INVESTICE DO ROZVOJE VZDĚLÁVÁNÍ
Podpora rozvoje cizích jazyků pro
Evropu 21. stol.
Tento projekt je spolufinancován Evropským sociálním fondem a státním
rozpočtem České republiky.
MARK TWAIN
&
American Literary
Realism
Realism
• a literary movement from 1865-1900
• emphasized the abolition of slavery
and debated legal rights vs. human rights
• literature echoed the slave debate that was
ongoing during the Civil War
• important American authors: William Dean
Howels, Mark Twain, Henry James
Mark Twain
1835 - 1910
Early Years
• Born November 30, 1835 in Joplin, Missouri.
• Born the same day Halley’s comet passed the earth.
Given name “Samuel Clemens.” Later adopted name
“Mark Twain” after a steamboat term
meaning “two
fathoms deep.”
• Father was a printer. He died of pneumonia when
Twain was eleven.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ly6hfi7-ymA&feature=related
Early Years of Independence
• dropped out of school and became a
typesetter.
• worked for his brother Orion as his
• assistant at a newspaper.
• wrote short stories for fun and eventually
published in the Saturday Evening Post
in 1852.
Life on the Mississippi
• at the age of 21, moved to New
Orleans to become a steamboat
pilot assistant.
• 1859 earned steamboat
pilot license.
• Pilot career ended in 1861 with
the outbreak of
the Civil War
• Life as a pilot later described in
his book Life on the Mississippi
Gold Rush Years 1862 - 1864
• Moves to Nevada with brother Henry who is
appointed acting governor by President Lincoln.
• becomes fascinated by the greed out West.
• leaves the territory after fleeing from a gun duel
with a local bandit.
The Author Years
• publishes “The Celebrated
Jumping Frog in Calaveras
County” to acclaim in 1865
• lectures across the United
States
• marries Elvira Livy in 1869
• Publishes Tom Sawyer in
1876.
• Publishes The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn in 1884.
Twain in 1867
Twain’s Late Life
• During the last 15 years
of his life Twain suffered
bankruptcy, the death of
his wife, and children
• He became bitter and
depressed.
•
moved to Connecticut
and died of ill health on
April 21, 1910.
• on the night of his funeral
a comet flew overhead in
the night sky – the
second time in 76 years.
Mark Twain's Famous Quotes
On Congress: “Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were
a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.”
On Lying: “A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth
is putting on its shoes.”
On Growing Old: “Age is an issue of mind over matter. If you don't
mind, it doesn't matter “
On Cauliflower: “Cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college
education.”
On School: “Don't let schooling interfere with your education.”
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWEcTfnXjho&fea
ture=related
The Plot
• Originally written as the sequel to Tom Sawyer,
Huck Finn is Twain’s real masterpiece.
• Story of Huck Finn, a boy who runs away from
his fathe and rafts down the Mississippi River.
He is accompanied on his journey by a runaway
slave named Jim.
• The book portrays many of the evils that are
present in men and women, as well as integral
conflict and a sense of ethics as Huck battles
between breaking the law and helping Jim
escape.
Themes
• Through the use of satire, or making fun of society
to bring about change, Twain criticizes feuds,
orphans, parents, school, robbery, carnivals, and
religion.
• Twain biggest criticism is for the institution of slavery
through Huck’s decision whether or not to return Jim
to his master.
• Another big theme is the difference between the river
(freedom) and the shore (society). On the river
Huck and Jim are free men, on the shore they are
controlled by society.
Authentic language
• Twain extensively uses
dialect, or the authentic
language of a culture.
• The novel has been
criticized for the use of
the word “nigger” in
reference to Jim.
• Critics believe that Twain
uses the word out of
prejudice.
• Defenders suggest Twain
was using the authentic
language of the time.
INVESTICE DO ROZVOJE VZDĚLÁVÁNÍ
Tato výuková prezentace byla pořízena z
finančních prostředků hrazených Evropským
sociálním fondem
a rozpočtem České republiky.
Tento projekt je spolufinancován Evropským sociálním fondem a státním rozpočtem
České republiky.