though Huck dislikes life with the widow and her strict rules, Huck knows that life with Pap is not much better and he knows Pap is abusive. Huck escapes so that he does not have to live under the rule of either of these oppressive adults, and hopes that he will gain freedom in escaping.
2. Motif: Superstition is a major motif in this work. Huck is a superstitious character, and takes the sign of Pap's footprints as a bad omen. He knows that Pap's return means nothing good for him, and the presence of superstition sets up how Huck will react to the presence of omens and superstition throughout the novel. Jim and Huck believe in many superstitions, such as the hairball oracle that is supposed to foresee the future, and the rattlesnake skin. Huck puts a snake skin in Jim's bed, and the joke quickly goes awry. This superstition is often revisited and serves as the source of blame for any negative event that happens.
3. Foreshadowing: Huck sells all of his money to Judge Thatcher at the beginning of Chapter 4. Huck is aware that Pap has returned to town, but the reader is not yet aware of why Huck has done this. However, in Chapter 6, Pap returns and is looking to take the money that belongs to Huck. The sale of the money to the Judge foreshadows that Huck is scared of Pap and foreshadows that Huck is looking for a reason to get rid of his money. The character of Pap brings this act full circle, as the reader learns that Pap is not trustworthy, especially with Huck's money.
4. Theme: After Pap takes Huck to live in the cabin in Illinois, Huck is treated like a slave to Pap. Huck does all of Pap's work, and is locked in the house for hours and days on end when Pap leaves. Pap also presents an anecdote about a free black in Ohio who was a prominent member of society. As Pap tells this story, he blatantly attacks this man and states that because this man was allowed to vote, he wouldn't vote again if he were from the same town. This story, mixed with the treatment of Huck, begin to expose Huck to the idea that slavery may be immoral and that what he's known his whole life may have a better alternative.
5. Suspense: Chapter 7 witnesses Huck's escape from Pap and from the cabin where he is being held. Huck concocts and elaborate plan that includes faking his own death and staging a break in to make it seem as though he has been murdered. The suspense of this scene is heightened when Huck is attempting to carry out his plan, and Pap begins to return to the cabin. Huck knows that he might as well be dead if he is to be caught by Pap, so the urgency of his plan is increased in order to pull off his escape. Though Huck is able to successfully escape, the urgency and the closeness of this scene create a great deal of suspense.
6. Imagery: Twain makes vivid use of imagery when describing Huck's escape down the river to Jackson's Island. The imagery used contrasts the environment Huck experienced while living with Pap. The island is described as peaceful, yet Huck is still urgent to maintain that he goes undiscovered. The imagery of the sky and how peaceful it is reflects the peace that Huck feels now that he is no longer with Pap. The things Huck overhears as people begin to search for him also serve to show how secluded and distant Huck has made himself from society.
2. Motif: Superstition is a major motif in this work. Huck is a superstitious character, and takes the sign of Pap's footprints as a bad omen. He knows that Pap's return means nothing good for him, and the presence of superstition sets up how Huck will react to the presence of omens and superstition throughout the novel. Jim and Huck believe in many superstitions, such as the hairball oracle that is supposed to foresee the future, and the rattlesnake skin. Huck puts a snake skin in Jim's bed, and the joke quickly goes awry. This superstition is often revisited and serves as the source of blame for any negative event that happens.
3. Foreshadowing: Huck sells all of his money to Judge Thatcher at the beginning of Chapter 4. Huck is aware that Pap has returned to town, but the reader is not yet aware of why Huck has done this. However, in Chapter 6, Pap returns and is looking to take the money that belongs to Huck. The sale of the money to the Judge foreshadows that Huck is scared of Pap and foreshadows that Huck is looking for a reason to get rid of his money. The character of Pap brings this act full circle, as the reader learns that Pap is not trustworthy, especially with Huck's money.
4. Theme: After Pap takes Huck to live in the cabin in Illinois, Huck is treated like a slave to Pap. Huck does all of Pap's work, and is locked in the house for hours and days on end when Pap leaves. Pap also presents an anecdote about a free black in Ohio who was a prominent member of society. As Pap tells this story, he blatantly attacks this man and states that because this man was allowed to vote, he wouldn't vote again if he were from the same town. This story, mixed with the treatment of Huck, begin to expose Huck to the idea that slavery may be immoral and that what he's known his whole life may have a better alternative.
5. Suspense: Chapter 7 witnesses Huck's escape from Pap and from the cabin where he is being held. Huck concocts and elaborate plan that includes faking his own death and staging a break in to make it seem as though he has been murdered. The suspense of this scene is heightened when Huck is attempting to carry out his plan, and Pap begins to return to the cabin. Huck knows that he might as well be dead if he is to be caught by Pap, so the urgency of his plan is increased in order to pull off his escape. Though Huck is able to successfully escape, the urgency and the closeness of this scene create a great deal of suspense.
6. Imagery: Twain makes vivid use of imagery when describing Huck's escape down the river to Jackson's Island. The imagery used contrasts the environment Huck experienced while living with Pap. The island is described as peaceful, yet Huck is still urgent to maintain that he goes undiscovered. The imagery of the sky and how peaceful it is reflects the peace that Huck feels now that he is no longer with Pap. The things Huck overhears as people begin to search for him also serve to show how secluded and distant Huck has made himself from society.
Chapters 8-11
1. Situational Irony: Irony is found in the search party that goes out and looks for Huck after he is presumed dead. No one is willing to look for Huck or cares what happens to him when he is in actual danger while living with Pap, yet after his "dies," a party comes to look for him, even though he is free and feels better than he ever did while living with Pap. The rewards offered for the capture of Jim and Pap also draw situational irony in the text. The reward for Jim is greater than the reward for Pap, because even though Pap is a suspected murderer, society is much more interested in restraining and binding Jim to slavery than it is about catching a criminal. Jim's "crimes" of being an escaped slave are considered to be greater than Pap's "crimes," showing that society values holding slaves and keeping them away from freedom more than they do about justice.
2. Figurative Language: Twain makes great use of figurative language in this passage. He uses personification to emphasize the greatness and monstrosity of the storm. By describing the storm as a wild creature that can't be controlled, the reader is able to picture the fury and anger of the storm. Onomatopoeia is also used to emphasize the storm, as Twain lists verbs that mimic the sounds of a storm. Simile is also used to compare the storm to empty barrels rolling down a hill. The use of all of this figurative language not only describes the storm, but intensifies the imagery presented by Twain. The reader is able to visualize and experience the storm, more so than if he had simply written a few short words on the storm.
3. Theme: When Huck places the snakeskin in Jim's sleeping pack, he is hoping to play a simple joke on Jim. However, it quickly turns awry when Jim is hurt by the seemingly harmless joke. Huck realizes the reprecussions of his prank, and immediately feels regret and remorse over playing the joke on Jim. Twain establishes that Huck is gaining a sense of compassion and is beginning to mature as a character because he knows that his actions do have consequences, and that they aren't always good consequences. His feelings for Jim and his growing admiration and respect for Jim also show how Twain develops Huck as an increasingly mature character. Twain also addresses the theme of compassion, regardless of race, in the chapter "They're After Us!" The title of this chapter shows that Huck views him and Jim as a team, and shows that Huck cares about Jim when he decides to not turn Jim in for the reward money.
4. Satire: Throughout the novel, Huck has a very interesting perspective on religion. Huck states that he doesn't believe in praying because it doesn't work for him and that he doesn't believe that prayer works at all. Twain uses Huck as a means to satirize religion, as Huck thinks that by praying and asking for something, it will be received. Huck offers more satire on religion when he discovers Jim on the island and Jim tells of how his money was taken and given to the poor, and Huck finds this ironic, seeing as Jim is poor and how the money could have been used to help him.
5. Motif: Jim is an extremely superstitious character. He believes the advice given to him by a "hair-ball oracle" and is extremely wary of snakeskins because they bring bad luck and bad fortune. Jim advises Huck to avoid objects that he associates with bad luck, and in some ways his advice helps. Much of the bad luck that the pair encounter is attributed to one of Jim's superstitions and by avoiding certain things on the basis of superstition, Huck is able to avoid trouble. Jim says that he is able to predict bad luck because bad luck doesn't like to rest and makes itself present, while good luck and fortune is not always easy to see.
6. Foil: Jim functions as a foil for the character of Pap by acting like a father-figure to Huck. Jim constantly warns Huck against bad decisions and genuinely cares for Huck and wants whats best for him, while Pap was only looking to exploit Huck and provide for himself over his son. Huck begins to treat Jim like a father-figure as well, and he values Jim's opinions and thoughts. For example, Huck plants a snakeskin in Jim's sleeping pack, and regrets doing so when Jim is hurt by what is supposed to be a harmless joke. After this incident, Huck is more mindful of his pranks because he doesn't want to hurt or upset Jim again, especially since he values Jim and views him as a positive role model, more so than Pap ever was.
2. Figurative Language: Twain makes great use of figurative language in this passage. He uses personification to emphasize the greatness and monstrosity of the storm. By describing the storm as a wild creature that can't be controlled, the reader is able to picture the fury and anger of the storm. Onomatopoeia is also used to emphasize the storm, as Twain lists verbs that mimic the sounds of a storm. Simile is also used to compare the storm to empty barrels rolling down a hill. The use of all of this figurative language not only describes the storm, but intensifies the imagery presented by Twain. The reader is able to visualize and experience the storm, more so than if he had simply written a few short words on the storm.
3. Theme: When Huck places the snakeskin in Jim's sleeping pack, he is hoping to play a simple joke on Jim. However, it quickly turns awry when Jim is hurt by the seemingly harmless joke. Huck realizes the reprecussions of his prank, and immediately feels regret and remorse over playing the joke on Jim. Twain establishes that Huck is gaining a sense of compassion and is beginning to mature as a character because he knows that his actions do have consequences, and that they aren't always good consequences. His feelings for Jim and his growing admiration and respect for Jim also show how Twain develops Huck as an increasingly mature character. Twain also addresses the theme of compassion, regardless of race, in the chapter "They're After Us!" The title of this chapter shows that Huck views him and Jim as a team, and shows that Huck cares about Jim when he decides to not turn Jim in for the reward money.
4. Satire: Throughout the novel, Huck has a very interesting perspective on religion. Huck states that he doesn't believe in praying because it doesn't work for him and that he doesn't believe that prayer works at all. Twain uses Huck as a means to satirize religion, as Huck thinks that by praying and asking for something, it will be received. Huck offers more satire on religion when he discovers Jim on the island and Jim tells of how his money was taken and given to the poor, and Huck finds this ironic, seeing as Jim is poor and how the money could have been used to help him.
5. Motif: Jim is an extremely superstitious character. He believes the advice given to him by a "hair-ball oracle" and is extremely wary of snakeskins because they bring bad luck and bad fortune. Jim advises Huck to avoid objects that he associates with bad luck, and in some ways his advice helps. Much of the bad luck that the pair encounter is attributed to one of Jim's superstitions and by avoiding certain things on the basis of superstition, Huck is able to avoid trouble. Jim says that he is able to predict bad luck because bad luck doesn't like to rest and makes itself present, while good luck and fortune is not always easy to see.
6. Foil: Jim functions as a foil for the character of Pap by acting like a father-figure to Huck. Jim constantly warns Huck against bad decisions and genuinely cares for Huck and wants whats best for him, while Pap was only looking to exploit Huck and provide for himself over his son. Huck begins to treat Jim like a father-figure as well, and he values Jim's opinions and thoughts. For example, Huck plants a snakeskin in Jim's sleeping pack, and regrets doing so when Jim is hurt by what is supposed to be a harmless joke. After this incident, Huck is more mindful of his pranks because he doesn't want to hurt or upset Jim again, especially since he values Jim and views him as a positive role model, more so than Pap ever was.
Chapters 12-16
1. Symbol: To Huck and Jim, the river is extremely symbolic. The river is a source of freedom that is allowing them to escape their problems in St. Petersburg. For Jim, he is escaping his owner and hopefully floating to freedom, while Huck is escaping oppression from his father, and other adults in his life. The river is leading them to their dreams of being free. The fog that they encounter on the river, however, serves as a roadblock on their voyage. The fog prevents them from having control over their journey, and makes achieving freedom a lot more difficult. The fog symbolizes something, or someone, that stands in the way of success or from a dream being realized.
2. Conflict: Huck faces many internal conflicts in Chapter 16. He has been raised his entire life to believe that slavery is the right way and that black people are lower class citizens who deserve to be enslaved. However, Huck bonds with Jim on their mutual journey for freedom and realizes that Jim is one of the kindest and most caring people he's ever encountered. Huck faces conflict when he has the opportunity to expose Jim as a runaway slave. Though he believes it isn't right for Jim to be running away from his master, or to be stealing his children from other slaveholders, Huck also doesn't feel comfortable turning Jim in. Huck temporarily resolves this problem by shooing away the men who are looking for the runaway slaves. He pretends he is travelling with his small pox-riddled family as a way to buy time until he can face his internal conflicts.
3. Figurative Language: Twain often writes using hyperboles as a means of making Huck's voice more childlike, as he frequently overexaggerates or overstates the scenarios with which he is involved. "So we went a'quaking and shaking down the stabboard side, and slow work it was too--seemed about a week before we got to the stern," is an example of hyperbole from Chapter 13. Huck overexaggerates how long it takes to get to the stern, but the overstatement is used to emphasize how pivotal and important it is for Huck and Jim to remain quiet and unseen aboard this wreck. Twain uses a simile for affect in the last line of Chapter 13 as well. Huck narrates that he and Jim sleep "like dead people" after exiting the Walter Scott. Though Jim and Huck aren't actually dead, the comparison used here shows how exhausted and drained this endeavor was for these two characters and once again shows how detrimental it is for Huck and Jim to remain unseen.
4. Characterization: Huck continues to develop as a character throughout these chapters. Though he is still portrayed as an adventurous rascal, he also seems somewhat level-headed, and his thought process reveals his true thoughts about Jim. The internal conflicts Huck faces show the reader that Huck is more than just a silly young boy. Huck is also portrayed as a quick-witted boy. For example, when he states that he is travelling with his small-pox-ridden father, instead of Jim, Huck is able to avoid Jim being caught. At the end of Chapter 15, Huck apologizes for the way he has treated Jim earlier in the chapter. This apology is surprising in historical and social contexts because during this time, no white person would have ever thought to apologize to a black person. This apology symbolizes a turning point in their relationship because Huck humbles himself to Jim and shows that he doesn't see himself as a superior.
2. Conflict: Huck faces many internal conflicts in Chapter 16. He has been raised his entire life to believe that slavery is the right way and that black people are lower class citizens who deserve to be enslaved. However, Huck bonds with Jim on their mutual journey for freedom and realizes that Jim is one of the kindest and most caring people he's ever encountered. Huck faces conflict when he has the opportunity to expose Jim as a runaway slave. Though he believes it isn't right for Jim to be running away from his master, or to be stealing his children from other slaveholders, Huck also doesn't feel comfortable turning Jim in. Huck temporarily resolves this problem by shooing away the men who are looking for the runaway slaves. He pretends he is travelling with his small pox-riddled family as a way to buy time until he can face his internal conflicts.
3. Figurative Language: Twain often writes using hyperboles as a means of making Huck's voice more childlike, as he frequently overexaggerates or overstates the scenarios with which he is involved. "So we went a'quaking and shaking down the stabboard side, and slow work it was too--seemed about a week before we got to the stern," is an example of hyperbole from Chapter 13. Huck overexaggerates how long it takes to get to the stern, but the overstatement is used to emphasize how pivotal and important it is for Huck and Jim to remain quiet and unseen aboard this wreck. Twain uses a simile for affect in the last line of Chapter 13 as well. Huck narrates that he and Jim sleep "like dead people" after exiting the Walter Scott. Though Jim and Huck aren't actually dead, the comparison used here shows how exhausted and drained this endeavor was for these two characters and once again shows how detrimental it is for Huck and Jim to remain unseen.
4. Characterization: Huck continues to develop as a character throughout these chapters. Though he is still portrayed as an adventurous rascal, he also seems somewhat level-headed, and his thought process reveals his true thoughts about Jim. The internal conflicts Huck faces show the reader that Huck is more than just a silly young boy. Huck is also portrayed as a quick-witted boy. For example, when he states that he is travelling with his small-pox-ridden father, instead of Jim, Huck is able to avoid Jim being caught. At the end of Chapter 15, Huck apologizes for the way he has treated Jim earlier in the chapter. This apology is surprising in historical and social contexts because during this time, no white person would have ever thought to apologize to a black person. This apology symbolizes a turning point in their relationship because Huck humbles himself to Jim and shows that he doesn't see himself as a superior.
Chapters 17-18
1. Satire: Twain uses many instances in Chapters 17 and 18 to satirize family feuds and other things. Twain satirizes the family feud by presenting the Grangerfords and the Sheperdsons. These two families have a long standing feud with each other, yet many of the members partaking in the feud are unaware as to why the feud started in the first place. In this way, Twain makes a mockery of this practice, which was somewhat common during this time period. His intention for satirizing family feuds, or the poetic nature of Emmeline, show Twain's opinions of these subjects and allow him to develop the story while still poking fun at ridiculous practices or events.
2. Foil: Buck Grangerford serves as a foil to Huck Finn by accentuating and bringing out similar characteristics that both boys possess. Buck is very similar to Huck in that they are both adventurous boys, and both can be considered rascals. Buck's upbringing is vastly different than Huck's, though. Buck is from a well-to-do family and has many siblings and is used to being taken care of. Huck is an only child, and has had a very sporadic and rocky upbringing, mainly due to his father's drinking. Buck serves as a foil by showing accentuating Huck's characteristics, and applying them to other situations, such as the feud with the Sheperdsons.
3. Frame Story: All of Chapter 18 functions as a frame story. It tells of Huck's time at the Grangerford home, yet also details the story of how the feud between the Grangerfords and the Sheperdsons came to be, the story of Buck shooting Harney Sheperdson's hat off, and the story of Sophia Grangerford running away to be married. All of these side stories are told while Huck is meeting with Jim to repair the raft and get away, and further thicken the plot of the novel.
4. Situational Irony: The Grangerford and Sheperdson families are engaged in a long-standing feud. These families attend the same church, and while Huck is staying with the Grangerfords they attend church and hear a sermon about brotherly love. This topic of the sermon is ironic, because these two families live in close capacity to each other and have known each other for several generations, yet they are fighting this feud that no one knows the cause of.
5. Narrator and Point of View: The novel is told in first person point-of-view from the perspective of Huck. Because Huck is detailing the action that he observes, he is naturally omitted as a character because he is a bystander to these events. Due to Huck functioning as a bystander in these chapters, the reader interprets the novel as if he or she was a bystander to these events as well. The reader views the events as the narrator does, so the reader is given a nice break from being involved in the action so that he or she can sit back and enjoy the telling of these chapters.
2. Foil: Buck Grangerford serves as a foil to Huck Finn by accentuating and bringing out similar characteristics that both boys possess. Buck is very similar to Huck in that they are both adventurous boys, and both can be considered rascals. Buck's upbringing is vastly different than Huck's, though. Buck is from a well-to-do family and has many siblings and is used to being taken care of. Huck is an only child, and has had a very sporadic and rocky upbringing, mainly due to his father's drinking. Buck serves as a foil by showing accentuating Huck's characteristics, and applying them to other situations, such as the feud with the Sheperdsons.
3. Frame Story: All of Chapter 18 functions as a frame story. It tells of Huck's time at the Grangerford home, yet also details the story of how the feud between the Grangerfords and the Sheperdsons came to be, the story of Buck shooting Harney Sheperdson's hat off, and the story of Sophia Grangerford running away to be married. All of these side stories are told while Huck is meeting with Jim to repair the raft and get away, and further thicken the plot of the novel.
4. Situational Irony: The Grangerford and Sheperdson families are engaged in a long-standing feud. These families attend the same church, and while Huck is staying with the Grangerfords they attend church and hear a sermon about brotherly love. This topic of the sermon is ironic, because these two families live in close capacity to each other and have known each other for several generations, yet they are fighting this feud that no one knows the cause of.
5. Narrator and Point of View: The novel is told in first person point-of-view from the perspective of Huck. Because Huck is detailing the action that he observes, he is naturally omitted as a character because he is a bystander to these events. Due to Huck functioning as a bystander in these chapters, the reader interprets the novel as if he or she was a bystander to these events as well. The reader views the events as the narrator does, so the reader is given a nice break from being involved in the action so that he or she can sit back and enjoy the telling of these chapters.
Chapters 19-23
1. Imagery: At the beginning of Chapter 19, Twain creates a very peaceful setting by appealing to the sense through imagery. He appeals to hearing by telling of how quiet the nights are, appeals to touch by telling of how cool and relaxing the water is when Huck and Jim go for swims, appeals to the sense of smell by talking of the sweet smell of the wood and flowers along the banks, appeals to the sense of taste by talking of the food that Huck and Jim eat, and lastly, Twain appeals to the sense of sight by describing what Huck sees when he looks out over the water to the woods on the other side. The affect of the imagery creates a peaceful setting and relaxes the reader.
2. Characterization: The reader learns that the duke and the dauphin are scoundrels themselves, and are not morally sound characters. The characterization of the king and duke is satiric in that Twain makes fun of true nobility who hold titles such as these. He portrays the king and duke as terrible people who have no sense of remorse or compassion for others, much like other real nobility are portrayed in fictional or historical contexts. Twain suggests that by staging the first con at a religious revival that dukes and kings to insinuate that nobility in real life often dictated and conned people in religious situations. When describing the Arkansas townspeople, Twain characterizes them as no better than the duke and dauphin, especially when they allow the rest of the town to be taken advantage of. The success of the king and duke's second play shows how selfish the townspeople are, as they don't want to be the only ones who are tricked by these con artists. By allowing the rest of the town to view the show the second night, Twain portrays how selfish and cold the townspeople are, much like the duke and king themselves.
3. Motif: After meeting the duke and the dauphin, Huck and Jim let them take their beds one evening while they keep watch over a storm. In reading How to Read Literature Like a Professor, stormy weather is listed as a symbol of rising tension or thickening in action. The presence of a storm can signify a fight coming, or aggression or tension between characters. Twain uses this storm as a way to emphasize the tension rising between Huck and Jim and the duke and dauphin. Huck and Jim have lied to the duke and dauphin about Jim being a runaway slave, and the storm further intensifies the somewhat questionable circumstances that Huck and Jim are already in.
4. Theme: Huck realizes how lonesome and homesick Jim is in Chapter 23. He comments how even though Jim is a black man, he still loves and cares for his family as much as a white man does. He comes to this conclusion after he observes Jim moaning at night, saddened from being apart from his family. Jim also tells Huck a story about his daughter, and how much he loves and cares for his children. Because of this, Huck further realizes that his predispositions about slavery, and about Jim, may be incorrect. Huck values Jim as a person and realizes that Jim is far greater than what he has been led to believe.
5. Pathos: An example of pathos can be found in the anecdote that Jim tells about his daughter. In the story, Jim repeatedly tells his daughter to close the door of their home, yet she never listens. Jim becomes so frustrated that he smacks the girl, only to find her still sitting in the open doorway some time later. Jim then realizes that his daughter, who had previously had scarlet fever, was deaf and had not shut the door because she hadn't heard him. This is an example of pathos because the victim, Jim's daughter, is innocent and is smacked through no fault of her own. She isn't purposefully ignoring Jim, she is just unable to here him, and the reader feels sorry for her because she is hit, even though she didn't know she had done anything wrong.
2. Characterization: The reader learns that the duke and the dauphin are scoundrels themselves, and are not morally sound characters. The characterization of the king and duke is satiric in that Twain makes fun of true nobility who hold titles such as these. He portrays the king and duke as terrible people who have no sense of remorse or compassion for others, much like other real nobility are portrayed in fictional or historical contexts. Twain suggests that by staging the first con at a religious revival that dukes and kings to insinuate that nobility in real life often dictated and conned people in religious situations. When describing the Arkansas townspeople, Twain characterizes them as no better than the duke and dauphin, especially when they allow the rest of the town to be taken advantage of. The success of the king and duke's second play shows how selfish the townspeople are, as they don't want to be the only ones who are tricked by these con artists. By allowing the rest of the town to view the show the second night, Twain portrays how selfish and cold the townspeople are, much like the duke and king themselves.
3. Motif: After meeting the duke and the dauphin, Huck and Jim let them take their beds one evening while they keep watch over a storm. In reading How to Read Literature Like a Professor, stormy weather is listed as a symbol of rising tension or thickening in action. The presence of a storm can signify a fight coming, or aggression or tension between characters. Twain uses this storm as a way to emphasize the tension rising between Huck and Jim and the duke and dauphin. Huck and Jim have lied to the duke and dauphin about Jim being a runaway slave, and the storm further intensifies the somewhat questionable circumstances that Huck and Jim are already in.
4. Theme: Huck realizes how lonesome and homesick Jim is in Chapter 23. He comments how even though Jim is a black man, he still loves and cares for his family as much as a white man does. He comes to this conclusion after he observes Jim moaning at night, saddened from being apart from his family. Jim also tells Huck a story about his daughter, and how much he loves and cares for his children. Because of this, Huck further realizes that his predispositions about slavery, and about Jim, may be incorrect. Huck values Jim as a person and realizes that Jim is far greater than what he has been led to believe.
5. Pathos: An example of pathos can be found in the anecdote that Jim tells about his daughter. In the story, Jim repeatedly tells his daughter to close the door of their home, yet she never listens. Jim becomes so frustrated that he smacks the girl, only to find her still sitting in the open doorway some time later. Jim then realizes that his daughter, who had previously had scarlet fever, was deaf and had not shut the door because she hadn't heard him. This is an example of pathos because the victim, Jim's daughter, is innocent and is smacked through no fault of her own. She isn't purposefully ignoring Jim, she is just unable to here him, and the reader feels sorry for her because she is hit, even though she didn't know she had done anything wrong.
Chapters 24-30
1. Suspense: Many instances of suspense occur throughout these chapters, especially when the duke, dauphin, Huck and Jim arrive at the Wilks Family home. Suspense is created when the duke and dauphin attempt to hoodwink the Wilks sisters by claiming to be their long-lost uncles, and attempting to pull their father's money out from under them. Huck, sympathizing with the sisters and realizing how horrible the duke and dauphin are, attempts to steal the money back and hides it in the father's coffin. However, the coffin is buried without ever being reopened, and suspense is created over whether the money is still in there, or if the duke and dauphin were able to recover it.
2. Foreshadowing: While on the steamboat with Huck, the dauphin takes up a conversation with a young man who tells him of a recently deceased man in the next town over. As this conversation continues, the dauphin continues to pester this man for details. Known for his scheming ways, this conversation foreshadows that the king is about to embark on another scheme, most likely regarding this deceased man. Sure enough, the duke and dauphin enter the city, pretending to be the brothers of the deceased, and have come to retrieve their money. The foreshadowing of this conversation on the steamboat alerts the reader that this chain of events is bound to happen.
3. Dramatic Irony: A situation of dramatic irony arises in Chapter 26 when Huck and Joanna are discussing England. The reader is aware that Joanna realizes that Huck, who is supposedly from England, is in fact not English, yet she is questioned and made to apologize for interrogating Huck so fiercely. Due to her inquiry and suspecting that she knows the truth, Huck vows to get the money back to the sisters before the duke and dauphin can make off with it. The audience knows it to be true that Huck is from St. Petersburg, Missouri, not England, yet the other characters are not aware of this, though it becomes obvious as the action carries on.
4. Theme: Twain continues to question the morality of slavery, especially in Chapter 27. After burying Wilks with the money in the coffin, the duke and the dauphin sell the family's slaves to several different owners, resulting in the slave family being separated. Huck and the Wilks sisters witness the horror of the family being split apart, and all of them feel sorrow and empathy over the family being divided. In witnessing the act of the family being split apart, Huck and Twain continue to question the basis of slavery and how immoral it is in separating families.
5. Bildungsroman: Huck continues to grow as a character and as a person in these chapters. After witnessing the cold-hearted and deceitful schemes of the Duke and the Dauphin, Huck continues to observe how kind and caring of a person Jim truly is. Huck's assumptions about black people that he has been taught his entire life continue to morph into other views. He realizes that black people are just as capable of being good people and of loving their families as white people are. His mind continues to open up as he starts neglecting the views he has previously held and continues to view Jim as a person, and not as a slave. Huck also grows as a character because he acts on his conscience for the first time, and thwarts the schemes of the duke and dauphin. This shows Huck's moral character and shows that he is much more than a rascal.
6. Motif: The scene in the graveyard is accompanied by a great storm. Twain frequently uses the weather to set the mood or to emphasize the action of the novel, and this instance is no exception. In How to Read Literature Like a Professor, weather is presented as a key way to develop the plot and to predict action. Storms indicate heated tensions and or action coming to a head, much like in Chapter 29. It is revealed that the duke and dauphin are not the Wilks brothers, but the Wilks brothers cannot prove their identities. The action further heats up as the townspeople discover the $6,000 in the coffin of the deceased Wilks. The storm foreshadows and emphasizes the argumentative and explosive nature of the events that transpire and set the mood for the entire scene.
2. Foreshadowing: While on the steamboat with Huck, the dauphin takes up a conversation with a young man who tells him of a recently deceased man in the next town over. As this conversation continues, the dauphin continues to pester this man for details. Known for his scheming ways, this conversation foreshadows that the king is about to embark on another scheme, most likely regarding this deceased man. Sure enough, the duke and dauphin enter the city, pretending to be the brothers of the deceased, and have come to retrieve their money. The foreshadowing of this conversation on the steamboat alerts the reader that this chain of events is bound to happen.
3. Dramatic Irony: A situation of dramatic irony arises in Chapter 26 when Huck and Joanna are discussing England. The reader is aware that Joanna realizes that Huck, who is supposedly from England, is in fact not English, yet she is questioned and made to apologize for interrogating Huck so fiercely. Due to her inquiry and suspecting that she knows the truth, Huck vows to get the money back to the sisters before the duke and dauphin can make off with it. The audience knows it to be true that Huck is from St. Petersburg, Missouri, not England, yet the other characters are not aware of this, though it becomes obvious as the action carries on.
4. Theme: Twain continues to question the morality of slavery, especially in Chapter 27. After burying Wilks with the money in the coffin, the duke and the dauphin sell the family's slaves to several different owners, resulting in the slave family being separated. Huck and the Wilks sisters witness the horror of the family being split apart, and all of them feel sorrow and empathy over the family being divided. In witnessing the act of the family being split apart, Huck and Twain continue to question the basis of slavery and how immoral it is in separating families.
5. Bildungsroman: Huck continues to grow as a character and as a person in these chapters. After witnessing the cold-hearted and deceitful schemes of the Duke and the Dauphin, Huck continues to observe how kind and caring of a person Jim truly is. Huck's assumptions about black people that he has been taught his entire life continue to morph into other views. He realizes that black people are just as capable of being good people and of loving their families as white people are. His mind continues to open up as he starts neglecting the views he has previously held and continues to view Jim as a person, and not as a slave. Huck also grows as a character because he acts on his conscience for the first time, and thwarts the schemes of the duke and dauphin. This shows Huck's moral character and shows that he is much more than a rascal.
6. Motif: The scene in the graveyard is accompanied by a great storm. Twain frequently uses the weather to set the mood or to emphasize the action of the novel, and this instance is no exception. In How to Read Literature Like a Professor, weather is presented as a key way to develop the plot and to predict action. Storms indicate heated tensions and or action coming to a head, much like in Chapter 29. It is revealed that the duke and dauphin are not the Wilks brothers, but the Wilks brothers cannot prove their identities. The action further heats up as the townspeople discover the $6,000 in the coffin of the deceased Wilks. The storm foreshadows and emphasizes the argumentative and explosive nature of the events that transpire and set the mood for the entire scene.
Chapters 31-33
1. Character: The duke and dauphin are flat characters, especially when compared to the round aspects of Huck and Jim. The duke and dauphin are stereotypical con artists, who pull horrible tricks on unsuspecting victims, and who never feel remorse or guilt for their actions. Even in situations regarding hurt and emotionally damaged individuals, such as the Wilks sisters, the duke and dauphin show no mercy for these individuals, and continue in their rambunctious and mean ways. These characters never change as well, since they never regret their deeds, and never feel bad for the acts and crimes that they commit.
2. Dramatic Irony: Huck's decision to ultimately help Jim escape is dramatic irony because he has been helping Jim to escape throughout the entire novel, without directly realizing it or confronting it. He finally comes to the moral decision to actively help Jim, though, but he still believes it is a great sin to be doing so. This is ironic in itself, because most people would not do something if they believed it was a sin, yet Huck concludes that he must do it anyway. Twain intended to make Huck's statement about going to hell as a revelation and a moral victory for Huck, who though he believes he is making the wrong decision, has finally acted on his conscience to help his friend. Huck's decision to help Jim is considered even braver, when considering the fact that he thinks his actions will cause him to go to hell, yet he does them anyway to help Jim.
3. Conflict: The selling of Jim by the king and the duke solidifies their place as flat characters who are scoundrels that feel no remorse for their terrible actions. Now that Jim has been sold for the $200 that the dauphin thought up in the print shop, Huck realizes that he wants to free Jim from Silas Phelps. He begins to write a letter to Tom Sawyer to ask Miss Watson for help in getting Jim back. Huck believes that Jim being sold to Phelps is his punishment for sinning and helping Jim to escape, and he briefly believes he deserves it, and thinks that he will let it be. He then declares that he will help to free Jim anyway, and doesn't care that he is going to hell. Though he is conflicted because he truly believes that helping Jim will result in him being sent to hell, he realizes that helping his friend is more important to him.
4. Theme: In Chapters 31 and 32, Twain continues to beat the notion that white people consider black people as lesser beings, and not even as humans. This notion is solidified by Tom's conversation with Aunt Sally. When discussing a steam boat crash, Aunt Sally asks if anyone has been injured. Instead of replying yes, Huck states that a "nigger" was killed. Aunt Sally replies that it was good no one got extremely hurt in the accident. This conversation shows what little regard white people like Aunt Sally, and even Huck, have for black people. Though one has died, they still show no remorse and continue to value the lives of white people far above those of blacks.
2. Dramatic Irony: Huck's decision to ultimately help Jim escape is dramatic irony because he has been helping Jim to escape throughout the entire novel, without directly realizing it or confronting it. He finally comes to the moral decision to actively help Jim, though, but he still believes it is a great sin to be doing so. This is ironic in itself, because most people would not do something if they believed it was a sin, yet Huck concludes that he must do it anyway. Twain intended to make Huck's statement about going to hell as a revelation and a moral victory for Huck, who though he believes he is making the wrong decision, has finally acted on his conscience to help his friend. Huck's decision to help Jim is considered even braver, when considering the fact that he thinks his actions will cause him to go to hell, yet he does them anyway to help Jim.
3. Conflict: The selling of Jim by the king and the duke solidifies their place as flat characters who are scoundrels that feel no remorse for their terrible actions. Now that Jim has been sold for the $200 that the dauphin thought up in the print shop, Huck realizes that he wants to free Jim from Silas Phelps. He begins to write a letter to Tom Sawyer to ask Miss Watson for help in getting Jim back. Huck believes that Jim being sold to Phelps is his punishment for sinning and helping Jim to escape, and he briefly believes he deserves it, and thinks that he will let it be. He then declares that he will help to free Jim anyway, and doesn't care that he is going to hell. Though he is conflicted because he truly believes that helping Jim will result in him being sent to hell, he realizes that helping his friend is more important to him.
4. Theme: In Chapters 31 and 32, Twain continues to beat the notion that white people consider black people as lesser beings, and not even as humans. This notion is solidified by Tom's conversation with Aunt Sally. When discussing a steam boat crash, Aunt Sally asks if anyone has been injured. Instead of replying yes, Huck states that a "nigger" was killed. Aunt Sally replies that it was good no one got extremely hurt in the accident. This conversation shows what little regard white people like Aunt Sally, and even Huck, have for black people. Though one has died, they still show no remorse and continue to value the lives of white people far above those of blacks.
Chapter 34-Chapter the Last
1. Irony: Huck's statement is riddled with irony. He uses the term glad incorrectly, in stating that Tom is the gladdest of them all, even though he sits with a bullet in his leg. He means that Tom is pleased with the outcome of his elaborate plan, even though it did result in his injury. Tom's escape plan for Jim is riddled with irony, since Tom is aware that Jim is a free man, yet he concocts the most elaborate and dangerous plan possible to try and help him escape. In the same way, Huck and Jim's voyage down the river is also ironic. The river takes the travelers south, deeper and deeper into slave territory, which is the very thing that Jim is trying to escape. Jim is aware that he is travelling south, yet he takes the risk anyway, much like Tom. The escape of Huck from Pap, Jim from slavery, and Tom's escape for Jim are all ironic in that they are all intense situations that would have resulted in freedom eventually, had the journeys not been taken. Pap died shortly after Huck escaped, Jim was freed in Miss Watson's will, and Jim was already a free man when Tom enacted his plan. Though the voyage established Jim and Huck's friendship, and morally developed both characters into kinder and more accepting people, the purpose of the journey was not necessary. They took the voyage as a means to free themselves, yet they would have been freed had they stayed in St. Petersburg long enough. However, had they not taken the voyage, they would not have grown as characters or formed the strong bond that they share by the end of the novel.
2. Characterization: When concocting plans to determine how to best free Jim, Huck's is simple and to the point, while Tom's is elaborate and could result in all of them getting killed. The style of their plans mimics the style of the boys themselves, with Huck being less flashy than Tom. Though Tom is aware that Jim is free, he still hopes to pull of this flashy plan to help him escape, not because he thinks Jim deserves to be free, but because he enjoys getting into shenanigans. Huck truly cares for Jim, and Jim feels the same way about Huck. This is the basis of why he decides not to tell Huck about seeing Pap's dead body in the house that goes floating by. Jim keeps this information from Huck because he knows that Pap and Huck did not have a good relationship, and he continues to try to protect Huck from any harm that may come to him. Jim is always concerned about Huck's well being and frequently worries about him when they get into various circumstances throughout the novel. Pap never gave any regard for Huck and only used his son for money, or as a person to take his aggression out on. Jim is definitely the most caring and honest adult that Huck has ever encountered, as he cares about Huck as if he is his own son, and is honest with him in his feelings, and the way that Huck's actions affect him.
3. Tone: In the beginning of the novel, Tom is perceived as an even bigger rascal than Huck, who is an annoying character that enjoys getting into mischief and shenanigans. The tone up until Tom reenters is very serious and urgent, as Huck tries to free Jim from his new captors, even though he believes he is going to hell for his actions. When Tom returns, the tone shifts to a lighter and breezier feeling, as Tom once again sets up an elaborate scheme to free Jim, much to Jim's expense. Tom is aware that Jim is a free man, from his knowledge of Miss Watson's will, yet he continues in his prankster ways and therefore creates a airy and jovial tone, though the subject matter is still heavy and trying.
4. Theme: Huck's moral conflicts are still present at this point in the novel. Though he is willing to go to hell for helping Jim, he is still uncertain in his moral decisions and he is still uncertain if Jim is worthy of helping. But after Tom is shot, and Jim aides Tom and saves him, Huck realizes that Jim is one of the greatest people he's ever known, regardless of race. With Tom revealing his knowledge that Miss Watson has freed Jim, Huck's moral ambiguity is further resolved, as he realizes that he technically wasn't going completely against his morals. However, he is left with even more confusing thoughts, as he realizes that he was willing to neglect his morals, even though he didn't need to.
5. Symbolism: The river represents freedom throughout the entire novel. The river functions as the escape for both Huck and Jim when they are in desperate need of new circumstances, and it is the means of their journey and what ultimately brings them together. It functions as the bond of their friendship, and is the calm that is always constant, amid their many adventures and struggles. The towns are somewhat opposite of the river. Throughout the novel, the towns are what bring the trials for Huck and Jim and always serve as some sort of obstacle that the two must overcome, while the river is always free and always there for them to rely on. In the last paragraph of the novel, Huck says that the land is not preferable because it is too contained and not free. He doesn't wish to be civilized and he enjoys the freedom he experiences while on the river. Twain's purpose for this is to show that though Huck has grown so much as a character, and had such a strong moral development, he still is a mischievous child at heart, and being civilized will never fit his rambunctious ways.
2. Characterization: When concocting plans to determine how to best free Jim, Huck's is simple and to the point, while Tom's is elaborate and could result in all of them getting killed. The style of their plans mimics the style of the boys themselves, with Huck being less flashy than Tom. Though Tom is aware that Jim is free, he still hopes to pull of this flashy plan to help him escape, not because he thinks Jim deserves to be free, but because he enjoys getting into shenanigans. Huck truly cares for Jim, and Jim feels the same way about Huck. This is the basis of why he decides not to tell Huck about seeing Pap's dead body in the house that goes floating by. Jim keeps this information from Huck because he knows that Pap and Huck did not have a good relationship, and he continues to try to protect Huck from any harm that may come to him. Jim is always concerned about Huck's well being and frequently worries about him when they get into various circumstances throughout the novel. Pap never gave any regard for Huck and only used his son for money, or as a person to take his aggression out on. Jim is definitely the most caring and honest adult that Huck has ever encountered, as he cares about Huck as if he is his own son, and is honest with him in his feelings, and the way that Huck's actions affect him.
3. Tone: In the beginning of the novel, Tom is perceived as an even bigger rascal than Huck, who is an annoying character that enjoys getting into mischief and shenanigans. The tone up until Tom reenters is very serious and urgent, as Huck tries to free Jim from his new captors, even though he believes he is going to hell for his actions. When Tom returns, the tone shifts to a lighter and breezier feeling, as Tom once again sets up an elaborate scheme to free Jim, much to Jim's expense. Tom is aware that Jim is a free man, from his knowledge of Miss Watson's will, yet he continues in his prankster ways and therefore creates a airy and jovial tone, though the subject matter is still heavy and trying.
4. Theme: Huck's moral conflicts are still present at this point in the novel. Though he is willing to go to hell for helping Jim, he is still uncertain in his moral decisions and he is still uncertain if Jim is worthy of helping. But after Tom is shot, and Jim aides Tom and saves him, Huck realizes that Jim is one of the greatest people he's ever known, regardless of race. With Tom revealing his knowledge that Miss Watson has freed Jim, Huck's moral ambiguity is further resolved, as he realizes that he technically wasn't going completely against his morals. However, he is left with even more confusing thoughts, as he realizes that he was willing to neglect his morals, even though he didn't need to.
5. Symbolism: The river represents freedom throughout the entire novel. The river functions as the escape for both Huck and Jim when they are in desperate need of new circumstances, and it is the means of their journey and what ultimately brings them together. It functions as the bond of their friendship, and is the calm that is always constant, amid their many adventures and struggles. The towns are somewhat opposite of the river. Throughout the novel, the towns are what bring the trials for Huck and Jim and always serve as some sort of obstacle that the two must overcome, while the river is always free and always there for them to rely on. In the last paragraph of the novel, Huck says that the land is not preferable because it is too contained and not free. He doesn't wish to be civilized and he enjoys the freedom he experiences while on the river. Twain's purpose for this is to show that though Huck has grown so much as a character, and had such a strong moral development, he still is a mischievous child at heart, and being civilized will never fit his rambunctious ways.