Web & Social Media Analytics Previous Year Question Paper.pdf
Perspectives in Huck Finn part 1
1. • "All modern
American literature
comes from one
book by Mark
Twain called
Huckleberry Finn"
Ernest Hemingway
Mark Twain & The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
2. • Born Samuel Langhorne Clemens , on November
30, 1835 in Florida , Missouri , in a slave owning
family.
• Family later moved to river town of Hannibal.
• Apprenticed as river boat pilot.
• Began using pseudonym Mark Twain (meaning two
fathoms) when writing political reports as
journalist for a Virginian newspaper.
4. HISTORICAL CONTEXT
Commonly named among the Great American Novels, the
work is among the first in major American literature to be
written in the vernacular
Set in pre-Civil War years
Set 40-50 years before 1885 publication
Satirizing a Southern society, Adventures of Huckleberry
Finn is, among other things, an often critical look at deep-
rooted attitudes, particularly racism.
5. PERSPECTIVES ABOUT THE HYPOCRISY OF “CIVILIZED”
SOCIETY
• Society’s laws (Miss Watson and Widow Douglas) vs.
higher moral values (Huck and Jim)
• Rules and principles that reflect faulty logic
• Civilized vs. Natural life / freedom?
• A “just” society that condones slavery
• Unsteady justice is blinded by cowardice, prejudice, and
a lack of common sense
• Seemingly good characters are slave-owners
• Hypocrisy of “civilized” society which values morality, but
6. Characterisation – PERSPECTIVES ABOUT MATURITY AND DEVELOPMENT
• The novel is a moral coming-of-age story
• Being open-minded is one of Huck’s qualities
• Huck is a child – Huck’s characterization positions the responder to follow
the natural development and maturation of Huck’s moral compass
• Through the first person narration, Huck’s inner conflicts between “right
and wrong” develop Huck’s character as being essentially human – this
invites a stronger sense of connection between the reader and Huck.
Describe (and find quotes for) two different “adventures” which show
Huck’s inner conflict between right and wrong.
• The reader gains a balanced insight into the reality of the world in which
Huck has travelled. How?
• Huck’s relationship with Jim assists his progression throughout the novel.
Find quotes which support this statement
• Huck’s experiences and apprehension about society help lead to his
maturity .
7. PERSPECTIVES ABOUT RELIGION
• Twain focuses on the different perspectives/interpretations of
religion.
• Throughout his life, Twain was known for his attacks on organized
religion.
• Huck Finn's sarcastic characterization invites the reader to
challenge various perpectives about religion.
• In the first chapter, Huck indicates that hell sounds far more fun than
heaven.
8. PERSPECTIVES ABOUT THE NATURE OF FREEDOM
• The novel explores different perspectives about
the value (OR danger) of individual thought and
ideals.
What is a the dominant perspective presented
in the novel? Individuality & personal liberty
OR Social conventions for the ‘common good’ of
a “’sivilsed” society?
• Is it possible to escape an illogical and oppressive
society?
Identify two different perspectives about
whether or not society is oppressive. For whom?
Why?
• Explore the perspectives on slavery vs. liberty
Are the “outcasts” of society the only truly free
characters? Explain and support your position.
9. Symbols
The Mississippi River
a symbol
• The Land (Civilized society) Vs The River
(individual freedom)
• Raft: is a symbol for escape safe place
As Huck puts it: "Other places seem so
cramped and smothery, but a raft don't. You
feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a
raft."
Money / wealth / property
a symbol
• separates the civilized from the
“outcasts
10. Literary and Artistic Movements:
REALISM and REGIONALISM
• Realism is a style of writing, developed in the 19th century,
that attempts to depict life accurately, as it really is, without
idealizing or romanticizing.
Regionalism is literature that emphasizes a specific
geographic setting and that reproduces the speech,
behavior, and attitudes of the people who live in the region.
11. • Attack upon Romantics and Transcendentalists
• Goal of realism is to represent cultural, social, political and personal
perspectives with truth and honesty “warts-and-all” exploring
hypocrisies which exist in:
• our world
• our communities
• our institutions
• our families, and….
• in ourselves.
• Realism is pragmatic, democratic, and experimental
Twain uses phonetic spelling, vernacular, dialect and idiom to separate
various perspectives. Find quotations which show different dialects and
– subsequently – different perspectives.
Literary and Artistic Movements:
REALISM and REGIONALISM