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Adventures of Huckleberry Adventures of Huckleberry

FinnFinn

Chapters XVIIChapters XVII--XXIIIXXIII

SettingSetting

�� With the exception of the beginning of With the exception of the beginning of

Chapter 19, the action largely takes place Chapter 19, the action largely takes place

on land.on land.

�� These chapters have some of the novelThese chapters have some of the novel’’s s

darkest moments.darkest moments.

ThemeTheme

�� Civilization Vs. Nature:Civilization Vs. Nature:

�� The sharp contrast between life on the riverThe sharp contrast between life on the river--

””ItIt’’s lovely to live on a raft,s lovely to live on a raft,”” says Huck says Huck –– And And

the perils of life onshore highlights this main the perils of life onshore highlights this main

theme of the novel.theme of the novel.

SatireSatire

�� TwainTwain’’s target of his satire is the s target of his satire is the

southern aristocracy southern aristocracy and its traditions and its traditions

of mindless feuding which is rooted in of mindless feuding which is rooted in

highhigh--minded notions of Honor.minded notions of Honor.

�� BuckBuck’’s definition of the feud and why it is s definition of the feud and why it is

still going on as it is the way it has always still going on as it is the way it has always

been compares to Tom Sawyer and some been compares to Tom Sawyer and some

of his antics based on books.of his antics based on books.

Satire Cont.Satire Cont.

�� Huck doesnHuck doesn’’t see honor in what happens t see honor in what happens

in chapter XVII.in chapter XVII.

�� The scene of Boggs and The scene of Boggs and SherburnSherburn is one is one

of the darkest in the novel and satirizes of the darkest in the novel and satirizes

southern honor and hypocrisy.southern honor and hypocrisy.

IronyIrony

�� The The GrangerfordsGrangerfords attendance at church attendance at church

XVII: XVII:

�� The bringing their gunsThe bringing their guns

�� The sermon about The sermon about ““Brotherly LoveBrotherly Love””

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ForeshadowingForeshadowing

�� The duke comes up with a plan to show a The duke comes up with a plan to show a

handbill about Jim being a runaway slave. handbill about Jim being a runaway slave.

This way the raft can run during the day.This way the raft can run during the day.

�� Foreshadows duke and the king selling Jim Foreshadows duke and the king selling Jim

back into slavery.back into slavery.

SymbolsSymbols

�� The RaftThe Raft

�� Symbolizes a kind of innocence, where people Symbolizes a kind of innocence, where people

can enjoy an Utopian society of cooperation, can enjoy an Utopian society of cooperation,

abundance, and compassion.abundance, and compassion.

Symbols Cont.Symbols Cont.

�� The RiverThe River

�� The River here is seen as an aggressor. (XXI)The River here is seen as an aggressor. (XXI)

�� ““Such a town as that has to be always moving Such a town as that has to be always moving

back, and back, and back, because the riverback, and back, and back, because the river’’s s

always gnawing at it.always gnawing at it.””

�� Here Twain asserts the dominance of nature Here Twain asserts the dominance of nature

over civilization, in spite of the latterover civilization, in spite of the latter’’s claim to s claim to

lordship over the earth.lordship over the earth.

CharacterizationCharacterization

�� Direct Characterization Direct Characterization can be found can be found when Huck describes Buck when Huck describes Buck GrangerfordGrangerford, , Colonel Colonel GrangerfordGrangerford, and the duke and , and the duke and the king.the king.

�� Indirect CharacterizationIndirect Characterization is used in is used in XXI where Twain develops the characters XXI where Twain develops the characters of the duke and the king using dialogue of the duke and the king using dialogue and Huckand Huck’’s responses to show they are s responses to show they are conmen.conmen.

CharacterizationCharacterization

�� Huck continues to display his shrewdness Huck continues to display his shrewdness

and fast thinking when he devises a story and fast thinking when he devises a story

about falling about falling offfofff a steamboat and when a steamboat and when

he directs the king and duke to wade in he directs the king and duke to wade in

the creek to the creek to ““throw dogs off the scent.throw dogs off the scent.””

�� He sees the duke and king as He sees the duke and king as ““fraudsfrauds”” but but

doesndoesn’’t realize the drunk is part of their t realize the drunk is part of their

act at the circus.act at the circus.

CharacterizationCharacterization

�� JimJim’’s character is s character is futherfuther developed developed

throughout these chapters.throughout these chapters.

�� He is shown to be selfless, and devoted friend He is shown to be selfless, and devoted friend

to Huck:to Huck:

��He spends weeks living in the swamp repairing the He spends weeks living in the swamp repairing the

raft while Huck has the easy life.raft while Huck has the easy life.

��He often lets Huck sleep through his watch.He often lets Huck sleep through his watch.

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CharacterizationCharacterization

�� Jim tells the heart wrenching tale of Jim tells the heart wrenching tale of

hitting his daughter without realizing she hitting his daughter without realizing she

was deaf.was deaf.

�� It breaks a barrier for Huck and helps Huck It breaks a barrier for Huck and helps Huck

realize that blacks care for their families as realize that blacks care for their families as

much as whites.much as whites.