Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

“Mark Twain” is his pen name

November 30, 1835-April 21, 1910

Hannibal, Missouri: Later the setting of Huck Finn

Apprentice printer, writer, journalist, riverboat pilot

Famous lecturer

Recent publishing include “Twain maxims, quotations, sayings” and Autobiography (two parts)

Huck Finn: Background and legacy “Great American Novel” Setting vs. Context Controversy Use of the “N” word Author’s Purpose Why are we reading Huck Finn?

Sometimes referred to as a sequel of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876)

◦ Common misconception

Similar characters, but Huck Finn is very much a serious novel

More of a “spin off”

Captures Spirit of the United States at the time of its writing

Setting Character—Common, ordinary people Culture (its themes, concerns and

conflicts) Voice

Setting: Huck Finn takes place in 1830-40’s◦ Novel takes place pre-civil war

Context: Huck Finn was published in 1885◦ Twain writes the novel post-war

Why does Twain set his story in a time period other than his own?◦ Why is Huck Finn set prior to the civil war?◦ More than just “slavery” ◦ Emphasize race relations

Although Huck Finn is regarded as the Great American Novel, there is a lot of controversy

Tops the list of Banned Books

Result of the Language and Situations◦ Derogatory slurs, vernacular, adult situations◦ Major Question “Is Huck Finn appropriate”?

The result of writing in colloquial language

Colloquial: is “natural” or common language◦ We might consider some slang terms as

colloquialisms

We know that Mark Twain supported abolitionists and the emancipation proclamation.

So, why would Mark Twain use the “N” word in Huck Finn?

Consider the “literary patterns” of Realism

Quintessential to the study of American Literature

Responsible for inspiring other major American authors

Legacy alone

Illustrates transition from Romanticism to Realism Mark Twain is a Realist writer. Huck Finn has a Romantic setting and characters

An extended text with cultural relevance◦ Still being published, debated, (censured) and

read today

Objective: Discuss Author’s Craft/Purpose◦ See Unit Overview

Craft◦ Point of View◦ Characterization◦ Setting (vs. Context)◦ Structure◦ Satire (social commentary)

Purpose: What is Mark Twain’s purpose?