huckleberry+finnnnn

**Comprehension & Discussion Questions**
//for// =The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn=

by Mark Twain

 * Why did Twain include the "Notice" on the opening page?**

Mark Twain probably included the **“Notice”** on the opening page because he wanted to make it clear and direct, and refer to one of his previous novels- //The Adventures of Tom Sawyer//. Twain makes it apparent that the characters in //The Adventures of Tom Sawyer// are exactly identical to those in //Huckleberry Finn-// a sequel about Huck Finn's adventures.


 * Can the book's 43 chapters be grouped according to distinct action sequences? Are there correspondences among chapters or groups of chapters?**

Mark Twain style of writing and storyline creates a foundation in which you are able to group most of the chapters into distinct action sequences; many chapters are based on friendship, adventure, acquaintances, education, superstition, etc. Twain breaks it down for the reader by creating a background on the information, for the reader, in the first few chapters- setting a storyline and a premise for the following chapters. Most of these correspondences occur among chapters.


 * 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?**

In this novel Huck creates many lies and faces many risks to assist his friend Jim. Huck's first major decision is to actually invite Jim onto his raft and conceal a fugitive slave. Although in the back of his mind Huck feels guilty for helping an escaped slave he continues to do so; Huck also tries to hide Jim's identity by making men, who were searching for escaped slaves, believe that his family is on board the raft and is suffering from smallpox. Jim's freedom was also on the line when Huck and Jim meet the duke and the dauphin. Huck reveals to them that Jim is a runaway slave and consistently they post flyers and rewards for his finding. Multiple times Jim could have been captured and other times his identity was hidden by a disquise- a sick Arab.Huck knows that constitutionally it is immoral to guide a slaves towards freedom, but his wits and friendship with Jim overpower that factor.


 * What are the consequences of Huck's and Jim's going past the mouth of the Ohio River in the fog? (Chapter XV)**

By traveling past the mouth of the Ohio River in the fog Huck and the canoe are separated from Jim and the raft. After momentarily being separated, Huck and Jim reunite. Huck tricks Jim into believing that the entire scenario was just a dream and nothing had happened. Initially, they intended on stopping at Cairo to catch a train to travel North, but the fog caused their plan to backfire and they ended up heading South- slave central.


 * 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?**

The main irony in this novel is that Jim and Huck intended to journey far away from the heart of slavery, but the deeper into their journey they got, the deeper they were in the South. These two main characters had a set plan, but upon applying this plan they toppled across many implications and setbacks. Running into fugitive slave seekers, meeting the duke and dauphin, and traveling in the fog were many events that brought them back to their original location. Also having not enough money and materials to survive and continue traveling was also an implication that made their goal almost impossible.


 * 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?**

The primary movement of Huck and Jim's journey of the novel is linear, from north to south and the back- and- forth pattern of the movement between river and shore. The two create a parallel because the river can portray the South, a location in which Jim and Huck are accustomed to and they can easily survive in this location. The shore, on contrary, portrays the North- a place in which Jim and Huck have not assimilated in and experience unpredictable events..


 * 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?**

These two con artists alter Jim and Huck's quest freedom greatly. The duke and the dauphin constantly take Jim's identity and reveals to everyone that he is a fugitive; time after time Huck is forced to cover for Jim and face consequence that the duke and dauphin established. Many times these con artists compel Jim and Huck to partake in their deceitful actions. The duke and dauphin trick a religious group, audiences, and the Wilk family; each time they face different consequences that setback Jim and Huck's "goal" towards freedom. Having the two travel on the raft with them threatens their life and their quest.


 * 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?**

Tom Sawyer's treatment of Jim, in the final chapters, are no different than the treatment the duke and dauphin exposed towards Jim. They are parallels because both use Jim's character and background as a personal benefit. The duke and dauphin use Jim as a way to retrieve money and gain other economic necessities. Similary, Tom uses Jim to recreate storylines of adventure novels that he has read; by doing so this brings him pleasure and entertainment. Both treatments towards Jim are morally wrong and are only beneficial for their own good, while Jim's freedom is at risk.


 * 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?**

In //Huckleberry Finn,// if not once Huck is positioned into immediate danger and near death or harm. Time after time Huck is endagered and Jim is in constant danger- for being a runaway slave. Meeting Jim and admiting him into Huck's quest threatens his safety becuase he is protecting a runaway slave. Traveling in the fog also puts Huck into danger because he comes across unexpected events and it brings him closer to a place he is running away from. Running into the duke and dauphin also threathens Huck and puts him into danger because they create schemes and trick people into handing them money; while they are benefiting from it they harm Huck becuase he is assisting them. By pretending to be a girl inorder to unveal information about his murder and Jim's sudden disappearance he puts himself into harm; Huck tries to hide his identity, but Mrs. Loftus uses her wits to make him reveal his true identity.


 * Do the final chapters, beginning with Huck's arrival at the Phelps farm, rely too much on coincidence?**

The final chapters in this novel does rely too much on coincidence. From the start, Huck running into his best friend's, Tom, uncle's farm is unexpected and a coincidence. Also Tom returning to his aunt and uncle's farm is a coincidence. If the chapters did not depend on coincidence maybe Jim would have been be enslaved again.


 * Do Tom Sawyer's elaborate escape stratagems indicate that Jim's and Huck's goals are unobtainable?**

Tom Sawyer's escape stratagems indicate that Jim and Huck's gaols are obtainable; in fact they can easily be reached. Their goals are so realistic and simplistic that Sawyer has to create a new storyline in order for it to be a challenge. By doing so he made the goal more complicated, but also made it adventurous and interesting.


 * Is there any justice in the fact that only Tom is wounded in the final chase through the swamp?**

Tom being the only one who is wounded is completely justice because throughout the entire novel he wants his life to be adventurous and he creates a storyline. Sawyer does not have to make it a chase and he does not have to make Jim's escape this challenging, but he chooses to; by doing so he put himself at risk and he deserved getting shot. Being wounded brought Jim and Tom closer because Jim sacraficed his freedom to nurture Tom; in the end Tom benefited from this situation.


 * 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?**

Although Huck admits that he elaborates and fabricates we should fully trust him because most of his story is true except for a few factors acting as the sugar on top. By telling us that he fabricates, that gives us more of a reason to learn to trust him and gain confidence to believe his story is true. By fabricating and elaborating Huck only wants to make the story seem more exciting and grab the readers attention.