The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Mark Twain’s most controversial and celebrated novel is a work that appears on two lists—The List of Banned Books and the Top 100 Books College Freshmen are expected to have read. We will explore the controversy, as well as the literary merit, of this novel as it relates to the body of work we have studied so far in this course. The following questions will guide our work:
- To what extent can art and/or literature change society or behavior?
- What do conflicts about the arts tell us about who we are as a society?
As we consider these questions in light of Huck Finn, we will read, view, discuss, and analyze the historical context of the novel as well as contemporary views of the text and its prominence as a literary classic.
You will read the novel through the lenses of a literary critic in 2012 which is exactly what you are. Generally, a critic must read closely with an eye for detail, an appreciation for literary technique, and a sense for how a specific piece “fits” in a body of work. Specifically, for reading Huck Finn in 2012, you will take active reading notes on Twain’s use of satire throughout the novel. You must read with sensitivity and empathy in order to appreciate the explosive issues and the manner in which they are presented and by doing so, you must evaluate whether Mark Twain achieves his purpose.
Reading Calendar
Read pages / Due date80-104 / Wednesday, March 14 or Thursday, March 15
104-125 / Friday, March 16
126-156 / Monday, March 19
156-179 / Tuesday, March 20
179-195 / Wednesday, March 21 or Thursday, March 22
195-209 / Friday, March 23
209-232 / Monday, March 26
232-250 / Tuesday, March 27
250-276 / Wednesday, March 28 or Thursday, March 29
finish / Friday, March 30
Use the chart on the back of this overview as a guide for active reading notes. I will collect the notes at the end of the unit and we will use them throughout the unit during our class discussions, so you can expect to show evidence that you are keeping up with the assignment. Aim for two passages per reading chunk.
Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with shades of deeper meaning.
Maya Angelou