Name __________________________________
Date _______________________
Ms. Santangelo
English 11R
Literary Essay for The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Directions: Choose one of the following questions to respond to in a 3-5 page essay.
1.
Ernest Hemingway says "All American literature came from Huck Finn" and by that he
means the use of language as people spoke it and the realistic handling of previously
taboo subjects (child abuse, hypocrisy in the South, ignorance and racism, friendship
between an African American man and a white boy). Address Twain’s style and use of
vernacular/colloquialisms that combined to satirize the social conventions of the 1840’s.
Choose at least three historical subjects that he satirizes. Give historical background on
the subjects through research. Focus on his use of imagery, word choice and use of
irony.
2. Jim is/is not a fully developed, realistic African-American runaway slave from the 1840’s. If
not, what possible reasons or failings did Twain show in not depicting him realistically. If he is
realistic explain why.
3. Julius Lester and Jane Smiley suggest that Huck and Jim’s experience on the river is a
rationalization and unconscious suggestion to white Americans reinforcing their tendencies
towards escape and ignorance towards racism. T.S. Elliot thinks of the river as a god and Huck
as the archetypal "boy", undergoing a cleansing spiritual journey.
Using one form of criticism we studied (traditional, psychological,
social-historical or mythological), examine what you think the river
means and whether or not the book fulfills Lester's requirement for a
moral novel.
4. What is Mark Twain’s message about morality and religion? How does
Twain use both the geography and characters in the novel to support that
message?
5. Consider the quotation “it is on shore that Huck encounters the worst excesses of which ‘the
damned human race’ is capable, but with each return to the raft comes a renewal of spiritual
home and idealism” (Magill 13).Examine the difference between society’s dictates as embodied
by Huck and Jim’s encounters on the shore and the relative freedom they experience on the river.
Your essay could: examine the irony that what is thought to be civilized is in fact not; compare
and contrast encounters on the shore with descriptions of life on the river.
6. Compare and contrast Huck and the concept transcendentalism.
The essay could examine the transcendentalist ideas in the book and argue whether or not Huck
is a transcendentalist. Use some of the concepts and ideas that you learned from Thoreau and
Emerson.
7. Morality plays a big role in Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Where do
ideas of morality come from? Does Twain value some sources of morality more than others?
8. The Mississippi River is a symbol of freedom as well as for growing up for Huck. How do
you see the river symbolizing one of these aspects? How does the river contrast with the
society that surrounds it?
Requirements:
a. The essay must be between 3-5 pages (typed, 12-point font Times New Roman, doublespaced) not including the works cited page.
b. Include a specific thesis statement.
c. Develop your argument in a coherent and organized manner.
d. Use outside articles (or articles we read in class) to fully develop your argument.
e. Must specifically cite quotations from Huck Finn.
f. When using quotes, remember to avoid “floating” quotations. Be sure to integrate and explain
the importance of the quotation to your argument.
g. Include parenthetical citations (both in-text citations as well as a works cited page).
h. Use MLA documentation.
i. Review of literary criticisms are on my website: asantangelo82.wikispaces.com.