Huck Finn Reader’s Response

1. Huck Finn Reader’s Response English 11

2. Humor Read the Notice/Explanatory etc. to the novel as a class, pg. 6 Mark Twain sates in the “Notice” that persons attempting to find a moral in this book will be banished. While he slightly overstates his case, we should not forget that this novel is very funny. It is important to find the humor in the novel. Too often we as readers are so concerned with the social aspect that we forget to look for what is funny.

3. Finding Finn’s Funnies The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a funny book, but too often readers miss what is funny when they cannot hear it aloud. As a class, we will make a chart of what we find funny. Prepare to watch for ‘funnies’ as you read and keep track of them. Start a page that you will keep all novel long. Title it: Huck Finn’s Funnies. Each day you will be asked to write down one funny line or part from your reading. See chart on next slide for an example of how to create this page. On the wall is a yellow poster also titled Huck Finn’s Funnies. Each day two of you will be able to write down a funny you find from the book. Note the page number and your name as you will get credit for this.

4. ChartRead and then we make a chart of your own with funny quotes from the novel. Make sure you include page numbers in your notes. Create your first entry now. Two of you can put your funnies on the wall at this time as well.

5. Wealth • Huck Finn is rich because of the robber’s treasure he and Tom Sawyer found. However, he does not have much use for it. In fact, he feels it causes more trouble than it is worth and tries to give it away to the judge. • Consider what money can and cannot do. • Share your opinionwith a classmate, discuss what you both use money for and how you are different in your money usage. Discuss what you cannot use money for that you need.

6. Wealth Money plays a very important role in the actions of numerous characters, and is often used to highlight the difference between the rich and the poor. Money can even be considered a theme of the novel, as it inspires greed, generosity, and symbolizes disparity in society. Almost every one of the main characters are affected by money in some way. It is often at the very root of their actions, for better or for worse.

7. Affects of Money Create a Venn diagram where you show how money affects Huck Finn and how money affects you. Make sure you include 5-5-3 ways in each category. (5 Huck, 5 you, 3 both) Really think about how Money drives what Huck does and what you do.

8. Jokes Humor is an important part of American culture. It fits in with our optimistic viewpoint. Why not create our own humor cartoons of Huckleberry Finn? Create a cartoon, based on Huckleberry Finn, to present to the class. The cartoons need too be at least 4 scenes long and include characters from the story.

9. Predicting the Outcome By now, Huck has been through many adventures along the Mississippi River. At this point they have passed the mouth of the Ohio River, so they must continue down the river. The King and Duke are aboard on the raft. Huck has no real plans. He just goes where the river takes him and reacts to each new adventure. What will happen next? Write the next chapter of the novel including the four characters – Huck, Jim, the king, and the duke in your chapter. Be prepared to present your chapter to the class. (2-3 pages)

10. Living on a Raft • After Huck barely escapes with his life from the Grangerford-Shepherdson’s feud, he and Jim have some wonderful days floating down the river. In chapter 19, Huck says: • Two or three days and nights went by; I reckon I might say they swum by, they slid along so quiet and smooth and lovely… then we set out the lines. Next we slid into the river and had a swim… Not a sound anywheres—perfectly still—just like the whole world was asleep… Sometimes we’d have that whole river all to ourselves for the longest time. Yonder was the banks and the islands, across the water… maybe you could hear a fiddle or a song coming over from one of them… It’s lovely to live on a raft. We had the sky up there, all speckled with stars, and we used to lay on our backs and look up at them…

12. Group Discussion In a group of three, discuss the questions below. After discussing, each person needs to record his or her own responses on their paper. What images does this excerpt from the book bring to your imagination? Does it remind you of anything you have experienced? If you had the opportunity, do you think you would enjoy an experience similar to the one Huck describes? Why? What would be most fun about a raft trip down a river? What might be a problem of such a trip? When Huck Finn was published in 1884, young readers thought this type of trip sounded wonderful. Do you think most people would feel the same today? Explain your thoughts. Why do you think the author, Mark Twain, chose to put Huck and Jim on a raft instead of on foot? What does life on the raft symbolize? Compare Huck and Jim’s life on the raft to their lives off of the raft.

13. Life on a Raft Write your own well developed one paragraph experience of what a day on a raft would be like for you. Include what you see, how you feel, and things you want to do or get to do on the raft. Answer the following questions after your paragraph. The first time Huck runs away, it is from his father. Do you think that Huck makes the right decision? Why or why not? Most people who run away are looking for something they do not have. What is Huck looking for? What would be the advantages of living on your own? What would be some of the disadvantages of living on your own? What are the dangers of living on your own? What are some other options to consider before a person feels it necessary to run away from home?

14. Point-of-View Huckleberry Finn is told from Huck’s point-of-view. How would this story be different if it was told from another character’s point-of-view? Write one page dealing with the story of Peter Wilks death involving the duke and the king’s scam. Write this story from the perspective of another character. You can choose Jim, the duke, the king, Mary Jane Wilks, or other prominent characters.

15. Living on Your Own The first time Huck runs away, it is from his father. Do you think Huck made the right decision? Most people who run away are looking for something they do not have. What is Huck looking for? What would be the advantages of living on your own?

16. Living on Your Own 4. What would be the disadvantages of living on your own? 5. What are the dangers of living on your own? 6. What are some other options to consider before a person feels it necessary to run away from home?

17. Making It Up! Huck makes up many stories during Huckleberry Finn. Most readers would say that he only makes up stories to protect others and, sometimes, himself. In the following statements, describe the reason(s) Huck makes up the stories. Huck tells Mrs. Loftus in Ch. 11 that his name is Sarah (or Mary!) Williams, and “her” mother is sick, and the family is out of food and money. In Ch. 16, Huck makes some men on the river think that his family has smallpox.

18. Making It Up! Huck tells the king and the duke in Ch. 20 that his pa and brother drowned on a trip down the river, but he and the servant Jim were able to swim to safety. Think of another story Huck makes up to protect himself or someone else. Do you think that Huck’s stories can be justified, or is he just plain lying? Defend your choice with reasons.

19. Making Choices Throughout the novel, Huck is making choices. Consider the following problems that Huck faces and then write your responses to them. Huck decides to go back to Jackson’s Island in order to tell Jim the bounty hunters are after him. Why does Huck return to get Jim? What do you think Huck is thinking as he crosses the river from Mrs. Loftus’ house to Jackson’s Island? Huck must decide if he will help Jim escape to the free territory. He has learned that black people in the South are considered property. If he helps Jim escape, then he is helping to steal someone’s property. How do you feel about what Huck is doing? Explain why you feel this way. Huck, in Ch. 16, lies in order to keep some men from finding Jim. Even though Huck worries about his decisions, the reader sees that Huck is doing the right thing. Explain why Huck is having trouble deciding what to do. Huck tells Mary Jane Wilks that the king and the duke are pretending to be her uncles in order to steal the gold. Why do you think it takes Huck so long to decide to tell Mary Jane? Why does it become more difficult for someone to confess as more time has passed?

20. Life Experiences • Huck learns about life as he travels down the Mississippi River. Each time a new incident occurs and Huck responds to it in words or actions, he is educated by his life experiences. • What do the following episodes contribute to Huck’s education about life? (discuss with a neighbor each episode, write down their response) • The rattlesnake biting Jim • The Grangerford feud • The king and the duke trying to steal the Wilks’ gold • Jim’s concern for his daughter

21. Life Experiences Pick a different experience that Huck has in the novel. Write 4-5 sentences detailing how that experience contributes to Huck’s education about life. Pick two experiences that Huck has and write 4-5 sentences on each that show how that experience has educated you about life. What can you apply to your life from Huck’s experiences? How did they change how you think? How did the experiences change how you see the world? What experiences have you had that are similar to Huck Finn’s life lessons?

22. What You Do Best • Huckleberry Finn is able to do many things well. He can fish, navigate a raft, and take care of himself. He also has the ability to understand other people’s problems and is able to change his attitude as he learns more about Jim. He seems like a person that most kids would like to call a friend. What other kinds of things can Huck do well? • Everyone has the ability to do many things well. • What can you do well? • What can you do that almost no one else in your class can do? • What do you know about which only a few people or perhaps no one else in your class knows about? • You might be thinking, “I really don’t know what to write. I can’t do much.” Think of Huck –he feels the same about himself. Yet he has many special abilities. So do you! • On a sheet of paper, label the top I AM (Interesting, Awesome Me) • Your assignment that is due Wednesday, is to come up with a list of 50 things about yourself that you can do and your special qualities.

23. Now What? You have finally finished your 50 qualities about yourself. Now, we are going to make a list of 10 Huck Finn characteristics. You already made a list of 50 so this should be easy. After you are finished, write a one paragraph short essay on how you and Huck Finn are similar or different. Choose one stance and back it up with evidence.

24. Adult Confusion Much of the fun of the novel’s last section consists of Tom and Huck confusing Aunt Sally. The poor woman is so bewildered that she thinks she might be losing her mind. Many young people consider this to be the funniest part of the book. Work with a partner to create a story about two children who confuse an adult. Make it as much fun and as convoluted as what Tom and Huck do to Aunt Sally. One way to begin is to brainstorm ideas. Think of real situations in which you have been involved or have heard about. Or being with a story, movie, or TV plot, and add your own special touches. You will prepare your story as a short skit for the class. Each person in the group must participate and your presentation should show that you read and understand the part of Huck Finn where Tom and Huck confuse and trick Aunt Sally. Have fun and really confuse the poor adult!

25. Finishing Up After, quietly find a partner that is already finished with their essay and pick a conversation you and your partner both want to finish. Imagine you are Huck Finn or another character and continue the event. You will write a 1-2 page conversation response. Remember Mark Twain is known for his humor and teaching through humorous situations while pointing out social flaws. You too can use this in your conversation. You will present your conversations for the class. This will be your final grade. - 25 for the conversation paper and 15 for the class presentation. Totaling 40 pts.