Transcript Document

G Block
Tanvi Verma
Olivia Peterson
Kevin Jiang
11/28/11
• Tom - These chapters further
exhibit many of Tom’s
irrationalities
• Jim – He is clearly unhappy
with the situation at hand,
especially with Tom’s
actions.
• Huck – Dominated by Tom.
This prevents his growth.
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• Tom wants Jim to scratch or
inscribe his coat of arms on
the wall of the shed
• Tom doesn’t like the fact that
they are writing on a wooden
wall.
• He’d rather write on stone,
so he tries to steal a
millstone
• Tom wants Jim to tame a
rattlesnake or rat and grow a
flower to water his tears
Quotations Chapter 38
"That was just his way. If it didn't suit him to explain a thing
to you, he wouldn't do it. You might pump at him a week, and
it wouldn't make no difference." (Twain 231)
Analysis: Here, Huck keeps trying to convince Tom to explain
what he is talking about, when Tom is describing Jim's coat of
arms. Huck doesn't understand Tom's elaborate language,
however, it is clear that Tom does not even understand his
own language, and he is not quite sure of what he is saying.
Because Tom does not have a solid answer for Huck, he
chooses not to say anyting at all on the matter. This shows
how humans view not understanding something as a sign of
weakness, and refuse to admit to it.
Quotations Chapter 38 Continued...
"...Tom most lost all patience with him; and said he was just loadened
down with more gaudier chances than a prisoner ever had in the world
to make a name for himself, and yet he didn't know enough to
appreciate them, and they was just about wasted on him. So Jim he
was sorry, and said he wouldn't behave so no more, and then me and
Tom shoved for bed." (Twain 235)
Analysis: Tom truly feels that Jim is not smart enough to understand
the escape plan, and that he has no appreciation for the plan at all.
Tom also states that the "privileges" - so to speak - of a prisoner were
being wasted on Jim, but yet there really are no advantages of being a
prisoner in Jim's case. Tom belittles Jim, and makes him feel inferior
to the point where Jim blames himself for not understanding. This
shows how when there is a misunderstanding or disagreement
between two people - as Tom and Jim are not seeing eye to eye,
people are quick to blame the other person, rather than admitting
that they may be at fault.
• Huck and Tom place
snakes and rats in Jim’s
shed
• Infest Phelps house
• Uncle Silas wants to
advertise Jim as a
captured runaway in the
newspaper
• In response to Uncle
Silas, Tom writes a series
of letters which terrify the
Phelpses
Quotations Chapter 39
"The old man had wrote a couple of times to the plantation
below Orleans to come and get their runaway n****, but hadn't
got no answer...so he allowed he would advertise Jim in the
St. Louis and New Orleans papers; and when he mentioned
the St. Louis ones it give me the cold shivers, and I see we
hadn't no time to loose." (Twain 238)
Analysis: Here Huck is mentioning Uncle Silas' efforts to send
Jim back, and get him off the land. Huck shows that he is
worried about word getting out regarding Jim, and
jeopardizing his goal of freedom. This shows that Huck
genuinely wants to help Jim reach his goals, and get off of the
Phelps' land and to safety, proving that Huck truly cares about
Jim.
Quotations Chapter 39 Continued...
"'Shucks!' he says, and looked disgusted. so I says: 'But I ain't
going to make no complaint. Any way that suits you suits me.'"
(Twain 238)
Analysis: Huck is being extremely passive towards Tom, and
he is going along with whatever Tom says, even if he might
have his own ideas. This shows that Huck is still incapable of
standing up to Tom, even if that's the right thing to do. Huck
looks up to Tom, and views him as a role model, thinking that
everything Tom says and does is right, however, this could be
hurting the both of them as well as Jim, as it is easy to see
that often times Tom is VERY WRONG!
• Fifteen Local
Farmers –
They are
uneasy, and
they gather at
the front room
of the house
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• Fifteen local farmers have
gathered with guns in the
house’s front room
• Huck warns Jim and Tom of the
situation, but Tom is excited
• The farmers attack the shed,
and Huck, Jim, and Tom escape
through a hole in the shed and
make it to their canoe
• The boys are shot at, and Tom
has a bullet in his leg
• Huck and Jim are concerned
about Tom’s health and want to
get a doctor
Quotations Chapter 40...
"I knowed he was white inside, and I reckoned he'd say what
he did say - so it was all right now, and I told Tom I was agoing for a doctor." (Twain 245)
Analysis: After Jim shares his logical thinking and reasoning
with Huck and Tom regarding whether or not Tom needed a
doctor, Huck assumes and concludes that Jim must be white
at the core, proving that he believes that such wisdom could
only come from a white person. This shows how Huck is still
racist, because he assumes that Jim must be white inside, and
doesn't consider the fact that knowledge is not determined by
the color of a person's skin.
Quotations Chapter 40 Continued...
"'We can get along with it too' he says; 'just you slide down
cellar and fetch it. And then mosey right down the lightningrod and come along.'" (Twain 241)
Analysis: Tom tells Huck to go and get the butter that was left
behind in the cellar, despite the fact that Huck clearly does
not want to go, for fear that he may be caught by Aunt Sally which eventually happens. Tom bosses Huck around, telling
him what to do and when to do it, and does not listen to
Huck's thoughts and ideas, even though they are more logical.
This shows that Huck still has not changed in the sense that
he cannot stand up to Tom, and he always goes along with
what Tom says.
• Doctor- Sent by Huck
to Tom; Nice and Kind
Old Man
• Farmers and WivesThey are excitedly
discussing the bizarre
happenings of the
previous night
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• Huck sends a doctor to
Tom in the canoe
• Huck runs into Silas, who
takes Huck back home
• There is a state of shock at
the Phelps estate
• The people at the Phelps
estate conclude that a
band of robbers with great
skill must have tricked
everyone
• Sally doesn’t want Huck to
go out and find Tom
Quotations Chapter 41
"And then when I went up to bed she come up with me and
fetched her candle, and tucked me in, and mothered me so
good I felt mean, and like I couldn't look her in the face."
(Twain 251)
Analysis: Here it is evident that Huck is feeling guilty for all
the emotional pain he and Tom have caused Aunt Sally to
feel. He recognizes her feelings, and is greatly affected by
them. This shows that Huck has grown, and he is now able to
relate and understand other people's emotions. Also, Huck is
experiencing what it feels like to have a mother - someone
who loves him and cares for him, and the fact that he is
experiencing this is causing him to be more in-tune to other
peoples's emotions.
Quotations Chapter 41 Continued...
"Laws knows I wanted to go bad enough to see about Tom,
and was intending to go; but after that I wouldn't 'a' went, not
for kingdoms." (Twain 251)
Analysis: Huck decides not to go out and check on Tom in the
middle of the night, because he does not want to hurt Aunt
Sally anymore. Once again this is an example of Huck paying
more attention to other people's feelings, and he is making a
conscious effort to make decissions that will not negatively
affect others. It is now evident that Huck is on the road to
becoming less selfish, and more caring about others.
• Crowd – Exhibits Mob
Mentality
• Aunt Polly – Sally’s Sister.
She is a good natured
person, however, she is
scolding the boys the entire
time;
• Doctor- Appreciates Jim’s
actions, as he
acknowledges Jim actions
as brave
• Tom – Realizes the degree
of sacrifice that Jim
committed to help him. He
wants Jim to go free.
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• Uncle Silas ‘s efforts to find Tom are
fruitless
• Sally receives a letter from her sister,
Aunt Polly, but puts it aside upon seeing
Tom, who she thinks is Sid
• Tom is brought forth on a mattress, as
he is accompanied by a crowd,
including the doctor and Jim, who is in
chains
• Jim is defended by the doctor and Tom,
who praise his sacrifice of freedom to
save Tom
• Tom explains that Jim was to be left free
in Miss Watson’s will
• Aunt Polly arrives in person
Quotations for Chapter 42
"Don't be no rougher on him than you're obleeged to,
because he ain't a bad n*****[...] I tell you, gentlemen, a
n***** like that is worth a thousand dollars- and kind
treatment, too." (Twain, 254)
Jim, a human being, is worth a thousand dollars. And
he's not getting beaten too hard because he's such a
good slave. Is anything more ignorant and degrading
than this? It seems ridiculous that the reward for doing
a good deed is to not get beaten.He's talking about Jim
like he's some kind of abused dog or racehorse, not a
person. It should be said here that this is a doctor
speaking. A doctor, one of the most educated and
''cultured'' people in the town used the word n***** ten
times in one monologue. If the most educated people in
a town talk like this, then of course the other townsfolk
will take after their example and treat slaves the same
way.
Quotations for Chapter 42 cont.
"And his Aunt Polly she said Tom was right about old
Miss Watson setting Jim free in her will; and so, sure
enough, Tom Sawyer had gone and took all that trouble
and bother to set a free n***** free!" (Twain, 258)
Basically, they went through all this for nothing. If Jim had waited
long enough for Miss Watson to just die then he'd be free and he
would not have had to have gone through all that he did. This
portrays the message that african american people are a free
people by natural right and will remain so no matter what they are
put through. This whole charade of slavery and ownership
is unnecessary and avoidable. Freeing a slave is like claiming to
own the Pacific Ocean and then giving up that ownership. A person
isn't something that one can 'own'.
• Tom is appreciative of Jim’s
actions, as he gives Jim money,
thanks, etc.
• Aunt Polly and the Phelpses are
appreciative as well, as they
unchain Jim and treat him well
• Jim reveals to Huck that Pap is
dead
• Huck claims there is nothing
more to write about
• Huck plans to head out west, as
he is sick of Aunt Sally trying to
“sivilize” him
Chapter 43 Quotations
"Dah, now, Huck, what I tell you?- what I tell you up dah on
Jackson Island? I tole you I got a hairy breas'- en what's de
sign un it; en I tole you I ben rich wunst, en gwineter be rich
ag'in; en it's come true; en heah she is! Dah, now! doan't talk
to me- signs is signs, mine I tell you; en I knowed jis' 's well
'at I 'uz gwineter be rich ag'in as I's a-stannin' heah dis
minute!" (Twain, 259)
This really showcases Jim's superstitious ways. And this instance is
only going to confirm his beliefs. Also, take note that Jim has not
been this incoherent since the beginning of the novel. As the novel
progressed, he seemed to be easier to understand and in this
selection, he sounds just as he did at the beginning. This probably
shows that Huck's racist ways are still prevalent.
Chapter 43 Quotations cont.
"But I reckon I got to light out for the territory ahead of
the rest, because Aunt Sally said she's going to adopt me
and 'sivilize' me, and I can't stand it. I been there before"
(Twain, 260)
This is ending the novel on a more light note, which is strange
because this is written in right after Huck finds out about his
father's death. Huck's progression as a character has really come
full circle. He still can't spell 'sivilized' and he clearly still doesn't
grasp the concept of civility because no one's explained it to him.
This is Twain basically going "Well, we're back to where we started
from". Except now, Huck seems to realize that he cannot further
limit himself to the South and pledges to keep exploring.
Adolescents look towards powerful figures to
fill the position of a 'role model'.
• The Doctor of the town that they're in is extremely racist. However, he is
respected because of his power.
o Townspeople probably look up to him and think of him as being
extremely knowledgeable.If he uses the n-word as frequently as he
pleases and talks about slaves like dogs, the townspeople will also do so.
• Tom strives to be like the people in his adventure books.
o He has a difficult time with reality and logic and instead focuses on
developing elaborate plans like his favorite adventure heroes.
o he's thrilled when he gets a bullet in his leg because it makes him feel
like a real action star.
• The person that should have been Huck's role model ends up being a greedy
drunkard.
o Huck let his racist town, as a whole, shape his views.
o He listens to Tom Sawyer.
Learning is only achieved through
questioning.
• While Huck goes along with what Tom Sawyer says, he knows on
the inside that Tom has absolutely no idea what he's doing.
He'd previously questioned and tested Tom's theories and disproved
them and he now has the knowledge to dismiss Tom's theories as being
foolish (although he's too intimidated to say so).
• Huck isn't inclined towards religion
o He posed many questions about Christianity to the Widow and to Miss
Watson and never seemed to get satisfying answers.
o He grows to appreciate Jim's superstitions because they seem to have
some kind of basis. Jim seems to be more patient and more willing to
offer answers.
o
Society trains people into thinking that the
worth of others can be measured in material
possessions.
• The doctor estimates that Jim's price should be around $1000.
o
This is dehumanizing. Jim is a person, people don't have prices. If
someone had tried to sell a white man, people would raise all sorts of
issues.
• People also start determining their own self-worth based on their
possessions.
Tom's thrilled with the bullet in his leg
 He probably sees it as a kind of heroic badge
 He gets to get a taste of what its like to be on a real adventure, like
in his books.
o Jim gets $40 and views himself as being a 'rich man'
 He's completely content with himself because he now has $40 to his
name.
o
Throughout the novel, we've seen Huck grow and change
because of his friendship with Jim. Although Huck regards him
as a companion, he still refers to Jim and other black people as
the n-word.
Do you think that Huck, by the
end of the novel, is still racist?
Why?
If so, does that make him a bad
person?
Miss Watson, Widow Douglas, and now Aunt Sally
have all tried to 'sivilize' Huck. Miss Watson is a
slave-owner, yet she still considers herself to be
'civilized'.
What did it mean to be
'civilized' in Huck's town? What
does it mean now in 2011?
Will there ever be just one, solid
definition for 'civilized'?
Bibliography-Part 1
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Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Needham, Massachusetts :
Prentice Hall, 1884. Print.
Title Slide Image:
http://eventplanning.typepad.com/.a/6a0120a79c6a26970b0148c7509d34970c-320wi
Tom Sawyer: http://www.pbs.org/marktwain/images/lmphoto_tom2.jpg
Mill Stone: http://www.orsonprattbrown.com/CJB/02Susan-Foutz/millstone-wo-printing.gif
Farmer: http://www.wessyngton.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/fig-152-whitesharecroppers-on-wessyngton-plantation1.jpg
Snake: http://www.dcnr.state.al.us/watchablewildlife/images/Black%20Rat%20Snake%20Wilson.jpg
Jim and Huck on Raft: http://api.ning.com/files/KCcPbECiCOCcygXWiIm*U3dUsYLfJJ37u55hl4eXjk_/Huck_and_jim_on_raft.jpg
Doctor: http://1stopbedwetting.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/doctor.jpg
Slave in Chains: http://www.awesomestories.com/images/user/thumb_fa95a820ed.jpg
Huck Looking into the World: http://www.dosomething.org/files/pictures/huckleberry102010.jpg
Bibliography-Part 2
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Old Woman: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/19/Sad_Old_Woman.jpg
Mob: http://www.fatcult.com/images/angry-mob-1.gif
Negroes for Sale: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kC5MT2r5U8s/TBiIwQ3ixEI/AAAAAAAAPKg/hnTtaL8Lns/s1600/slavery_negroes+wanted.jpg
Role models: http://grahamfrost.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/role-model.jpg
American West: http://inaugural.senate.gov/images/content-luncheon-painting.jpg