Trial of Mark Twain
A FINAL DISCUSSION ON RACISM IN
THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN
Is or isn’t Huck Finn racist?
 Does reading Huck Finn help or harm race relations?
 You will be staging a mock trial with Mark Twain as
the defendant. You will gather evidence, present it
before a Jury, and the Jury will come up with a
verdict.
The Trial of Mark Twain
 Mark Twain has been accused of promoting racism
in the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
 As a class, you will try the author and determine his
guilt or innocence.
Roles
 2 - Judges
 1 - Defendant (Mark Twain) and 1 Defense Team (3
students)
 1 - Prosecution Team (3 students)
 6 - Witnesses
 3 - Jury Members
Role: Judge
 Research court procedure and preside over the trial
Role: Defendant
 Mark Twain
Role: Defense Team
 Lead Counsel
 Co-counsel
 2 Attorneys
Role: Prosecution
 Lead Counsel
 Co-counsel
 2 Attorneys
Role: Witnesses
 Characters from the novel, authorities on Mark
Twain, authorities in racial matters, civil rights
leaders, authorities on Twain’s era of the novel, etc.
Role: Jury
 Serve during the trial and reach a verdict based on
evidence presented in the courtroom.
Now….
 Now that the counsel has been decided, your first
step is to decide who your witnesses are going to be.
You must come up with 3 witnesses to serve for you.
This decision must be made by tomorrow. You may
not share a witness, so if you may need to discuss
your final choices with your opposition before
tomorrow.
 Tomorrow, all witnesses will be assigned to their
respective counsel.
Ready? Set! Go!
 Split up into your respective roles and begin
researching and working on your role in this trial!
 Remember, if this is done well…
NO FINAL HUCK FINN TEST FOR YOU!