Excerpts from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Chapter 1:

1.  What is the history of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer?

2.  What does the widow do to attempt to “sivilize” Huck?

a.  How are Huck and Widow Douglas different in terms of their character?

3.  How does Huck feel about religion? Provide a quote that supports your answer.

4.  List the three things that Huck does to prove that he is superstitious.

a.  Although Huck’s belief system is not ruled by religion, what is it ruled by?

Movie Plot Points

5.  Why does Huck decide to fake his own death and runaway?

6.  Who does Huck discover on Jackson Island who has also runaway?

7.  Why does Jim runway from the Watson household?

8.  What flaws does Huck point out within Jim’s plan to escape?

9.  What are some comments that Huck makes that demonstrate flaws/conflicts within his moral compass?

a. What social beliefs and historical constructs influence Huck’s opinions on slavery?

10.  List the events that occur after Huck resolves that he should turn Jim in:

Chapter 31:

1.  How has Huck changed by chapter 31 of the novel?

a.  What actions demonstrate this change?

2. How are Huck’s actions of ripping up the letter that is to be mailed to Mrs. Watson, and his resolve to make the statement “All right, then, I’ll go to hell” ironic?

Regionalism Synthesis Chart

Regionalism: Local color or regional literature is fiction and poetry that focuses on the characters, dialect, customs, topography, and other features particular to a specific region.

Characteristic of Regionalism / Example from the text/film: / Explanation of Example
Setting: The emphasis is frequently on nature and the limitations it imposes; settings are frequently remote and inaccessible. The setting is integral to the story and may sometimes become a character in itself.
Characters: Local color stories tend to be concerned with the character of the district or region rather than with the individual: characters may become character types, sometimes quaint or stereotypical. The characters are marked by their adherence to the old ways, by dialect, and by particular personality traits central to the region.
Themes: Thematic tension or conflict between urban ways and old-fashioned rural values is often symbolized by the intrusion of an outsider or interloper who seeks something from the community.
Dialect: a regional variety of language distinguished by features of vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation