TJ+Analysis+Questions

**Comprehension & Discussion Questions**
//for The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain//

Twain probably included the "Notice" on the opening page to show that this book follows a different style of writing. Twain most likely wanted to let readers know that //The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,// is a novel which stands on its own does not coincide with Twain’s other books. It seems that the chapters have certain blocked and specific events which are able to stand alone. Some chapters carry on a longer plot and coincide with the next few chapters or are referred to later on. Huck Finn takes Jim under his wings and watches over him. As the story continues there are many times when Huck is given opportunities to leave Jim, but Finn keeps moving on towards new challenges. Every challenge they make it through is one which their friendship grows even stronger and the color difference which was first seen seems to disappear as the plot thickens. When Huck and Jim venture past the mouth of the Ohio River in the fog they become separated from each other and end up losing their chance of selling anything. Instead they ventured into the heart of slavery, which was not the best idea because of Jim. Jim is on this adventure to escape from slavery and they seem to be getting deeper and deeper into slave areas which seems strange and shows their true immaturity. They probably just kept getting lost because they were so naïve they most likely didn’t have a map with them or any sense of direction as to which was north and where south was. Huck and Jim are constantly moving back and forth from North to South because since they are trying to help Jim escape from slavery it is difficult because of the ongoing struggles of the North and South which are going on the same time. This shows its readers the struggle for freedom that many were trying to achieve. The king and the duke use Jim and Duke use Tom and Jim to get their dirty work done and use blackmail on the two boys. They threaten to expose Jim as a runaway slave. The Duke used Jim in order to get money because he posts wanted signs for Jim since he is a runaway slave. Tom speaks of Jim to help promote his own story. They were both using Jim in a way to better their own lives. Similar incidients like seeing his dad for first time and knowing he could be hit for being educated. The force is his dad, which he escapes by saying he won't go to school. Another similar incidient is when Huck is in the canoe and if it would have turned over, then no one would have seen him because of the intense fog and he would have died and no one would have noticed. The final chapters rely way too much on coincidence because how could it be that the Phelps farm were actually his best friend’s uncle and aunt. At first the escape plot seems like an adventure and they could ultimately accomplish anything, as the plot thickens and new obstacles are presented to Tom and Jim their plans seem to fade into the wind. Yes, Tom has taken Jim on one wild ride knowing it was all a round about trip. His lying and running Jim into difficult challenges knowing they weren’t necessary, it seemed to look as if karma was finally catching up with Tom. He didn't have a very good reputation throughout the book. Huck seems to be a pathological liar and it shows his immaturity. He became very good at lying and therefore you can’t trust him throughout the book. The reader is always questioning his truths.
 * 1. Why did Twain include the "Notice" on the opening page?**
 * 2. Can the book's 43 chapters be grouped according to distinct action sequences? Are there correspondences among chapters or groups of chapters?**
 * 3. Each stage of Huck's moral growth culminates in a crisis of conscience and a decision to assist Jim (as when Huck tells the two slave hunters that there is "only one" man on the raft and that "He's white"); and each decision is more consequential than the previous. What are these stages and decisions; when do they occur; and what are their consequences?**
 * 4. What are the consequences of Huck's and Jim's going past the mouth of the Ohio River in the fog? (Chapter XV)**
 * 5. Among the novel's great ironies is that Huck's and Jim's quest for freedom takes them farther and farther into the deep South, the heart of slavery. How and why does this happen? What are the implications?**
 * 6. The primary movement of Huck's and Jim's journey and of the novel is linear, from north to south. A back-and-forth pattern of movement between river and shore also occurs. How is this pattern important in terms of plot? How is it related to the north-to-south movement? Does it reflect any other kind of movement experienced by Huck or Jim?**
 * 7. How do the king and the duke impact Huck's and Jim's life on the raft, their quest for freedom, and the novel's movement?**
 * 8. What are the parallels between the king's and duke's treatment of Jim in Chapter XXIV and Tom Sawyer's treatment of him in the final chapters?**
 * 9. The cemetery passage in Chapter XXIX is one of the few times when Huck is in immediate danger of actual harm or death. What are some similar incidents? What threatens his safety and well-being in each instance--other people or forces of nature? How does he escape in each instance?\**
 * 10. Do the final chapters, beginning with Huck's arrival at the Phelps farm, rely too much on coincidence?**
 * 11. Do Tom Sawyer's elaborate escape stratagems indicate that Jim's and Huck's goals are unobtainable?**
 * 12. Is there any justice in the fact that only Tom is wounded in the final chase through the swamp?**
 * 13. The story is told by a fourteen-year-old Huck, who admits to elaborate lies and fabrications. Can we trust him? Can we accept his version of things, or must we read between his lines?**