PART I ------- Chapters 1-11
(Oklahoma, sharecroppers, Dust Bowl, Tom returning home, Bank taking the land, people preparing, tractors plowing everything.)
PART II ------ Chapters 12-19
(Route 66 - On the Road to California, Grandpa + Grandma dying, truck stops, one-eyed man.)
PART III ----- Chapters 20-30
(Hooverville, Weedpatch Camp, Hooper Ranch, Boxcar-Cotton picking camp.)
Traditional plot layout:
Exposition: Tom getting out of Jail, meeting Jim Casy, living out a couple days with Muley Graves, walking to meet up with the family.
Inciting Event: Leaving the land, having to find work outside of Oklahoma.
Rising Action:
Climax: The Death of Jim Casy and Tom's retaliation which is to kill a guard in response.
Falling Action:
Resolution: Rose of Sharon has her child yet it is dead, and Ma, realizing that Rose of Sharon can still produce milk despite losing her child, she tells her to nurse the dying man in a shed.
THEMES:
We vs. I:
Society vs. Moloch:
People vs. Owners/Businessmen:
Anger:
-Tom's anger when Casy gets killed. He has been angry before the book when he murdered someone with a shovel which landed him in prison. Anger of the people, they will rise up and overthrow the owners. Anger is a good thing, and by turning fear into anger is a great strength. Ma says that he needs to get a hold of his anger, or else he will change sides.
Strength of Women:
-Character of Ma, Rose of Sharon's transformation in the end/coming of age, Ma keeps family together and transforms into the leader as the story progresses since Pa starts to dwindle and become consumed by self-doubt. Ma when she hears about Ruthie and Winfield, taking the discipline into her own hands and tells them all not to worry as she will venture out and to warn Tom. Ma attempts to handle many situations without the help of Pa. She rides in the back of the truck with Grandma's dead body without telling everyone that she had been dead for hours.
Importance of Family/Change of the Definition of Family:
-Family sticking together throughout the hardships, change of definition comes when family goes further than just blood relation, but those who are suffering along with you and share the same plights, all the people who are migrant workers, Ivy and Sairy Wilson coming along the road with the Joads, Jim Casy's philosophy that turned him away
Pretty Boyd Floyd:
-Famous bank robber that took from the rich and gave to the poor, the 1930's Robin Hood, and the people almost worshipped him for his heroic generosity, symbol of the hard times, he must become a criminal in order to survive pretty much, he cannot survive with the limited work because he too is a lower class 'Okie' and must do what he can to support his family just like the rest of the people.
Moloch = God of Capitalism (idea) Capitalism is destroying people and paving the way for selfishness and allowing big businessmen to rule the world.
The One-Eyed Man:
-The man in the junkyard who hates his boss. He doesn't like to do anything because he has so much self-pity, using his deformity as an excuse. Symbolizes what Steinbeck DIDN'T want people to do in the tough times. Using excuses, such as a horrible boss and a missing eye as a means of giving up on life.
The Plague!:
-The Plague can be the dust storm, while it can also be the tractors that take over the land of the Oklahoma farmers, taking away their livelihood and way of a self-sufficiency. The amount of migrant workers coming from Oklahoma to California answering the yellow handbills to make some money, invading the new state.
Exodus:
-Exodus refers to the mass migration of a group of people. In the bible, it was the slaves and the Israelites travelling through the desert to the promised land. This book is heavily influenced by the bible,
Moses:
-He was the one who lead the Israelites who parts the Red Sea, Grandma represents Moses because she initially leads the Joad family to the 'promised land' yet is not allowed to see it. (She dies!)
Judas:
-Willy Freely, anyone who has sold themselves out to the big owners,
Handbills:
-The yellow handbills are a symbol of false hope. The owners use these to get many people to come for work so that they can pay very, very minimalistic pay.
Hooper Ranch Incorporated:
-The worst place out of the bunch. The camp because the people know that the migrants need work and need food, so they pay very little and charge a lot for food/necessities. Almost like slavery in the way they totally control the tenant's lives, the exact opposite of Weedpatch Camp.
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Yay Yay Yay - Group Questions Part Deux
1. Who are the "owners of the land"? What are their main characteristics? How do the owners use terms such as "the Bank" and "the Company"? Why do the owners speak "as though the Bank or the Company were a monster"? Why is it said that "When the monster stops growing, it dies. It can't stay one size"? Why is it said that "The bank is something more than men, I tell you. It's the monster. Men made it, but they can't control it."?
The owners of the land are the banks, who are characterized by a large, destructive monster who sucks up everything and eats the farmer's. The bank and the company are used because they are associated with money and the process of making more of it. This puts money as the primary concern for them; the top on the list of priorities, leaving little room for caring about the farmers of the land that they work. It repossesses the land in the sake of saving as much money as possible, no matter how minuscule the amount it is.
2. What does the cotton do to the land? Why do the farmers plant it?
The cotton is planted and it takes all the nutrients and water from the already hard-to-work soil. They hope to plant it all and make the land essentially useless, so they can sell to unsuspecting people.
3. What is the role and effect of technology in the mode of production depicted in the novel? What are the effects of increased productivity (due to technology) on the lives of farmers and labourers? How are tractors characterized? How about their drivers? What is their relationship to the land they work? What is happening to the land? What economic trend do the hired tractor drivers represent? What forms of production seem no longer possible? What seems to be the only alternative?
(Tractors --> Described as Insects --> Locusts --> Plague!)
4. What are the tenants thoughts on large amounts of property (five, ten thousand acres)? How does the size of the land affect the relations between the owner and the land he owns? How is the size of the land related to economic imperatives and emerging modes of production?
5. What arguments do the tenants use against the repossession of their lands by the owners? Why do they repeatedly point out that "Grampa took up the land, and he had to kill the Indians and drive them away... and he killed weeds and snakes"? Is this Ironic? Why?
They feel that the repossession isn't at all fair since the land is their livelihood and their way of sustaining themselves, supporting their family. They do so much with it, and they figure they should own because they're physically, mentally, and to some extent emotionally attached to it, rather than holding a piece of paper which is the only notification of the banks' ownership. Comparing snakes and weeds to the Indians, symbolizing them as things that are not wanted on the land that need to get out. However, the irony is that the farmers are mad that they are getting kicked off their land, when in fact Grampa kicked the Indians off their land and they feel this is justified. Snakes are more than likely a biblical reference here.
6. What is the significance of the unhung gate and the story of the Jacobs's baby devoured by a pig because a door was left open? What does the unhung gate indicate? What do the gates symbolize? What is their purpose, both literal and symbolic? How do such images relate to the concerns of the novel?
The gate was never kept open after the incident with the Baby getting eaten by a pig! :) The fact the gate is left open indicated to Tom that no one is around. His family, or more specifically, his mother is dead or they've moved somewhere else.
7. Why is there a picture of an Indian girl ("Red Wing") on the wall of the house? What about the sofa pillow (with a picture of an Indian on it) Grampa stole from Albert Rance? What about Albert's claim that "Grampa got Injun blood"?
Perhaps there is a connection between the manifest destiny and the overtaking of Indian land and the banks repossession of the land from the farmers. The house is desolate, ripped apart, with all the things taken out. Tom Joad has nothing left here, which is how the Native Americans felt once they got their land taken from them while being relocated to reservations or getting killed off.
8. What is the significance of the figure of Muley Graves who refuses to leave the land? What does his name suggest? Why is he "like a damn ol' graveyard ghos'"? Why does he say, "If they throw me off, I'll come back, an' if they figger I'll be quiet underground, why. I'll take couple-three of the sons-a-bitches along for company"? Is this the only ghost that walks the land? What are ghosts anyway? Is this land haunted?
Muley means hornless when referring to a cow, or just a cow without horns. Stubborn as a mule is also an expression which fits the stubborn quality of Graves' wanting to stay on the land to rebel against the owners. Graves equates to death, lack of life, depression, all of which seem to suit the surrounding farmlands. He is described like a graveyard ghost due in part to his name, and perhaps the idea of a ghost town is a town that had all its inhabitants relocated with just empty buildings sitting alone. The farmlands seem to fit this description.
9. Why do the owners claim (in Muley's words) that "We can't afford to keep no tenants... the share a tenant gets is jus' the margin, a profit we can't afford to lose."
It's too costly to keep folks around, especially on the land that is costing them money and not receiving any revenue from shortage of crop prices. The tenants get a portion of the share of the final profit, which is imperative to sustain their families and lead a life. The money-monster-bank can't see this as anything important, so they have to constantly be making as much money as possible, so they kick the families out on their own and possess their land. The amount paid to the farmer's is too much to be given away, so the bank feels it needs it.
10. Why does Muley share his food with Tom and Casy? What is his argument justifying his obligation to share?
He does this because he has food and the other two men don't. He feels that he doesn't have a choice if one man's hungry and the other man has food, nothing can be done. He has to share. He was brought up on this value, and goes into the farmer morality and the good qualities in the farmer's as opposed to the Bank-monster who feel that if they have money and the farmer/tenants are struggling for it, they have the right to take it away from them and hoard the money for themselves. :(
The owners of the land are the banks, who are characterized by a large, destructive monster who sucks up everything and eats the farmer's. The bank and the company are used because they are associated with money and the process of making more of it. This puts money as the primary concern for them; the top on the list of priorities, leaving little room for caring about the farmers of the land that they work. It repossesses the land in the sake of saving as much money as possible, no matter how minuscule the amount it is.
2. What does the cotton do to the land? Why do the farmers plant it?
The cotton is planted and it takes all the nutrients and water from the already hard-to-work soil. They hope to plant it all and make the land essentially useless, so they can sell to unsuspecting people.
3. What is the role and effect of technology in the mode of production depicted in the novel? What are the effects of increased productivity (due to technology) on the lives of farmers and labourers? How are tractors characterized? How about their drivers? What is their relationship to the land they work? What is happening to the land? What economic trend do the hired tractor drivers represent? What forms of production seem no longer possible? What seems to be the only alternative?
(Tractors --> Described as Insects --> Locusts --> Plague!)
4. What are the tenants thoughts on large amounts of property (five, ten thousand acres)? How does the size of the land affect the relations between the owner and the land he owns? How is the size of the land related to economic imperatives and emerging modes of production?
5. What arguments do the tenants use against the repossession of their lands by the owners? Why do they repeatedly point out that "Grampa took up the land, and he had to kill the Indians and drive them away... and he killed weeds and snakes"? Is this Ironic? Why?
They feel that the repossession isn't at all fair since the land is their livelihood and their way of sustaining themselves, supporting their family. They do so much with it, and they figure they should own because they're physically, mentally, and to some extent emotionally attached to it, rather than holding a piece of paper which is the only notification of the banks' ownership. Comparing snakes and weeds to the Indians, symbolizing them as things that are not wanted on the land that need to get out. However, the irony is that the farmers are mad that they are getting kicked off their land, when in fact Grampa kicked the Indians off their land and they feel this is justified. Snakes are more than likely a biblical reference here.
6. What is the significance of the unhung gate and the story of the Jacobs's baby devoured by a pig because a door was left open? What does the unhung gate indicate? What do the gates symbolize? What is their purpose, both literal and symbolic? How do such images relate to the concerns of the novel?
The gate was never kept open after the incident with the Baby getting eaten by a pig! :) The fact the gate is left open indicated to Tom that no one is around. His family, or more specifically, his mother is dead or they've moved somewhere else.
7. Why is there a picture of an Indian girl ("Red Wing") on the wall of the house? What about the sofa pillow (with a picture of an Indian on it) Grampa stole from Albert Rance? What about Albert's claim that "Grampa got Injun blood"?
Perhaps there is a connection between the manifest destiny and the overtaking of Indian land and the banks repossession of the land from the farmers. The house is desolate, ripped apart, with all the things taken out. Tom Joad has nothing left here, which is how the Native Americans felt once they got their land taken from them while being relocated to reservations or getting killed off.
8. What is the significance of the figure of Muley Graves who refuses to leave the land? What does his name suggest? Why is he "like a damn ol' graveyard ghos'"? Why does he say, "If they throw me off, I'll come back, an' if they figger I'll be quiet underground, why. I'll take couple-three of the sons-a-bitches along for company"? Is this the only ghost that walks the land? What are ghosts anyway? Is this land haunted?
Muley means hornless when referring to a cow, or just a cow without horns. Stubborn as a mule is also an expression which fits the stubborn quality of Graves' wanting to stay on the land to rebel against the owners. Graves equates to death, lack of life, depression, all of which seem to suit the surrounding farmlands. He is described like a graveyard ghost due in part to his name, and perhaps the idea of a ghost town is a town that had all its inhabitants relocated with just empty buildings sitting alone. The farmlands seem to fit this description.
9. Why do the owners claim (in Muley's words) that "We can't afford to keep no tenants... the share a tenant gets is jus' the margin, a profit we can't afford to lose."
It's too costly to keep folks around, especially on the land that is costing them money and not receiving any revenue from shortage of crop prices. The tenants get a portion of the share of the final profit, which is imperative to sustain their families and lead a life. The money-monster-bank can't see this as anything important, so they have to constantly be making as much money as possible, so they kick the families out on their own and possess their land. The amount paid to the farmer's is too much to be given away, so the bank feels it needs it.
10. Why does Muley share his food with Tom and Casy? What is his argument justifying his obligation to share?
He does this because he has food and the other two men don't. He feels that he doesn't have a choice if one man's hungry and the other man has food, nothing can be done. He has to share. He was brought up on this value, and goes into the farmer morality and the good qualities in the farmer's as opposed to the Bank-monster who feel that if they have money and the farmer/tenants are struggling for it, they have the right to take it away from them and hoard the money for themselves. :(
Monday, April 2, 2012
Yay Yay Yay ~ Discussion Group Questions One
1. Look closely at the opening paragraphs. Steinbeck notes details as well as the wide angle shot. He was influenced by film - Pare Lorentz's documentaries The Plow that Broke the Plains and The River - and his description of place is cinematic here. The structure of these paragraphs mirrors the structure of the book, as it moves back and forth form the detailed Joad chapters of the inter chapters that cover a wider perspective.
2. The end of this opening chapter focuses on the people on the land, men vs. women. Note the ways that the book contrasts men's "figuring" to women's methods of coping.
The men appear strong, but don't know what to do once all their crops are gone. The women know that things will be alright as long as something remains. They only wait to see the actions of the men to see if they are ready to give up. Women know that in the end, everything will be alright.
3. Why does Steinbeck first introduce Tom Joad leaving jail? What thematic concerns are thus introduced?
It leaves people with questions but tells what he's been through. Insight is given into his background, meaning he has obviously done something bad, or perhaps he was framed.
4. In Chapter 2 there is a mention of flies and bugs. (Page 5, Chapter 2) Why do you think this will be important?
Because the flies are desperate to get inside. Inside the diner is what they want, but they have an obstacle in the way (screen door) which correlates to the humans around those parts since there is little that can be done to grow crops.
5. What's the description of Tom Joad in chapter 2? What does this description tell us about him? Where did he come from and why was he there?
He has just come from jail and he has a bunch of new clothes on which it is assumed the prison gave him. The clothes are just the standard that are given to everybody that gets out of jail, and it is apparent that he might have a troubled past. He is fresh out of jail and is returning home or going somewhere familiar.
6. What impression do you get of the Truck Driver in chapter 2? Why does he want to be a "Good Guy"? What theme does this reinforce?
Personally, I find him very annoying, especially because he was easily manipulated by Tom Joad and he repeated "Now don't get sore too many times". He wants to be a good guy because of what Tom said since he used his emotions against him. He wants to be a good guy and wants to do the right thing because the rich bastard boss isn't liked by the working class people. We vs. I, People vs. Molloch.
7. What's significant about the following quote: "Sure they stop, but it ain't to eat. They ain't hardly ever hungry. They're just goddamn sick of goin' --get sick of it. Joints is the only place you can pull up, an' you stop you got to buy somepin so you can sling the bull with the broad behind the counter. So you get a cup of coffee and a piece of pie. Kind of gives a guy a little rest."
The truck drivers are desperate for attention or other interaction. This is why he picks up Tom.
8. The turtle chapter is justly famous. Early reviewers often focused only on the historical accuracy of the novel, whereas Steinbeck insisted that he was not writing merely social history. His vision was also highly suggestive, symbolic, mythic. The book, he said, had four layers - readers could take out of the novel what they could, based on their sensitivity and sophistication as readers. The turtle symbolizes the migrants in several ways. Discuss.
The turtle symbolizes the migrant workers because the turtle works hard even through the tough times. The farmers in the first chapter are going to have to work through the drought and rough events even though things seem dire, things will work out in the end, just like the women know.
9. What opinion does Casy, the former preacher, have about sin and using "bad words"?
He says, that there is no sin and there is no virtue. There's just stuff people do. Bad words, he says 'scuse me' after he says hell so he must be a little tense about them, however, given his attitude on religion and how things have turned out in his life, he shouldn't give that much thought to them.
10. Why is it important that Casy was a "Burning Busher"?
Because the Burning Bush alludes to the Bible. The Burning Bush is where Moses was told to lead the Israelites. Suppose it symbolizes dedication to God, as Moses did what God told him by leading them there, given Casy's past experiences as a preacher, he must have obeyed God similarly until he couldn't make sense of it anymore..
11. What's significant about the Jesus Quote? What themes does it reinforce?
The preacher doesn't seem to understand why people have to rely on God and Jesus so much. He says perhaps that maybe the strength of people and the Holy Sperit is within everyone. This correlates to the corporations and all the businesses buying up all the farmland leaving the people out. You can't have one person in power, rather have respect for everyone around. Themes: People vs. Molloch & Importance of Family
2. The end of this opening chapter focuses on the people on the land, men vs. women. Note the ways that the book contrasts men's "figuring" to women's methods of coping.
The men appear strong, but don't know what to do once all their crops are gone. The women know that things will be alright as long as something remains. They only wait to see the actions of the men to see if they are ready to give up. Women know that in the end, everything will be alright.
3. Why does Steinbeck first introduce Tom Joad leaving jail? What thematic concerns are thus introduced?
It leaves people with questions but tells what he's been through. Insight is given into his background, meaning he has obviously done something bad, or perhaps he was framed.
4. In Chapter 2 there is a mention of flies and bugs. (Page 5, Chapter 2) Why do you think this will be important?
Because the flies are desperate to get inside. Inside the diner is what they want, but they have an obstacle in the way (screen door) which correlates to the humans around those parts since there is little that can be done to grow crops.
5. What's the description of Tom Joad in chapter 2? What does this description tell us about him? Where did he come from and why was he there?
He has just come from jail and he has a bunch of new clothes on which it is assumed the prison gave him. The clothes are just the standard that are given to everybody that gets out of jail, and it is apparent that he might have a troubled past. He is fresh out of jail and is returning home or going somewhere familiar.
6. What impression do you get of the Truck Driver in chapter 2? Why does he want to be a "Good Guy"? What theme does this reinforce?
Personally, I find him very annoying, especially because he was easily manipulated by Tom Joad and he repeated "Now don't get sore too many times". He wants to be a good guy because of what Tom said since he used his emotions against him. He wants to be a good guy and wants to do the right thing because the rich bastard boss isn't liked by the working class people. We vs. I, People vs. Molloch.
7. What's significant about the following quote: "Sure they stop, but it ain't to eat. They ain't hardly ever hungry. They're just goddamn sick of goin' --get sick of it. Joints is the only place you can pull up, an' you stop you got to buy somepin so you can sling the bull with the broad behind the counter. So you get a cup of coffee and a piece of pie. Kind of gives a guy a little rest."
The truck drivers are desperate for attention or other interaction. This is why he picks up Tom.
8. The turtle chapter is justly famous. Early reviewers often focused only on the historical accuracy of the novel, whereas Steinbeck insisted that he was not writing merely social history. His vision was also highly suggestive, symbolic, mythic. The book, he said, had four layers - readers could take out of the novel what they could, based on their sensitivity and sophistication as readers. The turtle symbolizes the migrants in several ways. Discuss.
The turtle symbolizes the migrant workers because the turtle works hard even through the tough times. The farmers in the first chapter are going to have to work through the drought and rough events even though things seem dire, things will work out in the end, just like the women know.
9. What opinion does Casy, the former preacher, have about sin and using "bad words"?
He says, that there is no sin and there is no virtue. There's just stuff people do. Bad words, he says 'scuse me' after he says hell so he must be a little tense about them, however, given his attitude on religion and how things have turned out in his life, he shouldn't give that much thought to them.
10. Why is it important that Casy was a "Burning Busher"?
Because the Burning Bush alludes to the Bible. The Burning Bush is where Moses was told to lead the Israelites. Suppose it symbolizes dedication to God, as Moses did what God told him by leading them there, given Casy's past experiences as a preacher, he must have obeyed God similarly until he couldn't make sense of it anymore..
11. What's significant about the Jesus Quote? What themes does it reinforce?
The preacher doesn't seem to understand why people have to rely on God and Jesus so much. He says perhaps that maybe the strength of people and the Holy Sperit is within everyone. This correlates to the corporations and all the businesses buying up all the farmland leaving the people out. You can't have one person in power, rather have respect for everyone around. Themes: People vs. Molloch & Importance of Family
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Movements
Hannibal
St. Petersburg
Movement 1:
Being in and around Petersburg.
(Civilization)
[[[Chapters 1-12]]]
Movement 2:
On the River
River adventures/Jim + Huck Outside of society
[[[Chapters 13-30]]]
Movement 3:
Return to Society
Phelp's Farm
Captives in Society
[[[Chapters 31-43 === Chapter the last]]]
St. Petersburg
Movement 1:
Being in and around Petersburg.
(Civilization)
[[[Chapters 1-12]]]
Movement 2:
On the River
River adventures/Jim + Huck Outside of society
[[[Chapters 13-30]]]
Movement 3:
Return to Society
Phelp's Farm
Captives in Society
[[[Chapters 31-43 === Chapter the last]]]
Episode 1: Chapters 1-4
Episode 2: Chapters 5-8
Episode 3: Chapters 9-11
Episode 4: Chapters 12-16
Episode 5: Chapters 17-18
Episode 6: Chapters 19-20
Episode 7: Chapters 21-23
Episode 8: Chapters 24-30
Episode 9: Chapters 31-43
Episode 1: (Getting Sivilized) Tom's gang, living with Widow Douglas and Ms. Watson, and stealing diamonds from Arabs with elephants! Discovers that Pap is around, but hasn't shown his face, so he goes to the Judge and hides his money so his father can't steal it.
~CHARACTERS~
- Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, Jim, Ms. Watson, Widow Douglas, Judge Thatcher, Tommy Barnes, Ben Rogers, Joe Harper, Aunt Polly,
MAJOR THEME: Superstition vs. Religion, Gullibilty, Death vs. Rebirth, Romanticism vs. Realism.
~CHARACTERS~
- Tom Sawyer, Huckleberry Finn, Jim, Ms. Watson, Widow Douglas, Judge Thatcher, Tommy Barnes, Ben Rogers, Joe Harper, Aunt Polly,
MAJOR THEME: Superstition vs. Religion, Gullibilty, Death vs. Rebirth, Romanticism vs. Realism.
Episode 2: (Pap Returns From The Dead!) Pap comes back upon hearing about his son's wealth and attempts to steal Huck away. He yells at Huck for being better than him and scolds him for having an education. He tries to gain custody, which is successful and he puts on a whole act on how he has done some thinking and has become a changed man. Pap quickly proceeds to get drunk and break his arm falling off the roof of the Judge's house. Soon after, he steals Huck away and ventures off deep into nowhere + drunken tirades in the cabin.
~CHARACTERS~
- Pap, New Judge, New Judge's Wife, Townspeople eager to see Pap was a changed man.
MAJOR THEME: Meaning of family, Death vs. Rebirth
~CHARACTERS~
- Pap, New Judge, New Judge's Wife, Townspeople eager to see Pap was a changed man.
MAJOR THEME: Meaning of family, Death vs. Rebirth
Episode 3: (Escape From Father) Essentially starts when Huck lands on Jackson Island the first time. Huck fakes his death with the slaughter of a pig and some other various details. With this, he escapes his father's captivity and flees to Jackson Island where he meets Ms. Watson's runaway slave, Jim! Jim and Huck discuss with each other how they each ended up on the island. Meeting with Judith Loftus and Huck attempting to be a little girl. Judith Loftus gives Huck a lot of information about what had recently happened in town with the runaway slave and the dead boy.
~CHARACTERS~
- Slaughtered Pig, Judith Loftus, Mr. Loftus, Sarah Mary Williams (Huck's Persona), George Peters (another Huck Persona),
MAJOR THEME: Death vs. Rebirth
~CHARACTERS~
- Slaughtered Pig, Judith Loftus, Mr. Loftus, Sarah Mary Williams (Huck's Persona), George Peters (another Huck Persona),
MAJOR THEME: Death vs. Rebirth
Episode 4: (Floatin' Down The River) Jim + Huck survive the storm and start to go down the river on a raft they found. They happen to run into a ship with murderers inside, escape evil slave-traders, get separated by a dense fog, and get ran over by a steamboat!
~CHARACTERS~
- Dead Pap in a House, Slave Hunters, Walter Scott (As a boat), Bill Whipple, Jake Packard, Jim Turner
MAJOR THEME: Meaning of Freedom, Tolerance vs. Prejudice, Romanticism vs. Reality,
~CHARACTERS~
- Dead Pap in a House, Slave Hunters, Walter Scott (As a boat), Bill Whipple, Jake Packard, Jim Turner
MAJOR THEME: Meaning of Freedom, Tolerance vs. Prejudice, Romanticism vs. Reality,
Episode 5: (The Feud) Huck and Jim are separated and Huck finds refuge with a rich Grangerford family. The family is in a bitter feud with the rival Shepardsons and Huck attempts to stay in the background and not get involved with any of the violence and hatred. After some people die from both sides of the family in a few battles, Huck and Jim become reunited and set out to continue their journey on the raft.
~CHARACTERS~
- George Jackson (Huck's Persona), Bob Grangerford, Tom Grangerford, Betsy Grangerford (Slave), Buck Grangerford, Saul Grangerford, Rachel Grangerford, Mary Ann Jackson (fake sister), Emmeline Grangerford (The Dead One), Colonel Grangerford, Miss Charlotte, Miss Sophia, Harney Shepardson, Bud Grangerford, Baldy Shepardson, Joe Grangerford.
MAJOR THEME: Romanticism vs. Reality. Death vs. Rebirth, Meaning of Family.
~CHARACTERS~
- George Jackson (Huck's Persona), Bob Grangerford, Tom Grangerford, Betsy Grangerford (Slave), Buck Grangerford, Saul Grangerford, Rachel Grangerford, Mary Ann Jackson (fake sister), Emmeline Grangerford (The Dead One), Colonel Grangerford, Miss Charlotte, Miss Sophia, Harney Shepardson, Bud Grangerford, Baldy Shepardson, Joe Grangerford.
MAJOR THEME: Romanticism vs. Reality. Death vs. Rebirth, Meaning of Family.
Episode 6: (Naked On A Raft) Jim and Huck realize how free they are, out of the society where no one has the power to tell them what to do or where to go or how to live. They don't wear clothes because no one is around to judge them or say otherwise. They are at peace, yet they still use caution when they roam around closeby a town, since Jim is a runaway, he doesn't want him to get caught so they make their way by slowly until nightfall hides them. Soon after docking at one point, they run into two men who claim they are long-lost descendants of European royalty.
~CHARACTERS~
- King and Duke.
MAJOR THEME: Meaning of Freedom, Gullibility, Romanticism vs. Reality!
~CHARACTERS~
- King and Duke.
MAJOR THEME: Meaning of Freedom, Gullibility, Romanticism vs. Reality!
Episode 7: (A Bunch Of Scams) The two men, the King and the Duke, are obviously scammers/con-artists and Huck knows it, but doesn't state it out loud to Jim. He avoids any trouble and keeps to himself while him and Jim follow the two men around as they try to fool people out of their money. They start by playing a show at a circus that flops. Then they make a silly show that does amazingly well, but angers the townsfolk at the same time. Angry people start telling other angry people to go, just so the whole town can be fooled and share the rage everyone else has. The four guys get away before any real harm is done to them. They continue to float down the river, trying different schemes on each new town to see which one is the most successful.
~CHARACTERS~
- Old Boggs, Ringmaster, Colonel Sherburn, Buck Harkness, David Garrick, Edward Kean (both personas of the king and duke.),
MAJOR THEME: Gullibility, Human Cruelty, Appearance vs. Reality, Dehumanization.
~CHARACTERS~
- Old Boggs, Ringmaster, Colonel Sherburn, Buck Harkness, David Garrick, Edward Kean (both personas of the king and duke.),
MAJOR THEME: Gullibility, Human Cruelty, Appearance vs. Reality, Dehumanization.
Episode 8: (The Dead Peter Wilks) The two men catch a rumour on a steamboat about a wealthy man named Peter Wilks who has recently died and his brothers were supposed to come from England to see him before he passed. IDEA! The King and the Duke pose as the two brothers and try to trick the Wilks' family out of their money. This means leaving three poor, innocent young girls orphaned and without any possessions. This is when Huck starts to get defensive because he doesn't feel that the King and the Duke are really doing a good thing. They've taken it too far, so Huck tells the truth to Mary Jane Wilks, the oldest of the three girls as well as the one Huck develops feelings for, and has her run away while he tries to sort things out for the benefit of the family. Sadly, he cannot help that much and ends up almost getting killed when another pair of people claiming they are the Wilks brothers come into town. The whole town gets curious and Huck just barely escapes right before the dead brother is dug up. Huck runs to get away because he has finally gotten away from the King and the Duke, but they are close behind as they too got away from the townspeople because they told a really lucky lie. They proceed along the way until they reach another town where they wish to attempt their "Royal Nonesuch" play once again. However, this time, Jim is missing, and instead of helping the King and the Duke, he decides to run away and go save Jim because he has been his best friend all this time
~CHARACTERS~
- Men on Steamboat, Mary Jane Wilks, Susan Wilks, Joanna 'Hare-Lip' Wilks, Undertaker, King pretending to be Harvey Wilks, Duke pretending to be William Wilks, Lawyer Bill, Dr. Robinson, Abner Shackleford, Dog, Ab Turner.
MAJOR THEME: Meaning of Family, Role of the Outsider, Death vs. Rebirth, Appearance vs. Reality, Dehumanization.
~CHARACTERS~
- Men on Steamboat, Mary Jane Wilks, Susan Wilks, Joanna 'Hare-Lip' Wilks, Undertaker, King pretending to be Harvey Wilks, Duke pretending to be William Wilks, Lawyer Bill, Dr. Robinson, Abner Shackleford, Dog, Ab Turner.
MAJOR THEME: Meaning of Family, Role of the Outsider, Death vs. Rebirth, Appearance vs. Reality, Dehumanization.
Episode 9: (The Phelps Farm) Adamant on his decision of freeing Jim, Huck arrives at the farm where Jim is being held captive, but surprisingly he is happily greeted by the Phelps family who mistake him for Tom Sawyer. When the actual Tom Sawyer arrives in town, Huck and him meet so Tom can pretend to be Sid Sawyer, a long lost cousin. The two live in the house for a while, but Tom comes up with the plans to help Jim escape. Sadly, they are elaborate and certainly unnecessary, only giving him rat bites and nearly taking out all his teeth. (Don't ask!)
~CHARACTERS~
- Silas Phelps, Mrs. Phelps, Tom Sawyer (actually Huck.), Sid Sawyer (actually Tom Sawyer.), Jim, Other slaves, Townsfolk.
MAJOR THEME: Meaning of Family, Romanticism vs. Realism, Appearance vs. Reality
3 Scenarios about Death & Rebirth
-Huck faking his own death to escape Pap to become reborn on Jackson Island. Huck is essentially a slave in his confines in the cabin.
-Pap actually dying, meaning that Huck is actually free from the custody of his father and is able to freely explore the world on the raft with his new friend, Jim.
-Jim's owner, Ms. Watson, has died meaning that Jim isn't owned by anyone. Plus, he is given $40 because he has a hairy chest (superstition!?#?!@#)
4 People Huck pretends to be:
George Jaxon
George Peters
Sarah Mary Williams
Tom Sawyer
Adolphus (Servant to Duke and King)
Climax to the novel: When Huck says aloud, "Fine, I'll go to Hell." Stating his decision to go against society and everything that he has been taught as 'right' to go to hell for a friend and save him from slavery, which was technically his mission from the start.
Inciting Event: Discovering that Pap is back from the dead according to the notion that everyone thinks he died in a river a while back. When Pap is found in Huck's room, berating him for his education and his money, the conflict starts as Huck is soon kidnapped and has his money taken away. (But not really, Huck gets it all at the end.)
Duke and King: These two characters are important because they satirize the simple nature of human qualities. They take advantage of emotions, gullibility, and the fact that
Jim Turner: The man tied up in the Walter Scott. Reinforces Romanticism vs. Reality because he is part of a real-life cutthroat gang who go against him and are in the midst of leaving him for dead in a sinking boat, which contrasts the happy gang of boys in Hookersville looting Arabs and fighting elephants.
Judith Loftus: New girl in town that Huck gathers information from when he disguises himself as a girl in the town. Huck finds out that she has spotted smoke coming from Jackson Island which triggers Huck to tell Jim that they both need to run away in order to stay free. Hypocrisy reinforced in this woman.
Doctor Robinson: The only person that outwardly speaks against the Duke and the King in the Peter Wilks scam. No one believes him because he is a symbol of realism and the romantic experience that the King and the Duke have created for this whole town is just too good for it NOT to be true. Twain satirizes the stupidity of the townspeople and how they believe such a man who banters about orgies and latin/hebrew etymology.
William Wilks: Deaf brother of the Wilks that the Duke impersonates throughout their stay at the Wilks' town. The two conmen are so greedy that they have stooped to a whole new low, while still employing an elaborate plan to take advantage of poor little orphan girls.
Allusions:
Bible - Don Quixote - 1001 Arabian Nights - Shakespeare - Last of the Mohicans - Walter Scott - George Washington - Aladin - Alexander the Great coming over to America
A cow is not a cat, and a Frenchman is not a man because he doesn't talk like a man.
Who is Miss Hooker?: She is somebody that Huck makes up in order to have the steamboat captain to help the murderers on the Walter Scott.
~CHARACTERS~
- Silas Phelps, Mrs. Phelps, Tom Sawyer (actually Huck.), Sid Sawyer (actually Tom Sawyer.), Jim, Other slaves, Townsfolk.
MAJOR THEME: Meaning of Family, Romanticism vs. Realism, Appearance vs. Reality
3 Scenarios about Death & Rebirth
-Huck faking his own death to escape Pap to become reborn on Jackson Island. Huck is essentially a slave in his confines in the cabin.
-Pap actually dying, meaning that Huck is actually free from the custody of his father and is able to freely explore the world on the raft with his new friend, Jim.
-Jim's owner, Ms. Watson, has died meaning that Jim isn't owned by anyone. Plus, he is given $40 because he has a hairy chest (superstition!?#?!@#)
4 People Huck pretends to be:
George Jaxon
George Peters
Sarah Mary Williams
Tom Sawyer
Adolphus (Servant to Duke and King)
Climax to the novel: When Huck says aloud, "Fine, I'll go to Hell." Stating his decision to go against society and everything that he has been taught as 'right' to go to hell for a friend and save him from slavery, which was technically his mission from the start.
Inciting Event: Discovering that Pap is back from the dead according to the notion that everyone thinks he died in a river a while back. When Pap is found in Huck's room, berating him for his education and his money, the conflict starts as Huck is soon kidnapped and has his money taken away. (But not really, Huck gets it all at the end.)
Duke and King: These two characters are important because they satirize the simple nature of human qualities. They take advantage of emotions, gullibility, and the fact that
Jim Turner: The man tied up in the Walter Scott. Reinforces Romanticism vs. Reality because he is part of a real-life cutthroat gang who go against him and are in the midst of leaving him for dead in a sinking boat, which contrasts the happy gang of boys in Hookersville looting Arabs and fighting elephants.
Judith Loftus: New girl in town that Huck gathers information from when he disguises himself as a girl in the town. Huck finds out that she has spotted smoke coming from Jackson Island which triggers Huck to tell Jim that they both need to run away in order to stay free. Hypocrisy reinforced in this woman.
Doctor Robinson: The only person that outwardly speaks against the Duke and the King in the Peter Wilks scam. No one believes him because he is a symbol of realism and the romantic experience that the King and the Duke have created for this whole town is just too good for it NOT to be true. Twain satirizes the stupidity of the townspeople and how they believe such a man who banters about orgies and latin/hebrew etymology.
William Wilks: Deaf brother of the Wilks that the Duke impersonates throughout their stay at the Wilks' town. The two conmen are so greedy that they have stooped to a whole new low, while still employing an elaborate plan to take advantage of poor little orphan girls.
Allusions:
Bible - Don Quixote - 1001 Arabian Nights - Shakespeare - Last of the Mohicans - Walter Scott - George Washington - Aladin - Alexander the Great coming over to America
A cow is not a cat, and a Frenchman is not a man because he doesn't talk like a man.
Who is Miss Hooker?: She is somebody that Huck makes up in order to have the steamboat captain to help the murderers on the Walter Scott.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Vocabulary Words (:
Captivate - (v.) To attract and hold the interest of.
"Marlee said that the book didn't captivate her, so she set fire to her brother, who had recommended it to her."
Rummage - (v.) To search, look through intensely.
"I was mad when I found Linda rummaging through my closet for my hidden stash of money."
Warble - (v.) To sing softly, normally associated with a bird.
"Cassandra tended to warble as she walked through the school, and everybody listened intently because they thought birds were invading the hallways."
Fluster - (v.) To confuse, overwhelm, or agitated.
"K.C. thought it would be funny to fluster Jake by holding his memory card hostage at gunpoint while demanding a $25,000,000,000 ransom.
Sluice - (n.) A device used in shifting the path of flowing water.
"The sluice was positioned in the water in the worst possible place, and I ended up crashing my canoe because of it."
Waylay - (v.) Stop and interrupt, deter attention in the midst of conversation.
"Adrian was walking down the stairs when Bailey waylaid him by talking about a lost labrador."
Azure - (adj.) Very bright and blue.
"In class, I asked Penelope if she knew a cool word for blue, and she responded with azure, and with that word, I got an A+ on my math test."
Plumb - (v.) To explore or fully experience
"The Matthews brothers were in town to plumb the caves in the nearby mountainside where treasure was rumoured to be held."
Contrive - (v.) Create, or bring about using skill or talent.
"Nick contrived a golden necklace that he had been working on for seven years."
Affront - (n.) An action or words that offends someone or causes disruption.
"Such an affront spoken by the Vice President caused a controversey leading to his assassination as well as his chain of fast food restaurants getting shut down."
Taper - (n.) A slender candle, or a narrowing of an object.
"Tony carried a taper along with him at night because he was too poor to afford electricity."
Notion - (n.) An idea or understanding of a certain situation.
"When I suggested naptime for high schoolers to the school board, the principal retorted, 'I second that notion!'"
"Marlee said that the book didn't captivate her, so she set fire to her brother, who had recommended it to her."
Rummage - (v.) To search, look through intensely.
"I was mad when I found Linda rummaging through my closet for my hidden stash of money."
Warble - (v.) To sing softly, normally associated with a bird.
"Cassandra tended to warble as she walked through the school, and everybody listened intently because they thought birds were invading the hallways."
Fluster - (v.) To confuse, overwhelm, or agitated.
"K.C. thought it would be funny to fluster Jake by holding his memory card hostage at gunpoint while demanding a $25,000,000,000 ransom.
Sluice - (n.) A device used in shifting the path of flowing water.
"The sluice was positioned in the water in the worst possible place, and I ended up crashing my canoe because of it."
Waylay - (v.) Stop and interrupt, deter attention in the midst of conversation.
"Adrian was walking down the stairs when Bailey waylaid him by talking about a lost labrador."
Azure - (adj.) Very bright and blue.
"In class, I asked Penelope if she knew a cool word for blue, and she responded with azure, and with that word, I got an A+ on my math test."
"The Matthews brothers were in town to plumb the caves in the nearby mountainside where treasure was rumoured to be held."
Contrive - (v.) Create, or bring about using skill or talent.
"Nick contrived a golden necklace that he had been working on for seven years."
Affront - (n.) An action or words that offends someone or causes disruption.
"Such an affront spoken by the Vice President caused a controversey leading to his assassination as well as his chain of fast food restaurants getting shut down."
Taper - (n.) A slender candle, or a narrowing of an object.
"Tony carried a taper along with him at night because he was too poor to afford electricity."
Notion - (n.) An idea or understanding of a certain situation.
"When I suggested naptime for high schoolers to the school board, the principal retorted, 'I second that notion!'"
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Huck Finn Essay about Romanticism and Why it Sucks.
Directions: Please write a minimum of three paragraphs on the following topic. Supply evidence from Chapters 35 - 39 to support your answer. It is due next class period. Think carefully about your answer.
Twain criticizes the Romantics. The Romantics based their literature on the conviction that imagination and emotion were superior to reason. You will recall that in Chapters 12 & 13, Twain names the wrecked steamboat The Walter Scott after a Romantic author, metaphorically relating it to the demise of Romanticism. Obviously, Twain was not a fan of Romantic fiction.
Twain criticizes the Romantics. The Romantics based their literature on the conviction that imagination and emotion were superior to reason. You will recall that in Chapters 12 & 13, Twain names the wrecked steamboat The Walter Scott after a Romantic author, metaphorically relating it to the demise of Romanticism. Obviously, Twain was not a fan of Romantic fiction.
Mark Twain is obviously not too thrilled with the way some authors write their books about adventure stories and unrealistic, fantastic occurrences. The literary movement of romanticism has been a big target of disdain for Mr. Twain, most notably through chapters 35-39 in his book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.
Earlier in the book, Twain named a sinking boat "The Walter Scott" after a writer of very romantic literature. He used this event as a device to show the reader that realism is obviously superior and the old ways of romantic writing and storytelling were becoming obsolete. Further evidence found further along, starting around Chapter 18, puts the main character, Huck, in the middle of a feud between two southern families. Another jab at this form of writing, this time mocking the Romeo & Juliet-type feud and the notion of family honour. These are Twain's little bits of fun he throws into the story to give the reader a sense of what is a much better style of writing. However, in chapters 35-39, Twain truly develops the idea with the character of Tom Sawyer and the plan he formulates to break Jim out of his family's house! Tom comes up with a unnecessarily elaborate plan to steal Jim, which at one point he admits might take 37 to 38 years of digging with knives! His plans become more and more strange, more twisted, with almost no thought of how Jim feels about the whole situation. Tom wants to have fun at the expense of Jim, and not accomplish a goal or do anything worthwhile. It's apparent that if he contributes to making a name of a soon-to-be famous prisoner that escaped while battling snakes and spiders for years and years and recorded every single event that happened on a t-shirt written in his own blood, he'll feel much better than having done the right thing by helping an innocent man gain his freedom.
A typical response to this type of behaviour might be that Tom is acting pretty childish. Gaining amusement out of someone else's struggles and prolonging an unpleasant thing to satisfy himself is pretty foolish and wrong, which is what Twain's big picture is all about. Overall, romanticism is childish. It achieves nothing, doesn't present realistic events, and doesn't capture a true life; expressing foolish escapades of fun that really don't amount to anything. Huck feels he needs to do whatever it takes to get his friend to a better place, which is the right thing to do, yet Tom encapsulates the model of a corrupt society. A person fitting into this society is someone who will attempt to please his or her self by attempting to quench an insatiable greed for adventure and adrenaline. Nothing ever gets accomplished, shown by how long Huck and Tom have been staying at the house with no legitimate progress shown. And that's the way it is, and that's the way Twain sees it, horrified at the lack of realism in literature.
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Episode 8 Summary
Summary:
The band of characters find a town and ask around on a steamboat about what is going on there. News is that a man has just died there recently and his brothers were supposed to come down from far away in Europe. It would be awful nice if the brothers could come and see him before he died, but it was too late, yet they could still make it to the funeral. The duke and the King prod people for as much information as they can regarding this situation, and they decide to pose as Peter Wilks' brothers. They do this, and are greeted with welcome arms in the household and make a big scene that everybody believes to be true about their coming from England to make peace with their brother. Huck begins to realize how cruel this scheme is and develops some moral evaluations about the duke and the king now. The girls are robbed blind of their money without even knowing it and Huck feels that that is very wrong so he comes up with some plans. He confesses the truth to Mary Jane Wilks, the oldest of the three daughters, and tells her to run away until he can figure out how to handle what's going on. Another pair of men come in claiming they are the brothers as well and a big controversey ensues. People try to put the two pairs through tests in order to see who is truly related to the Wilks. It's soon decided that they need to dig up Peter Wilks and settle it once and for all. Once the body is dug up, Huck makes a run for the raft, thinking he can escape the duke and the king for good and live as he used to with Jim. He finds Jim on the raft and they untie and set off, but much to their dismay, the duke and king are following close behind, able to get away from the townspeople.
List of New Characters:
Personas:
Harvey Wilks
Deaf-Dumb brother Wilks
Huck = Harvey Wilks' servant
Major Themes:
Meaning of Family
Gullibility
Realism vs. Romanticism
Coming of Age
Appearance vs. Reality
Hypocrisy
Allusions, Symbols, Ironies:
King Lear's outfit being put on Jim.
The family as a symbol of gullibility and hypocrisy. Also romanticizing about their uncles traveling the world to meet them.
The Undertaker ironically being a prominent, influential figure in the community.
Discuss Huck's change in this episode:
Huck has stepped out from the shadows and stopped watching the action unfold before him. He is taking initiative and stepping into a more assertive, controlling state. His morals have become to influence his actions and he is seeing that he change things for the better and help people that are in need.
The band of characters find a town and ask around on a steamboat about what is going on there. News is that a man has just died there recently and his brothers were supposed to come down from far away in Europe. It would be awful nice if the brothers could come and see him before he died, but it was too late, yet they could still make it to the funeral. The duke and the King prod people for as much information as they can regarding this situation, and they decide to pose as Peter Wilks' brothers. They do this, and are greeted with welcome arms in the household and make a big scene that everybody believes to be true about their coming from England to make peace with their brother. Huck begins to realize how cruel this scheme is and develops some moral evaluations about the duke and the king now. The girls are robbed blind of their money without even knowing it and Huck feels that that is very wrong so he comes up with some plans. He confesses the truth to Mary Jane Wilks, the oldest of the three daughters, and tells her to run away until he can figure out how to handle what's going on. Another pair of men come in claiming they are the brothers as well and a big controversey ensues. People try to put the two pairs through tests in order to see who is truly related to the Wilks. It's soon decided that they need to dig up Peter Wilks and settle it once and for all. Once the body is dug up, Huck makes a run for the raft, thinking he can escape the duke and the king for good and live as he used to with Jim. He finds Jim on the raft and they untie and set off, but much to their dismay, the duke and king are following close behind, able to get away from the townspeople.
List of New Characters:
-Lawyer
-Doctor Robinson
-Mary Jane Wilks
-'Hare-lip' Joanna Wilks
-Sarah Wilks
-Townspeople
-UndertakerPersonas:
Harvey Wilks
Deaf-Dumb brother Wilks
Huck = Harvey Wilks' servant
Major Themes:
Meaning of Family
Gullibility
Realism vs. Romanticism
Coming of Age
Appearance vs. Reality
Hypocrisy
Allusions, Symbols, Ironies:
King Lear's outfit being put on Jim.
The family as a symbol of gullibility and hypocrisy. Also romanticizing about their uncles traveling the world to meet them.
The Undertaker ironically being a prominent, influential figure in the community.
Discuss Huck's change in this episode:
Huck has stepped out from the shadows and stopped watching the action unfold before him. He is taking initiative and stepping into a more assertive, controlling state. His morals have become to influence his actions and he is seeing that he change things for the better and help people that are in need.
Prints of Whales Trip ~_~ Homework
1. Why does Huck observe but does not participate in the schemes of the duke and king?
Because he is being an observer. He doesn't want to get involved in whatever sort of crime they are putting themselves into. He also knows what they are doing is wrong and doesn't really want to do the wrong thing even though some acts may be alright in the view of the common people in the society. Huck doesn't want to cause any upsets within the raft either, he figures being peaceful with the two men while they adventure with Huck and Jim is a lot better than starting a quarrel and getting their raft jacked and maybe even getting killed!
2. Through the Grangerford episode, Twain was able to criticize the myth of Southern honor. What myth of Southern life does Twain satirize in the Sherburn / Boggs incident (which, by the way, was based on a true incident)? What aspect of human nature does Twain satirize through the scene in the drugstore?
Because he is being an observer. He doesn't want to get involved in whatever sort of crime they are putting themselves into. He also knows what they are doing is wrong and doesn't really want to do the wrong thing even though some acts may be alright in the view of the common people in the society. Huck doesn't want to cause any upsets within the raft either, he figures being peaceful with the two men while they adventure with Huck and Jim is a lot better than starting a quarrel and getting their raft jacked and maybe even getting killed!
2. Through the Grangerford episode, Twain was able to criticize the myth of Southern honor. What myth of Southern life does Twain satirize in the Sherburn / Boggs incident (which, by the way, was based on a true incident)? What aspect of human nature does Twain satirize through the scene in the drugstore?
The vigilante justice, the law is in the hands of the Southerners. The title of being a man is something held in high regard as well and when that title is insulted or one does not simply live up to be a man, they are depressed and hurt, as shown in the town's attitude when the Sheriff mocks the whole community.
3. Compare the circus with the entertainment supplied by the duke and king?
The circus is full of talent and there are some people present to watch it. The duke and the king overhype their performance and fish in a large crowd and make a large sum of money with guaranteed customers the next day. The hard work of the skilled circus workers doesn't nearly get them enough earnings as the phony conmen with their silly show.
4. What does Huck's reaction to the circus incident tell us about him? Whom does he think was most deceived?
5. What is Twain implying about human nature through the advertising for the "Royal Nonesuch"?
3. Compare the circus with the entertainment supplied by the duke and king?
The circus is full of talent and there are some people present to watch it. The duke and the king overhype their performance and fish in a large crowd and make a large sum of money with guaranteed customers the next day. The hard work of the skilled circus workers doesn't nearly get them enough earnings as the phony conmen with their silly show.
4. What does Huck's reaction to the circus incident tell us about him? Whom does he think was most deceived?
5. What is Twain implying about human nature through the advertising for the "Royal Nonesuch"?
The people are more inclined to go see it if the women and children aren't permitted, for it may have sensitive/suggestive material. This means that humans are more likely to want to come see some unrated entertainment, the worse of what there is to offer, rather than clean, family fun such as watching elephants juggle or monkeys doing handstands.
6. "What was the use to tell Jim these warn't real kings and dukes? It wouldn't a done no good; and besides, it was just as I said; you couldn't tell them from the real kind." What does Twain imply?
Royalty figures are being mocked and they aren't something to be looked up to and Huck does not wish to expose the true situation to Jim for it wouldn't make much of a difference and it could start a fight and get them into some trouble that they want to avoid.
7. What is significant about the story of 'Lizabeth?
6. "What was the use to tell Jim these warn't real kings and dukes? It wouldn't a done no good; and besides, it was just as I said; you couldn't tell them from the real kind." What does Twain imply?
Royalty figures are being mocked and they aren't something to be looked up to and Huck does not wish to expose the true situation to Jim for it wouldn't make much of a difference and it could start a fight and get them into some trouble that they want to avoid.
7. What is significant about the story of 'Lizabeth?
It shows a deeper, sentimental side of Jim that the society refuses to acknowledge he has. He is filled with guilt and sorrow for what he has done to his daughter. Jim is unable to forgive himself, which is a strong feeling that the whites deny the blacks of having.
8. Tell Huck's story so far. Develop a chronology of events - the more detailed the better!
8. Tell Huck's story so far. Develop a chronology of events - the more detailed the better!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Huck Discussion Questions XXIV - XXVII
1. As we have discussed, clothes can play a symbolic or thematic role in the novel. Huck even says that he "never knowed how clothes could change a body before." Discuss the thematic role of clothes in these chapters.
There has been a lack of clothes of both Jim and Huck in previous chapters where they were out on the raft, having a good time away from everybody. They were at peace, and nothing could change that, and no one was there to judge the fact that they weren't clothed.
2. Comment on the last paragraph of Chapter XXIV. Make a connection to Twain's description of the Arkansas town. Why is Huck's response to the Peter Wilks incident so strong? Why does Huck make moral evaluations now (you'll recall that he remained morally neutral concerning the prior schemes of the duke and king)?
Huck is starting to develop feelings and morals. Not that he didn't have any to begin the book with, but he is building them up and they are coming to become his character and act as a more prevalent figure in his life. He starts rationalizing everything that is going on despite what everyone else/society seems to believe and makes his own judgement which only gets stronger and more educated as he goes on.
3. What qualities do the Wilks girls have that allow them to be fooled so easily?
Being in the society, being orphans now, and having never seen their uncles before and having the two men stroll in and act as their family. They are eager for their uncles to arrive and the romantic notion that they would make such a long travel is so appealing to them, any pair of men that walked through the door saying they were related, they would've believed!
4. Why is it significant that Joanna eats in the kitchen? What is the significance of her nickname? What themes are revealed?
1. As we have discussed, clothes can play a symbolic or thematic role in the novel. Huck even says that he "never knowed how clothes could change a body before." Discuss the thematic role of clothes in these chapters.
There has been a lack of clothes of both Jim and Huck in previous chapters where they were out on the raft, having a good time away from everybody. They were at peace, and nothing could change that, and no one was there to judge the fact that they weren't clothed.
2. Comment on the last paragraph of Chapter XXIV. Make a connection to Twain's description of the Arkansas town. Why is Huck's response to the Peter Wilks incident so strong? Why does Huck make moral evaluations now (you'll recall that he remained morally neutral concerning the prior schemes of the duke and king)?
Huck is starting to develop feelings and morals. Not that he didn't have any to begin the book with, but he is building them up and they are coming to become his character and act as a more prevalent figure in his life. He starts rationalizing everything that is going on despite what everyone else/society seems to believe and makes his own judgement which only gets stronger and more educated as he goes on.
3. What qualities do the Wilks girls have that allow them to be fooled so easily?
Being in the society, being orphans now, and having never seen their uncles before and having the two men stroll in and act as their family. They are eager for their uncles to arrive and the romantic notion that they would make such a long travel is so appealing to them, any pair of men that walked through the door saying they were related, they would've believed!
4. Why is it significant that Joanna eats in the kitchen? What is the significance of her nickname? What themes are revealed?
Eating in the kitchen is a sign of poverty, servitude, being a slave, etc.! Most people, notably richer families, have dining areas/dining rooms separate from the kitchen where slaves aren't permitted to join them.
5. Previously Huck has refused to hinder the antics of the king and duke. Now he attempts to foil their scheme. Why? What theme(s) from the novel can you apply to Huck's change in attitude?
Huck feels horrible for what the King and Duke are doing to the poor, now-orphaned girls. They are being manipulated and taken advantage of and Huck feels it's gone too far this time, as opposed to their previous schemes. Huck doesn't want the girls to suffer any more than they already have and he must reveal to them that they are not actually the girls' uncles and in fact frauds out for their own benefit.
Huck Questions XXVIII - XXX
1. Twain was heavily criticized for bad taste due to his description of the funeral toward the end of Chapter XXVII. Why do you think he was criticized, and do you think the criticism justified?
Because the undertaker, someone who is connected with death and sadness is portrayed as someone the town looks up to and very friendly. He also kills a dog at will just for making too much noise in the cellar and then lies about it. This chapter takes such a sad setting such as a funeral and pokes fun at how serious it seems to be and how people tend to over-emotionalize/romanticize death when realistically, he feels that the people are gone forever and people need not feel sad over it for too long and just get on with life.
2. On page 141 Huck says, ". . . here's a case where I'm blest if it don't look to me like the truth is better, and actuly safer, than a lie." Explain.
Huck tells the truth to Mary Jane because he feels that she doesn't deserve another person lying to her, and that if he created more lies it would fall back on him
3. In these three chapters Huck finds himself having to lie for various reasons. How do his motives differ?
Huck has changed at this point in the book, and all lies and fibs previous were to just save himself and not cause trouble. Huck's motives have changed as he discovers his feelings and finds good/bad qualities in people. He feels the need to lie now to protect people and prevent people from being betrayed or hurt by the lies of others.
4. Why doesn't Twain involve Jim more in these chapters?
Because he is currently painted as a blue Arab to avoid detection. I think Twain put him out of the way like this because he knew the attitude towards blacks from the people of the time and wanted to show that with him out of the way, the white people can do just as bad (if not worse!) as the blacks in the view of society.
5. Does Huck's escape from Hines say anything about Hines' character?
It shows the excitement/romanticism that goes with finding/digging up a large bag of gold in a grave somewhere in the hills. It is distracting and is important to a lot of people and Twain doesn't seem to like that. Hines' actions also show greed, reinforcing a corrupt society.
6. How does Huck feel about Mary Jane? Why does Huck tell her to go away? Significance?
He has feelings for all three girls but most for Mary Jane. She is the only one he trusts in telling the truth to, and has her run away while he attempts to sort something out.
7. Discuss the significance of Huck's statement, ". . . anybody but a lot of prejudiced chuckleheads would a seen that the old gentlemen was spinning truth and t'other one lies."
Huck thinks it obvious which story is real and which is not, and is saying that had he not been with the king and the duke to begin with, he would've seen through them just as easy. However, the family has romanticized the idea that their uncles had come from far off in order to see their dead brother so the family was in a position to believe just about anyone that would fit the story.
8. What does the doctor represent?
Realism, for he presents logical thinking in the debate on whether or not the king and the duke are frauds.
9. By the end of Chapter XXX, do you think Twain vindicates the characters of the duke and king or does he have them remain as villains? Explain.
He has them remain as villains, and does so to help build Huck's character. Huck needs to learn through these two men that there is something wrong with the way they carry out their work and the life they lead.
Huck Discussion Questions XXXI - XXXV
1. Would you say that Chapter 31 represents the climax of the novel? Why or why not?
Yes, because Huck is finally making a decision. He is setting himself down a path of unholiness and crime against God because he feels it is how he is raised and it is what he is meant to do. Huck is actually doing an exceptionally kind act for a friend that he cares a lot for. Up to this point, Huck has been questioning what he should do and has been taking a back-seat through all the events, just going along with it. This time, he sets himself straight, and determines for himself where he needs to go in life.
2. Huck says, "All right, then, I'll go to hell." Explain the irony in that statement.
2. Huck says, "All right, then, I'll go to hell." Explain the irony in that statement.
The statement is the climax of the story. Huck accepts his fate in doing something wrong in stealing someone's property in order to gain back his friend. However, he only feels that this is a bad idea and will condemn him to eternal damnation in hell because of the society, for what he is doing is actually very good-hearted.
3. Discuss the symbolism of the imagery at the beginning of Chapter 32.
The farm-life and the surrounding area is peaceful, it appears to foreshadow the significance of the area and the people because it is going to be familiar to Huck as it is the land of Tom Sawyer, whom he is well acquainted with.
4. Discuss Huck's understanding of Providence (215)? Would Miss Watson agree?
Huck's wits and natural gift of thinking well on his feet in order to save himself some trouble have been acredited to Providence. Miss Watson probably wouldn't agree with such a statement, nor would she agree with the fact that stealing property such as a slave just to set him free would be an instant free ride to the pits of hell either. Huck hasn't learned that he can be forgiven by God, and the world around him clouds what is actually right because his actions/intentions are pure.
5. How does Twain use irony in the discussion between Huck and Mrs. Phelps about the "steamboat accident."
Phelps asks if anyone was hurt, and is relieved to hear that only a black person has died. Blacks are still not considered people and the fact that one died sits well within the society since they are nothing more than easily renewable property.
6. One of the recurring themes becomes apparent when Huck discovers that the Phelps are expecting Tom Sawyer. Which theme comes to mind and why?
Romanticism vs. Reality. The situation that Twain presents is highly unrealistic. It's literally a one and a million chance of such a thing happening and it is a recurring theme in most adventure novels and romantic titles that Twain has openly despised. This makes sense as Tom is somewhat a symbol of the adventure-seeking romanticist while also being a product of a corrupt society. Twain could be suggesting a connection between romanticizing an adventurous life and not embracing realistic events could be the reason why corruption and bad people exist. (It's a stretch, but whatever.)
7. Huck and Tom both agree to help Jim escape; however, their motives are different. Explain.
Huck hopes to regain his friend and get him out of slavery. (Which was essentially his goal to begin with.) Tom wants to have fun, and please himself with an exciting time with all the danger and adrenaline a boy could wish for.
8. "...and as they went by I see they had the king and duke astraddle of a rail - that is, I knowed it WAS the king and the duke, though they was all over tar and feathers. ...Well it made me sick to see it; and I was sorry for them poor pitiful rascals. ...Human beings CAN be cruel to one another" (225). Comment. What does this reveal about Huck's character?
The two con-artists have been tarred and feathered. (Sorry, I laughed when I read this.) Huck watches the two men with compassion and sympathy because he knows despite all the wrong they have done in the past, it is still sad to see them be put through such a torture. It shows Huck is developing into a kind-hearted person, no matter what previous wrong-doings he has encountered with someone. Especially these two men, have arguably done something quite unforgivable, Huck still finds room in his heart to feel sorry for them.
9. Discuss the irony in Tom's reaction to the stealing of the watermelon.
Tom's never actually stolen something and has always left money lying around amounting to more than the 'stolen' item was worth. Tom's reaction shows himself more as a product of society and contrasts the rebellious nature of Tom's character that Huck aspired to be for so long. It also puts an interesting twist on the meaning of family theme, since Jim is the property of Tom's relatives and therefore it is alright for him to
10. Why does Huck let Tom take control?
Because he knows that Tom is much more savvy in many situations. Earlier in the book, Huck has mentioned many times that he wishes Tom were with him to execute a plan more fluidly, or with more style. Huck also believes that Tom wants the control over certain things for his own amusement and fulfillment and Huck has grown to be passive in these sort of situations such as with Pap and the King and the Duke.
Huck Discussion XXXVI-XXXIX - Written Assignment
Directions: Please write a minimum of three paragraphs on the following topic. Supply evidence from Chapters 35 - 39 to support your answer. It is due next class period. Think carefully about your answer.
Twain criticizes the Romantics. The Romantics based their literature on the conviction that imagination and emotion were superior to reason. You will recall that in Chapters 12 & 13, Twain names the wrecked steamboat The Walter Scott after a Romantic author, metaphorically relating it to the demise of Romanticism. Obviously, Twain was not a fan of Romantic fiction.
The Question: How was Twain's disdain for Romantic fiction evident in Chapters 36-39?
Hint - Think about:
1. Tom's character as symbolic of the Romantic;
2. how Huck has changed since Tom arrived;
3. the practicality of the plans for Jim's escape;
4. the consideration for Jim's welfare in these plans.
Huck Discussion Questions XL-Chapter the Last
1. What do we learn about Jim in these chapters?
2. What effect does the Doctor's speech in support of Jim have? How do you feel about that?
3. What is the significance of the bullet?
4. Where is Huck going at the end of the novel? What does this imply about his view of the world in which he lives?
5. Comment on the style of the novel. Do you feel it represents the Realist tradition as we have discussed it? What aspects of Huck's character make him a good narrator? What problems did you encounter (if any) due to Huck's narration? Speculate on how a different narrator or a third person omniscient narrator would impact the story.
3. Discuss the symbolism of the imagery at the beginning of Chapter 32.
The farm-life and the surrounding area is peaceful, it appears to foreshadow the significance of the area and the people because it is going to be familiar to Huck as it is the land of Tom Sawyer, whom he is well acquainted with.
4. Discuss Huck's understanding of Providence (215)? Would Miss Watson agree?
Huck's wits and natural gift of thinking well on his feet in order to save himself some trouble have been acredited to Providence. Miss Watson probably wouldn't agree with such a statement, nor would she agree with the fact that stealing property such as a slave just to set him free would be an instant free ride to the pits of hell either. Huck hasn't learned that he can be forgiven by God, and the world around him clouds what is actually right because his actions/intentions are pure.
5. How does Twain use irony in the discussion between Huck and Mrs. Phelps about the "steamboat accident."
Phelps asks if anyone was hurt, and is relieved to hear that only a black person has died. Blacks are still not considered people and the fact that one died sits well within the society since they are nothing more than easily renewable property.
6. One of the recurring themes becomes apparent when Huck discovers that the Phelps are expecting Tom Sawyer. Which theme comes to mind and why?
Romanticism vs. Reality. The situation that Twain presents is highly unrealistic. It's literally a one and a million chance of such a thing happening and it is a recurring theme in most adventure novels and romantic titles that Twain has openly despised. This makes sense as Tom is somewhat a symbol of the adventure-seeking romanticist while also being a product of a corrupt society. Twain could be suggesting a connection between romanticizing an adventurous life and not embracing realistic events could be the reason why corruption and bad people exist. (It's a stretch, but whatever.)
7. Huck and Tom both agree to help Jim escape; however, their motives are different. Explain.
Huck hopes to regain his friend and get him out of slavery. (Which was essentially his goal to begin with.) Tom wants to have fun, and please himself with an exciting time with all the danger and adrenaline a boy could wish for.
8. "...and as they went by I see they had the king and duke astraddle of a rail - that is, I knowed it WAS the king and the duke, though they was all over tar and feathers. ...Well it made me sick to see it; and I was sorry for them poor pitiful rascals. ...Human beings CAN be cruel to one another" (225). Comment. What does this reveal about Huck's character?
The two con-artists have been tarred and feathered. (Sorry, I laughed when I read this.) Huck watches the two men with compassion and sympathy because he knows despite all the wrong they have done in the past, it is still sad to see them be put through such a torture. It shows Huck is developing into a kind-hearted person, no matter what previous wrong-doings he has encountered with someone. Especially these two men, have arguably done something quite unforgivable, Huck still finds room in his heart to feel sorry for them.
9. Discuss the irony in Tom's reaction to the stealing of the watermelon.
Tom's never actually stolen something and has always left money lying around amounting to more than the 'stolen' item was worth. Tom's reaction shows himself more as a product of society and contrasts the rebellious nature of Tom's character that Huck aspired to be for so long. It also puts an interesting twist on the meaning of family theme, since Jim is the property of Tom's relatives and therefore it is alright for him to
10. Why does Huck let Tom take control?
Because he knows that Tom is much more savvy in many situations. Earlier in the book, Huck has mentioned many times that he wishes Tom were with him to execute a plan more fluidly, or with more style. Huck also believes that Tom wants the control over certain things for his own amusement and fulfillment and Huck has grown to be passive in these sort of situations such as with Pap and the King and the Duke.
Huck Discussion XXXVI-XXXIX - Written Assignment
Directions: Please write a minimum of three paragraphs on the following topic. Supply evidence from Chapters 35 - 39 to support your answer. It is due next class period. Think carefully about your answer.
Twain criticizes the Romantics. The Romantics based their literature on the conviction that imagination and emotion were superior to reason. You will recall that in Chapters 12 & 13, Twain names the wrecked steamboat The Walter Scott after a Romantic author, metaphorically relating it to the demise of Romanticism. Obviously, Twain was not a fan of Romantic fiction.
The Question: How was Twain's disdain for Romantic fiction evident in Chapters 36-39?
Hint - Think about:
1. Tom's character as symbolic of the Romantic;
2. how Huck has changed since Tom arrived;
3. the practicality of the plans for Jim's escape;
4. the consideration for Jim's welfare in these plans.
Huck Discussion Questions XL-Chapter the Last
1. What do we learn about Jim in these chapters?
2. What effect does the Doctor's speech in support of Jim have? How do you feel about that?
3. What is the significance of the bullet?
4. Where is Huck going at the end of the novel? What does this imply about his view of the world in which he lives?
5. Comment on the style of the novel. Do you feel it represents the Realist tradition as we have discussed it? What aspects of Huck's character make him a good narrator? What problems did you encounter (if any) due to Huck's narration? Speculate on how a different narrator or a third person omniscient narrator would impact the story.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
New Vocab
Histrionic - (adj.) Melodramatic, theatrical, exuberantly overplayed.
Contrite - (adj.) Feeling guilty, remorseful.
Obituary - (n.) A notice of a dead person printed in a widely-read document, celebrating the achievements of the person's life.
Aggravate - (v.) To make more serious, to anger.
Contagion - (n.) A disease, or part of a disease that is likely to spread
Brazen - (adj.) Bold and without shame.
Hedonism - (n.) the lifestyle of pursuing pleasure, slightly arrogant, out for one's own gain in pleasure.
Surreptitious - (adj.) Secretive, against the way of society, yet kept out of sight.
Foreordain - (v.) Appointed by God to do something.
Fraudulent - (adj.) Involved with cheating, scams, dishonest ways.
Gastronomy - (n.) The practice of eating/cooking/preparing yummy food! :D
Contrite - (adj.) Feeling guilty, remorseful.
Obituary - (n.) A notice of a dead person printed in a widely-read document, celebrating the achievements of the person's life.
Aggravate - (v.) To make more serious, to anger.
Contagion - (n.) A disease, or part of a disease that is likely to spread
Brazen - (adj.) Bold and without shame.
Hedonism - (n.) the lifestyle of pursuing pleasure, slightly arrogant, out for one's own gain in pleasure.
Surreptitious - (adj.) Secretive, against the way of society, yet kept out of sight.
Foreordain - (v.) Appointed by God to do something.
Fraudulent - (adj.) Involved with cheating, scams, dishonest ways.
Gastronomy - (n.) The practice of eating/cooking/preparing yummy food! :D
Thursday, December 8, 2011
fwaf Questions for Huck
1. Pap: "I won't have it. I'll lay for you, my smarty; and if I catch you about that school I'll tan you good. First you know you'll get religion. I never seen such a son." Discuss the meaning and irony.
Pap is angry that Huck has turned out to be a somewhat educated young boy that goes to school regularly. Widow Douglas and Ms. Watson were training him to be a nice citizen, and that really irks Pap and he wants to scold Huck for being better than him. The irony is that most parents would want the best for their child, yet Pap is only around Huck for the moment for his money, and despises him for his ability to read and write.
2. How does the refusal of the court to grant custody of Huck to the Widow Douglas and Judge Thatcher reflect on society?
The blood relation seems more important to the society. They should be looking at the best interests of the child in question, Huck in this case, for life would be considerably better for him living with Widow Douglas and Ms. Watson as opposed to his abusive father.
3. Even though Huck is regularly beaten, he prefers to stay at the shanty. Why? How does this reflect one of the major themes?
Because he'd rather have the freedom to swear, not have to pray, and to avoid most responsibility that he'd have to endure under the care of Ms. Watson. He is free from the society out there, even though he is locked inside the cabin most days while his father goes out on a drunken frenzy. The theme of freedom is shown in this behaviour of choosing the torture and pain of life under his father than conforming to the society.
4. Comment on Pap's drunken tirade over the "govment." What message is Twain sending?
Dat govment. Twain is commenting on the people and their eagerness to blame the government and society whenever something goes wrong.
5. What major theme is reflected by Huck's escape from his father and his discovery of Jim?
Death/Rebirth
6. What is ironic about Huck wishing Tom were there to help plan the escape? How do you think the plan would have developed had Tom been there? Would it have been successful?
Because Tom would seem to be the mastermind and could help carry out the plan effortlessly. However, Huck comes up with a rather ingenious plan all by himself which ends up fooling everyone successfully.
7. Discuss the irony in Huck's finding bread to eat. He also seems to modify his position on prayer. Discuss.
The bread's purpose was to find Huck's dead body so that the people in the town could find him. The bread found him, yet he was not realistically dead, but he was symbollicaly dead, awaiting to be reborn once he found Jim on Jackson Island.
He figures that Widow Douglas/Ms. Watson wanted the bread to find him so they prayed for it to happen. They got what they wanted through prayer, so he decides that maybe praying actually does work, but just not for certain people.
8. Discuss Jim' actions after meeting Huck.
9. Discuss how running into Jim represents Huck's rebirth. Discuss the resulting conflict in Huck's mind.
10. Significance: "People would call me a lowdown Abolitionist and despise me for keeping mum."
The society feels that the people who want to repeal slavery are bad, and thus abolitionist is used as an insult. This is ironic but its alright in the view of the society.
11. Even though Jim seems to rely on superstition, many of his predictions are rooted in knowledge.
Explain the significance.
12. Discuss the trick that Huck plays on Jim. It that typical of Huck's character? What does he learn?
13. What do we learn about Huck's character from his trip to shore?
He is a bad girl, because he hasn't interacted with too many of them in his life.
14. When Mrs. Loftus discusses the money that Tom had found, a common human trait emerges. Discuss.
15. Discuss the satire revealed in the amounts of the rewards.
The father with a motive to kill his son to get his money who is a known drunk and a liar has been issued an award of 200 dollars. However, Jim is a runaway black slave. He has a reward of 300 dollars which signifies he has done something far worse than Pap, which in the society's eyes, is being black, which is far worse than pretty much anything.
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Huck Discussion Questions: XV - XX
1. Discuss the significance of the fog incident and Jim's interpretation of it. "The lot of towheads was troubles we was going to get into with quarrelsome people and all kinds of mean folks, but if we minded our business and didn't talk back and aggravate them, we would pull through and get out of the fog and into the big clear river, which was the free states, and wouldn't have no more trouble" (64). Consider the major themes as well as foreshadowing.
2. How does Huck feel about playing the trick on Jim? Comment: "It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn't sorry for it afterwards, neither" (65). How does this statement contribute to the overall meaning of the novel?
Huck feels really bad because he knows that Jim is property, but through their adventures, Jim has developed as a person into Huck's mind and he has made a friend. He needs to apologize because he understands that he has feelings and he must atone for the cruel trick he played.
3. Discuss the significance of the following quotes from Chapter XVI:
"Jim said it made him all over trembly and feverish to be so close to freedom. Well, it made me all trembly and feverish, too, to hear him because I begun to get it through my head that he was most free -- and who was to blame for it? Why me. I couldn't get it out of my conscience, no how nor no way." (66).
Huck begins to question what he is actually doing. He feels that he has done a bad deed in stealing Jim from Ms. Watson. Ms. Watson hasn't done anything bad to Huck which makes this even more troublesome in Huck's conscience. The society he grew up in has morphed his mind to believe what he is doing is wrong, but he is actually doing what is morally right in today's society it seems.
"Here was this nigger which I as good as helped to run away, coming right out flat-footed and saying he would steal his children -- children that belonged to a man I didn't even know; a man that hadn't ever done me no harm." (67). Explain the irony in this quote as well as the significance.
Huck has helped this 'nigger' escape which in essence is stealing someone else's property. However, the irony is that in order for Jim to get his children back, he would have to steal them from their owners. Sadly, this is because his children are the property of someone, however they are HIS children and to whites he is taking away property, but Jim feels he is regaining his family and making them free. He has regained his property, even though he, as a black man, doesn't look at his family in this way.
Huck is confused now because he feels that if he has contributed to the stealing of more property, especially the property of some person he has never met in his life, means he is just adding to an even bigger problem.
"Well, then, says I, what's the use you learning to do right, when it's troublesome to do right and ain't no trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same?" (69).
Huck draws a conclusion for himself. He seems that no matter what anyone does, whether it's right or wrong, the same result seems to ensue. However, he sees that it is more work and harder to keep yourself doing the right thing, when doing the wrong thing is easier, but both bring the same outcome.
"Doan' less' talk about it, Huck. Po' niggers can't have no luck. I awluz 'spected dat rattle-snake skin warn't done wid its work." (70).
Poor black are the exact opposite of those in power in this society. The world in this society is run by those who are rich, own property, and are white. Impoverished black people are the bottom of the social ladder and they are severely out of luck. Jim also reflects the idea of superstition because they have just missed Cairo and that it is only because they have incured bad luck due to Huck touchin and messing around with that rattle-snake.
4. Why do the bounty hunters give Huck money? What is ironic about their reaction to Huck's story?
Because he is having health problems with his family. This is ironic because they hunt down black people for money and probably do it ruthlessly and without question. However, they look at a young white boy who is having their own troubles, and they cater to his needs since he is one of them. It is also ironic because Huck doesn't care about his father, and he is in fact rich.
5. What does the destruction of the "naturally" created raft by the "industrially" created steamboat symbolize?
The power of the society pwning nature. The society takes away the natural stability of the raft.
6. Speculate on why Twain put Huckleberry Finn aside for a few years at the end of XVI?
Because Mark Twain has done enough fooling around with certain themes and such. He needs to lessen this and moves into more explicit/darker themes. He wanted to get a direction for change.
7. Describe the Grangerford house. What is satirical about the furnishings, art, and poetry? What does this description say about the Grangerfords?
Their dead daughter's art are mixed in with very rich-people paintings such as very romantic Revolutionary War style portraits. Mark Twain sees the mix of the two being somewhat silly, because death is romanticized and the dead daughter's notably disgusting and not very well done art is in the same place as the 'classic' well done art of the romantic era. This is Mark Twain poking fun at the absurdity of Romantic literature and art.
The lawlessness of the South is shown with the Grangerfords, because even though they are quite rich and do relish in the death of their dead daughter, they aren't hesistant to kill their neighbours and bring their shotguns/rifles to church.
8. The first part of Chapter XVII reveals an example of the theme of Huck playing on Buck's gullibility. Discuss this example as well as other examples of the novel's major themes evident in Chapters XVI & XVII.
He tricks Buck into spelling his name, so Huck can use the spelling for future use in case he needs to use the same persona again. The gullibility, the ignorance theme, the role of the outsider, romanticism vs. realism,
9. What does Huck's reaction to "Moses and the candle" indicate? Discuss the meaning of "Moses" as a motif in the novel.
He doesn't get the joke. He feels that Buck was wasting their time because if Buck knew, why did he ask Huck? He needs a sense of humour... in a way. Moses is important because he led the slaves away from Egypt or something.
10. What does Twain satirize in his description of the church service and the hogs that sleep under the floor?
Because the sermon is all about brotherly love and how to love your fellow man. Although the two families sit in the pews with their rifles and guns with them and go home and kill one another. The pigs are ironic because the pigs can go in the church whenever they want. Although people never go to church except on Sunday, the day they have to.
11. What does the feud symbolize? Does this remind you of another famous piece of literature? Explain. Through the feud incident, Twain satirizes human traits and behaviors. Discuss.
Reminds you of Romeo and Juliet.
12. "I was powerful glad to get away from the feuds, and so was Jim to get away from the swamp. We said there warn't no home like a raft, after all. Other places do seem so clamped up and smothery, but a raft don't. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft"(88). Discuss the paradox. Furthermore, this excerpt from the final paragraph of Chapter XVIII is significant in that it pertains to the major themes of the novel. Explain.
The river is the symbol of freedom. Since the river is far away from the society, they are free from Jim being persecuted, and from Huck being controlled and sivilized. The paradox is, that the raft is much much smaller than the actual land that they find themselves in. This is because the rules, laws, and policies found in the cities and towns are more constraining then peace on the boat.
13. Huck and Jim's manner of dress on the raft is symbolic. What do clothes represent?
14. Why doesn't Huck expose the Duke and the King (Dauphin) as frauds?
15. Who is the most shrewd, the King and the Duke or Huck? Why? Give some examples.
16. What does Twain satirize in the plan to present Romeo and Juliet? Discuss Romeo and Juliet as a motif.
17. Discuss the significance of the pirate and the revival meeting. What is Twain satirizing?
18. Is Twain making a statement about society through the antics of the King and Duke? Explain.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Episode 1 =-= Huck Starts Out
List Important things:
Appearance vs. Reality --- The elephants and A-rabs that Tom says are there, but aren't really. (Even though the magicians are hiding them.)
Superstition/Supernatural --- Huck thinking that praying is just strange and that it doesn't really help you and give you anything you want, contrary to what
Gullibility --- Huck believing that there is a genie that will come out of the lamp and build him a palace, only to actually try it and find out it was just another one of Tom Sawyer's lies.
Death and Rebirth --- Huck's dad coming back after being thought dead.
Loneliness --- Huck not wanting to go to heaven because Tom Sawyer won't be there and he'll feel alone without him.
List any allusions
Don Quixote, Moses and the Bible, 1001 Arabian Nights, Last of the Mohicans,
List All characters
Huckleberry Finn, Jim, Tom Sawyer, Widow Douglas, Judge Thatcher, Ben Rogers, Joe Harper, Ms. Watson, Tommy Barnes, Aunt Polly, Pap, Deacon Winn,
Note what part of plot is this?
The Exposition =(
Huck starts out under the care of Ms. Watson and Widow Douglas. He is trying to be turned into a sivilized citizen. The old women try to teach him to pray and the joys of heaven, but there really isn't much there for Huck and he has little to care about since most of the people he talks about are dead, or have been dead a long time. He then starts talking to Tom Sawyer and enters his gang by signing the blood oath along with Ben Rogers, and Joe Harper. They raid a sunday-school picnic in search for diamond-filled elephants. After a bunch of events, Huck gets word of his father returning.
Appearance vs. Reality --- The elephants and A-rabs that Tom says are there, but aren't really. (Even though the magicians are hiding them.)
Superstition/Supernatural --- Huck thinking that praying is just strange and that it doesn't really help you and give you anything you want, contrary to what
Gullibility --- Huck believing that there is a genie that will come out of the lamp and build him a palace, only to actually try it and find out it was just another one of Tom Sawyer's lies.
Death and Rebirth --- Huck's dad coming back after being thought dead.
Loneliness --- Huck not wanting to go to heaven because Tom Sawyer won't be there and he'll feel alone without him.
List any allusions
Don Quixote, Moses and the Bible, 1001 Arabian Nights, Last of the Mohicans,
List All characters
Huckleberry Finn, Jim, Tom Sawyer, Widow Douglas, Judge Thatcher, Ben Rogers, Joe Harper, Ms. Watson, Tommy Barnes, Aunt Polly, Pap, Deacon Winn,
Note what part of plot is this?
The Exposition =(
Huck starts out under the care of Ms. Watson and Widow Douglas. He is trying to be turned into a sivilized citizen. The old women try to teach him to pray and the joys of heaven, but there really isn't much there for Huck and he has little to care about since most of the people he talks about are dead, or have been dead a long time. He then starts talking to Tom Sawyer and enters his gang by signing the blood oath along with Ben Rogers, and Joe Harper. They raid a sunday-school picnic in search for diamond-filled elephants. After a bunch of events, Huck gets word of his father returning.
Monday, November 21, 2011
VOCAB Pt. 2 (Pearl in the Future...)
Pearl stepped out of the church a newly married woman. She was Invigorated with a sense of happiness she had never felt before. The people weren't looking upon her as a little impish child running amok in the colony any more. Instead, Pearl as showered with gifts, compliments, congratulatory words, all sorts of things that made her feel like a reinvented spirit. However, this was short lived...
After leaving the church and walking across the pale, narrow street to the ballroom, the wedding reception took place where everyone ate and enjoyed a delicious banquet followed by a galliard with the help of professional ballroom musicians and dancers. Pearl was having the time of her life until she walked over to the punchbowl that was on the table closest to the south wall. She was conversing with her friend Lynda while she advanced toward the table, and Lynda had such a loquacity about her that Pearl could not shake. She kept talking, and Pearl, not wanting to be rude or at all disrespectful, kept smiling and resuming eye contact whilst she poured herself a drink. This was impossible, for Pearl had to look away because she noticed that the ladel to scoop juice with was rather heavy, and she wondered if she had scooped an abnormally large batch of ice cubes on accident. She peeked, when Lynda took a break to regain her breath and her jaw dropped down through the floor the second her eyes met the contents of the liquidy saucer. The sombre and disgusting shape of a dead grey rat!
Within the next minute, everyone was running out of the ballroom, screaming their faces off, running for the nearest policeman on patrol to dispatch the problem. The wedding was officially ruined and all of the participants were all flooding the streets in pure terror.
Several years later, Pearl and her husband were very successful people in the field of medicine. She looked back on the memories of her wedding, and they were all happy moments to reminisce about. Yet, the dreadful memory of the dead rat turned out to be quite importunate, and she never live it down as the only thing that went wrong in her life while in Europe.
After leaving the church and walking across the pale, narrow street to the ballroom, the wedding reception took place where everyone ate and enjoyed a delicious banquet followed by a galliard with the help of professional ballroom musicians and dancers. Pearl was having the time of her life until she walked over to the punchbowl that was on the table closest to the south wall. She was conversing with her friend Lynda while she advanced toward the table, and Lynda had such a loquacity about her that Pearl could not shake. She kept talking, and Pearl, not wanting to be rude or at all disrespectful, kept smiling and resuming eye contact whilst she poured herself a drink. This was impossible, for Pearl had to look away because she noticed that the ladel to scoop juice with was rather heavy, and she wondered if she had scooped an abnormally large batch of ice cubes on accident. She peeked, when Lynda took a break to regain her breath and her jaw dropped down through the floor the second her eyes met the contents of the liquidy saucer. The sombre and disgusting shape of a dead grey rat!
Within the next minute, everyone was running out of the ballroom, screaming their faces off, running for the nearest policeman on patrol to dispatch the problem. The wedding was officially ruined and all of the participants were all flooding the streets in pure terror.
Several years later, Pearl and her husband were very successful people in the field of medicine. She looked back on the memories of her wedding, and they were all happy moments to reminisce about. Yet, the dreadful memory of the dead rat turned out to be quite importunate, and she never live it down as the only thing that went wrong in her life while in Europe.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
-~- DIALECTICAL JOURNAL #40 -~-
"Such a spiritual seer might have conceived, that, after sustaining the gaze of the multitude through seven miserable years as a necessity, a penance, and something which it was a stern religion to endure, she now, for one last time more, encountered it freely and voluntarily, in order to convert what had so long been agony into a kind of triumph" ((Chapter 21/PAGE 197))
The ultimate transformation is the desire of Hester and it's about to come to fruition. The seven years' torture is about to end as the New England Holiday arrives and she is staying out of the view of the public eye as best as she can. Truly, nature has attempted to sooth her guilt and turn everything that has happened into her life troublesome, into a powerful energy, triumph. (T r i u m p h = a seven letter word = complete)
Hester is ready to put this pain to rest, for after this passage, she voices, mentally, "Look your last on the scarlet letter and its wearer! Yet a little while, and she will be beyond your reach! A few hours longer, and the deep, mysterious ocean will quench and hide for ever the symbol which ye caused to burn upon her bosom!"
This is her farewell speech to the letter and her curse, which seems similar to a poem titled "Farewell" which was written by poet Walter de la Mare:
Another interesting thing that has reoccurred is the mention of the letter being swallowed up by the ocean. The ocean is what is said to have killed Chillingworth, so the ocean should hide the symbol away. However, Chillingworth did not die and the ocean cannot hide the symbol because of his presence in the community. Therefore the symbol cannot be hidden, which is what Roger has planned to do with Arthur; make apparent the symbol upon Arthur's chest to the public to watch him suffer.
The ultimate transformation is the desire of Hester and it's about to come to fruition. The seven years' torture is about to end as the New England Holiday arrives and she is staying out of the view of the public eye as best as she can. Truly, nature has attempted to sooth her guilt and turn everything that has happened into her life troublesome, into a powerful energy, triumph. (T r i u m p h = a seven letter word = complete)
Hester is ready to put this pain to rest, for after this passage, she voices, mentally, "Look your last on the scarlet letter and its wearer! Yet a little while, and she will be beyond your reach! A few hours longer, and the deep, mysterious ocean will quench and hide for ever the symbol which ye caused to burn upon her bosom!"
This is her farewell speech to the letter and her curse, which seems similar to a poem titled "Farewell" which was written by poet Walter de la Mare:
Look thy last on all things lovely,
Every hour. Let no night
Seal thy sense in deathly slumber
Till to delight
Thou have paid thy utmost blessing;
Since that all things thou wouldst praise
Beauty took from those who loved them
In other days.Another interesting thing that has reoccurred is the mention of the letter being swallowed up by the ocean. The ocean is what is said to have killed Chillingworth, so the ocean should hide the symbol away. However, Chillingworth did not die and the ocean cannot hide the symbol because of his presence in the community. Therefore the symbol cannot be hidden, which is what Roger has planned to do with Arthur; make apparent the symbol upon Arthur's chest to the public to watch him suffer.
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