AimAim: : WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF HUCK’S ESCAPE FROM HUCK’S ESCAPE FROM

“SIVILIZATION” TO JACKSON’S “SIVILIZATION” TO JACKSON’S ISLAND?ISLAND?

Do Now/Quick Write #11: Do Now/Quick Write #11:

Free Write about a time you “escaped.” It Free Write about a time you “escaped.” It could be about a time you ran away from could be about a time you ran away from a situation, or even went on a vacation. a situation, or even went on a vacation. Feel free to write about any time or Feel free to write about any time or instance you left your problems and you instance you left your problems and you “normal” life behind. Where did you go? “normal” life behind. Where did you go? What did you do? How did it feel to What did you do? How did it feel to escape?escape?

A scene that invokes nature in an idealized A scene that invokes nature in an idealized way way

Edenic—drawing from the notion of the Edenic—drawing from the notion of the Garden of EdenGarden of Eden

Imaginative , Meditation, and Self-DiscoveryImaginative , Meditation, and Self-Discovery Classical idea from Greek and Roman poetryClassical idea from Greek and Roman poetry

How does Huck DESCRIBE Jackson’s Island? How does Huck DESCRIBE Jackson’s Island? How does it feel to be there? How does it feel to be there?

MOCK-PASTORALMOCK-PASTORAL Part of Twain’s SATIREPart of Twain’s SATIRE Ridicules the convention of a Ridicules the convention of a

pastoral by inflating the pastoral by inflating the descriptiondescription

What aspects of Huck’s description What aspects of Huck’s description seem like inflations? seem like inflations?

Story with multiple layers of meaning Story with multiple layers of meaning (literal and figurative/symbolic)(literal and figurative/symbolic)

Huck acts like Tom—plays impractical Huck acts like Tom—plays impractical joke on Jim (trying to be something he is joke on Jim (trying to be something he is not)not)

Huck’s paradise is disturbed by Huck’s paradise is disturbed by intrusions from the mainland (Increasing intrusions from the mainland (Increasing corruption)corruption) CanonsCanons A stormA storm Bread with quicksilverBread with quicksilver House floating byHouse floating by

In an allegory events have a double In an allegory events have a double meaning:meaning: Jim is bitten by a snakeJim is bitten by a snake Huck dresses up as a girlHuck dresses up as a girl

Exercise: Working with a partner, write an interpretation of the elements above. What could be their symbolic significance? What might they represent on a figurative level? Remember to think of the multiple layers of meaning.

SUMMARY SUMMARY In this Edenic paradise, snakes prey on In this Edenic paradise, snakes prey on

those who want forbidden knowledge. those who want forbidden knowledge. Romanticized past is temporal—it must Romanticized past is temporal—it must

give way to the emerging Realism of give way to the emerging Realism of modernitymodernity

BildungsromanBildungsroman Huck cannot succeed as the backward Huck cannot succeed as the backward

looking Tom Sawyerlooking Tom Sawyer Neither can AmericaNeither can America

““Sacred cows make the best Sacred cows make the best hamburgers.”hamburgers.” --Mark Twain How does this relate to the lesson we learn while Huck tries to escape on Jackson’s Island?