Turn in your webquest.
Take out your copy of The
Adventures of Huckleberry
Finn.
Take out your notebooks and
open to Class and Reading
Notes section.
The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn
*See the
Reading and
Assignment
Timeline
The final Socratic seminar will focus on
analysis of Twain’s works according to these
Language Arts Standards:
1.
READING 3.2 - Analyze the way in which the theme or meaning of a
selection represents a view or comment on life, using textual evidence
to support the claim.

What larger ideas, themes, and social commentary/criticisms are presented?

In what ways did Twain use SATIRE and what social comments and criticisms
are being made?
2.
3.
READING 3.3 - Analyze the ways in which irony, tone, mood, the
author’s style, and the “sound” of language are used to achieve specific
purposes or effects.

What examples of conscious and unconscious irony do you find?

What kind of a mood and tone does Twain set?

How does the language style and sound of the language Twain uses
contribute to the story?
READING 3.7 c. - Evaluate the philosophical, political, religious, ethical,
and social influences of the historical period that shaped the
characters, plots, and settings.

What specific political, religious, ethical and social influences of this pre-Civil-
War time period influenced Twain and his writings?
CHARACTER LOG (50 points)
KEEP TRACK OF CHARACTERS AS
THEY APPEAR.
MAKE A CHART THAT LISTS FOR
EACH CHARACTER:
CHARACTER NAME
CHAPTER HE/SHE FIRST APPEARS
BRIEF DESCRIPTION AND
IMPORTANT ACTIONS
Setting
Remember: Setting in a literary
work is the time, place and
situation in which the action
occurs.
Setting includes geographic
location, historical period, time of
day or year, and customs and
manners of the society.
Setting (continued)
Twain deliberately set The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn in the American South
before the Civil War.
Using this setting, Twain was able to evoke
an era of bitter turmoil--some states
embraced slavery, others condemned it.
Twain used this setting for dramatic
purpose. If Jim could just make it to the
Ohio River, he could travel to the states in
which he would be free.
Setting (continued)
Mississippi River - This setting was no
accident.
Twain’s fondest memories centered on his
time as a riverboat pilot.
He knew the river--He knew its positive
attractions for people, its dangers, and he
knew the people who lived near it and
made a living from it.
Twain’s familiarity with the Mississippi gives
HF much of its authenticity.
Jim and freedom
Jim’s plan is to reach
the Illinois town of
Cairo, and from there,
he can take the Ohio
River up to the free
states.
Original 1857 Map of the United States
Showing the Free and Slave States
Dark green = free states
Light green = Free
“territories" which were not
yet states.
Red (dark pink) = Slave
importing states
Pink = Slave states that
exported slaves
Theme
Society’s values
and laws can be in
conflict with
individual moral
values.
Theme
People tend to behave
differently, irrationally,
or even cruelly, in large
groups.
Theme
Gullible people are
responsible for
their own
deception.
Theme
Greed can destroy lives.
Theme
Freedom means
different things to
different people.
Theme
“Freedom” vs.
“conformity”
Discussion Question
What IS “freedom?”
What is “conformity?”
What do we gain/give
up when we “conform?”
Discussion Question:
What elements of the story
do you find unrealistic or
incongruous to what actions
real people in these
situations might take?
CHARACTERS – Chapter 1
Huck Finn
(Aunt Polly)
(Mary)
Tom Sawyer
Judge Thatcher
Widow Douglas
Miss Watson
AUDIO BOOK OF HUCK FINN
http://www.loudlit.org/works/hfinn.htm