Huck Discussion Questions: XV - XVII
1. Discuss the significance of the fog
incident and Jim's interpretation of it. "The lot of towheads was troubles
we was going to get into with quarrelsome people and all kinds of mean folks,
but if we minded our business and didn't talk back and aggravate them, we would
pull through and get out of the fog and into the big clear river, which was the
free states, and wouldn't have no more trouble" (64). Consider the major
themes as well as foreshadowing.
The fog and the muddy river represent the fog of slavery, while the clear skies and waters show the clarity and niceness of freedom. Up until this point, Jim's freedom has still seemed far away while in southern waters. They are so close to freedom for both of them, and they're just beginning to realize it.
2. How does Huck feel about playing the
trick on Jim? Comment: "It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself
up and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn't sorry for it
afterwards, neither" (65). How does this statement contribute to the overall
meaning of the novel?
Huck feels guilty after tricking Jim because by this point in the novel,
Huck has realized that Jim is a real person with feelings. This contributes to
the overall meaning because Huck has changed his viewpoint on Jim, and it shows that society is incorrect in its dehumanization of black people.
3. Discuss the significance of the following quotes from Chapter XVI:
"Jim said it made him all over
trembly and feverish to be so close to freedom. Well, it made me all trembly
and feverish, too, to hear him because I begun to get it through my head that
he was most free -- and who was to blame for it? Why me. I couldn't get it out
of my conscience, no how nor no way." (66).
In this time period, slavery was the normal thing. Helping free slaves was
considered morally wrong to almost all southerners, Huck included.
"Here was this nigger which I as
good as helped to run away, coming right out flat-footed and saying he would
steal his children -- children that belonged to a man I didn't even know; a man
that hadn't ever done me no harm." (67). Explain the irony in this quote
as well as the significance.
Huck already felt bad about helping free Jim, and he thinks that slaves are
still property. Although the children are Jim’s biologically, Huck thinks they
belong to the man and if Jim steals his children back, it’ll be like Huck
helping steal from a man he doesn’t even know. This is ironic because you would
think that Jim would be allowed to have his children back because that is what
society today is like, but in this time period he is with less rights.
"Well, then, says I, what's the use
you learning to do right, when it's troublesome to do right and ain't no
trouble to do wrong, and the wages is just the same?" (69).
Huck is saying it’s easier to do wrong than right, and that he won’t tattle
tale on Jim because he’d feel the same confliction with or without ratting out
his friend. He feels guilty about wanting to turn Jim in, but it's easier to keep moving on than abandon his friend. He is trying to justify his feelings about not turning in Jim, and trying to comfort himself.
"Doan' less' talk about it, Huck.
Po' niggers can't have no luck. I awluz 'spected dat rattle-snake skin warn't
done wid its work." (70).
This brings back the theme of superstition, and how luck was an important
part of life in this time period. It's ironic because Huck and Jim have escaped so many problems.
4. Why do the bounty hunters give Huck
money? What is ironic about their reaction to Huck's story?
Because Huck says his dad is sick, and they’re pretty much paying him to stay
away, as well as pay for his father to get help. This is ironic because they were very willing to help them out but as
soon as they learned of the supposed sickness on board, all they wanted was to
get away.
5. What does the destruction of the
"naturally" created raft by the "industrially" created
steamboat symbolize?
It shows that society runs over the nature of freedom. It shows the natural state of man versus society.
6. Speculate on why Twain put
Huckleberry Finn aside for a few years at the end of XVI?
He was busy making bad investments, and he didn't know where he was going with the story.
7. Describe the Grangerford house. What
is satirical about the furnishings, art, and poetry? What does this description
say about the Grangerfords?
The Grangerfords house is large and very decorated, with art depicting romanticized sadness
and death. The poetry is equally depressing. Their house is expensively
furnished, which shows that the family is old and has a lot of money. It also shows how classy they are, and that highlights how silly their feud is.
8. The first part of Chapter XVII reveals
an example of the theme of Huck playing on Buck's gullibility. Discuss this
example as well as other examples of the novel's major themes evident in
Chapters XVI & XVII.
Huck uses Buck to help him know how to spell his name correctly, even though it wasn't quite the correct. This shows how clever Huck is, because he is stealthily gaining information about his character in case he needs to know it in the future. He came up with the small pox story, showing he was quick on his toes.
9. What does Huck's reaction to
"Moses and the candle" indicate? Discuss the meaning of
"Moses" as a motif in the novel.
Huck didn’t understand the joke, much like he doesn’t understand people’s
interest in religion and stories about people who had been dead for centuries. Moses
represents Huck because kind strangers took both in. Moses led the Hebrews to freedom, and goes against his egyptian upbringing. Huck is leading Jim to freedom, and goes against his southern upbringing. They are both going against society to do what is right.
10. What does Twain satirize in his
description of the church service and the hogs that sleep under the floor?
Both families go to church together and agree that the sermon about brotherly
love was well spoken. This is funny because even though they get along fine in
church, they are nasty to each other outside the holy walls. The Hogs think it's nice and cool in the church and will go any time, while humans only go when they have to (Sundays).
11. What does the feud symbolize? Does this remind you of another famous piece
of literature? Explain. Through the feud incident, Twain satirizes human traits
and behaviors. Discuss.
The feud symbolizes the Southern obsession with honor. Miss Sophia Grangerford
ran off to marry Harney Shepherdson, a man from the rival family. This is like
Romeo and Juliet, where Miss Sophia is a Capulet and Harney is a Montague. They
are star-crossed lovers like their Italian counterparts, and the heart wants
like the heart wants.
12. "I was powerful glad to get away
from the feuds, and so was Jim to get away from the swamp. We said there warn't
no home like a raft, after all. Other places do seem so clamped up and
smothery, but a raft don't. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a
raft"(88). Discuss the paradox. Furthermore, this excerpt from the final
paragraph of Chapter XVIII is significant in that it pertains to the major
themes of the novel. Explain.
Huck and Jim both enjoy the wide-open waters of the Mississippi, and don't like being stuck in a certain area for long amounts of time. They're both free on the raft, away from their troubles. The paradox is how small the raft is and how it is physically more cramped than any house
