Huckleberry Finn
Presentation
Chapters 14-16
By: Hannah Dement, Alli Graham, Jason Warth, Victoria Paddy,
and Kenzie Rufrano.
Summary of Chapters and specific episode:
Huck Finn and Jim are known for going on many adventures and seeing the
world through big eyes. Jim is fascinated and questions everything so Huck tells him
stories about the French, kings, and some stories that he even makes up himself.
While Huck and Jim are coming close to the Ohio River, extreme fog sets in
and Huck gets separated from Jim on a canoe. Huck tries to listen to the sounds of
the river trying to hear Jim on the boat and searches until he falls asleep. When he
wakes up the fog is cleared and he is able to find Jim. On the boat Jim is asleep and
Huck pretends to sleep next to him. When Jim wakes up, Huck acts as if he was on
the boat the entire time and completely dumbfounds Jim. Jim was in shock that his
brain was able dream up that Huck was missing. Huck later tells him that it was all
a prank.
Summary Continued:
Worried that they will miss Cairo, Huck sets off in the canoe to check what
town they are near. However, Huck secretly has intentions to give up Jim. Then,
Jim calls to Huck and tells him that he is his best friend and Huck starts to doubt his
ability to turn in Jim. Huck soon comes across a few men on a ship who want to
search his raft for slaves. Huck tells the men that his family is on the raft and are
afflicted with smallpox and the men end up giving Huck money out of pity. Huck and
Jim return to shore and fall asleep, but in the morning, they discover that the canoe
has been stolen.
What is the lesson learned?
What is the lesson learned?
The lesson that Huck learned was that the views of society are not as
important as how you view yourself. Huck learned that his opinions of
himself are the only opinions that he should care about. His doings should
only reflect himself and not others.
How is the lesson learned?
While Huck was debating on telling that he had a slave on his boat, he was
faced with many internal/external difficulties. He knew that by hiding a slave he
was doing the wrong thing, from the views of society. However; by helping Jim
escape from being a slave he was doing the right thing for his morality. Huck was
left with the difficult choice on whether or not to tell the townsmen that he had a
slave on this boat. Huck went with his internal instinct and decided to lie to the
townsmen and say that his ill father was on the boat. After Huck returned back to
the boat, Jim thanked him and Huck was pleased with his decision.
What is the evidence:
“It made me feel so mean I could almost kissed his foot to get him to take it back”
(Twain 233).
“It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to humble myself to a
nigger” (Twain 233).
“I didn’t do him no more mean tricks, and wouldn’t done that one if I’d a knowed
it would make him feel that way” (Twain 233).
At least 3 style/literary analyses (fig. lang., tone/
mood/ theme, diction, syntax)
“Solomon had one; he had about a million wives.” This quote spoken by Huck in
chapter 14 is a fine example of hyperbole because it is an extreme exaggeration. Unless
Solomon was a huge player, he definitely did not have a million wives. However, we’ll let
it go since Huck is young.
The Ohio River is symbolic in Huckleberry Finn because it represents Huck and Jim’s
freedom. The river is their only way of getting away from home and into the free states.
“It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a
nigger; but I done it, and I warn't ever sorry for it afterwards, neither. I didn't do him
no more mean tricks, and I wouldn't done that one if I'd a knowed it would make him feel
that way.” (Chapter 14)
Vocabulary:
Careened:
turn (a ship) on its side for cleaning, caulking, or repair
move swiftly and in an uncontrolled way in a specific direction.
Gaudy:
extravagantly bright or showy, typically so as to be tasteless
Thicket:
a dense group of bushes or trees
Setting:
On a raft floating down the Ohio river toward the Cairo, Ohio where Jim
will no longer be a slave.
Questions:
What is the irony of the “Walter Scott”?
The irony of Walter Scott is that his romanticism is broken just like Twain's sees
the broken ideals of romance.
What is Jim’s attitude toward Solomon?
Jim’s attitude towards Solomon was how he is okay and people shouldn’t judge
his methods because they work for his situations.
Questions:
What is revealed in the conversation about the Frenchmen?
In the conversation about the Frenchmen, it is revealed that Jim believes that
every human should talk the same because all humans are the same and this
hints towards equality for all.
In chapter 15, several death images strike the reader at once.
Examples are: “I hadn’t no more idea which way I was I was going than a dead
man.” “You feel like you are laying dead still on the water” etc. What is the
significance of these images?
Questions:
Why does Huck feel free to tease Jim?
Huck views Jim as lower/inferior to him and believes Jim doesn’t observe the
same treatment as a white man.
What is the significance of Jim’s lecture to Huck?
The significance of Jim’s lecture to Huck begins to get Huck to realize that Jim is
a person, just like him and shouldn’t be treated any differently.
Questions:
What new knowledge of human nature has Huck gained?
Huck gained that all men should be treated equally and even though he has a
different skin color, Huck should treat Jim the same way that a white person
would.
How does Huck battle with his conscience?
Huck battles with his conscience because he feels bad for what he did but in that
time it was okay to offend a black man but then Huck realizes he must
apologize. Also, with helping Jim escape his owner but he justifies it by telling
himself he was helping him “run to freedom”.
Questions:
What is ironic about Jim’s plans?
Jim’s plans are ironic because in his life he has never owned anything but
when he becomes free the first thing he plans on doing is buying his
wife.
Bibliography: