The following questions assist you in close reading of chapters 13-18 from Huck Finn. Chapters 13 1. Twain uses satire to expose people’s ability to rationalize their wrongdoings. In what way does Twain employ that device in the incident where Huck “lifts chickens” and “borrows watermelons”? What do the words “lifts” and “borrows” connote? Give examples from the novel to support your argument. They words “lifts” and “borrows” connote that Huck was stealing them. Twain uses the words “lifts” and “borrows” sarcastically to imply the fact that Huck was indeed taking them without permission. Twain supports this claim by a statement on page 68 that says, “Pap always said it warn’t no harm to borrow things if you was meaning to pay them back some time; but the widow said it warn’t anything but a soft name for stealing, and no decent body would do it.” In this passage, Twain blatantly reveals to the reader his true interpretation of his polysemies. Chapters 14-15 1. The relationship between Huck and Jim is brought into focus in these chapters. How does their frightening separation in the fog draw them closer together? How do they feel about each other at this point in the novel? Give examples from the novel to support your viewpoint. After their separation in the fog, Jim and Huck’s reunion is cheerful and happy. Huck's practical joke scared Jim. Even though Jim was hurt by Huck's prank, it showed that Jim cares for Huck and is willing to sacrifice things for him. 2. Huck and Jim carry on a lengthy conversation about royalty. In what way does Twain satirize royalty in these chapters? What is Jim’s opinion of King Solomon? Why does he feel that way? Give examples from the novel to support your argument. Twain satirizes royalty by imagining the nobility as a pair of conmen. Twain's satire suggests that those in power are thugs and liars that prey on hardworking civilians. Jim thinks that King Solomon is stupid and foolish. He feels that way because he was going to cut a baby in half. 3. Why does Huck find it hard to argue/reason with Jim? Jim has a very simple and concise logic, yet very effective, and huck cannot resist to agree with it. An example of this is when Huck tries to explain to Jim that Frenchmen speak a different language. Huck says that a cat and a cow do not speak the same language, so neither should an American and a Frenchman. Jim then points out that a cat and a cow are not the same species, but Frenchmen and Americans are. He concludes that Frenchmen should therefore speak the same language he does. Huck gets frustrated with his reasoning and gives up arguing with Jim. 4. At the end of chapter 15, Huck reflects, “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.” How does this quote show both how Huck is still affected by the norms of society and how Huck is beginning to move away from the norms of society? This quote reflects Huck’s attitude of his “superiority” over Jim. Huck believes that Jim has no intelligence and can be tricked by a prank, then he has a hard time trying to get himself to apologize. Chapters 16-17 1. As they get closer to Cairo, Huck begins to feel worse and worse. Why? How do you react to his comments about his conscience? As they get closer to Cairo, Huck begins to feel worse because he feels bad again about helping get Jim's freedom. He feels like it’s stealing from Miss Watson because Jim was her slave. I think that this change in viewpoint of Huck is a part of him growing up. He is maturing and realizing that what he has been taught and what he grew up with is wrong. 2. When Jim talks about his family, Huck remembers the old saying, “give a nigger an inch and he’ll take an ell.” This should be familiar to you. Which book did we read earlier this semester with this? We read “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee earlier this semester. 3. Huck has the chance to turn Jim in but does not take it, instead making up a story about a contagious disease to protect Jim. Why does Huck do this? Huck realizes that he would have felt worse if he turned Jim in. Therefore, he makes up a story about a contagious disease to protect Jim. 4. What happens to Huck and Jim’s plans to reach Cairo? Huck and Jim’s plans to reach Cairo almost get foiled when some men want to search Jim and Huck’s raft for escaped slaves. Huck lies to the men and tells them that his family is on board the raft and has smallpox. 5. At the end of chapter 16, how are Huck and Jim separated? A steamboat collides with their raft and it breaks apart. Jim and Huck dive off in time but get separated. Once Huck makes it to the shore, a pack of dogs corners him. 6. How does Huck trick Buck into telling him what name he has come up with? Huck tells Buck that he bets that he can't spell his name right. When Buck spells Huck’s made up name, Huck remembers it. 7. List three things you learn about Buck’s house and/or family from Huck’s descriptions. Three things I learned about the Buck’s house are that it is very large and has a lot of artwork, there are over a hundred slaves that work there, and that it showed that the Grangerfords were a very wealthy family. Chapter 18 1. How does Buck define a feud? Buck defines a feud by telling Huck, "Well...a feud is this way. A man has a quarrel with another man, and kills him, then that other man's brother kills him, then the other brothers, on both sides, goes for one another; then the cousins chip in…”. He portrays a feud as a massive war and bloodbath in between two families. 2. What is ironic about Buck’s explanation of his family’s feud with the Shepherdsons? The thing that is ironic about Buck’s explanation of his family feud with the Shepherdsons is that nobody knows how it actually started. 3. Describe the religious hypocrisy of the Shepherdsons and Grangerfords. The feud between the Shepherdsons and the Grangerfords is very hypocritical because they are both chritstian and christianity is about peace and especially forgiveness. Yet, they both show prejudice and loathe each other. 4. What favor does Huck do for Miss Sophia? Huck returns her prayer book to her. 5. Who does Huck reunite with out in the swamp? Huck reunited with Jim. 6. Why does Huck blame himself for Buck’s death? Huck blames himself for Buck’s death because he didn't tell somebody about Harvey and Sophia meeting. If he would have told somebody, Buck wouldn't have died.
