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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?