Mark Twain, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Discussion Questions
American Literature Survey
Patrick Erben
Fall 2006
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Main questions I want to address in reading the book:
1) How does Twain represent the CENTRAL RELATIONSHIP in the book—between Huck and Jim? What does this say about the “meaning” of the book? What does it say about the books/Twain’s stance toward racism and race in America?
2) “Look Who’s Talking”: How does the book play with “voice”? In other words, analyze each character’s—especially Huck’s—speech patterns, use of commonplaces (especially racial stereotypes), use of prejudices, dialects and so on! What, then, is the relationship between the characters as individuals and the “voice” of society?
3) What is the relationship between the two central characters and other figures in the novel?
4) What is the importance of the environment, space, and travel?
5) In what ways does the book truly become an allegory for America, or life in America?
6) Finally: how does Twain call attention to the literariness of the book? In other words, how does he make us aware that it is “just” a story and not real life? How does he play with literary conventions, expectations, etc.? Does he ever “trick” us, his readers?
CLOSE READINGS OF CHAPTERS:
Chapter 1, p. 32:
What is the effect of making Huck Finn the narrator?
What kind of narrator would you expect him to be (if you have read Tom Sawyer)?
How does this chapter set Huck up as both the narrator and the central character? What kind of character is he?
Chapter 2, p. 35:
What does the prank Tom and Huck play on Jim say about their attitude toward him, especially his fear of witches and magic?
Chapters 2 and 3:
What differences between Tom and Huck does this chapter set up?
What is the relationship between reading/literature and real-life experience set up in this chapter?
- Tom: ideals of book learning; romantic notions grounded in literature, art, culture
- Huck: pragmatism, realism; he stands of the American west; averse to civilization and its fancy notions
- Source of knowledge: P. 43: “You don’t seem to know anything, somehow—perfect sap-head.” (Tom about Huck)
Could this chapter be Twain’s comment on the literature or reading practices of people (like Tom) at the time?
Even if you haven’t read Tom Sawyer, how do these chapters seem to distance Huck Finn, the novel, from it?
Chapter 3: What are the parallels between Huck and Jim, so far?
Important: common belief in magic
Chapter 6:
- Describe Huck’s treatment by his dad! How does it parallel Jim’s life?
- Huck’s escape: presaging Jim’s escape later on
Chapter 8 (p. 60): Huck on Jackson Island
What literary, cultural, and archetypal analogies? Significance?
Doubling and parallelism between Huck and Jim!?