Huck Finn Review

In what point of view is the novel written?

First person

How does the narrator feel about Moses? What does his response show about his personality?

He does not care about Moses because he is a dead person. This shows that he really does not have strong emotions and feelings. He also is most likely not religious.

 What is the narrator’s name? (Hint: Look at who Miss Watson is talking to.)

Huckleberry Finn

 Describe the dialect of the narrator.

Southern dialect with bad grammar.

How does Huck know that he needs to meet Tom?

Because Miss Watson told him that Tom isn’t the type of person to go to Heaven and Huck has no interest in it either. Huck wants to spend the rest of his life with Tom.

Explain who these characters are and their relationships to Huck: Widow Douglas and Miss Watson.

Widow Douglas houses Huck, is a motherly figure to him, and teaches him how to behave. Miss Watson came into the house, was teaching him, and also wanted him to conform to the social standards of the upper class. Both Widow Douglas and Miss Watson want to educate Huck of religion and heaven, while also trying to make him into a well mannered boy.

Who is Jim?

Miss Watson’s slave

What prank does Tom play on Jim?

At first wants to tie him to the tree, but he decided to put candles all around him and put his hat on a tree branch. Making him think a witch put him in some sort of a trance.

How does Jim use the prank to his advantage?

He convinces people that he was bewitched and they would take him all around the country. People came from all over to hear his story and even looked up to him. He also wore a five-center piece that he stated the devil gave to him and would heal.

Where is Tom Sawyer’s Gang formed?

In a cave

What upsets Huck about the Gang’s rules? Why is he almost not allowed to join? How is he finally allowed to join?

They were pretty harsh and he got most of them from pirate and robber books. He was almost not allowed to join because he didn’t have a family for them to kill if they went against the Gang’s rules. Huck offered Miss Watson instead and they accepted the offer.

What is odd about the descriptions of the Gang’s activities? (Hint: Are these activities described as a bad thing?)

They are not described as a bad thing and want to mimic these robbers and pirates, especially Tom.

Describe Huck’s thoughts about praying and helping others. What does this show about his character?

At first he tried praying because he thought you'd get anything you prayed for, but that wasn't true. Then the widow told him you'd pray and your "spiritual gifts" are helping others. He saw that there was no self gain in that, so he completely dropped praying. He probably doesn't care much about helping others.

How does Huck react to the news of his father’s “death”? What does he really believe happened?

Wasn't that sad because he didn't like his father, but he also believes his father isn't dead. Thinks it was a lady in men's clothes, and knew he couldn't be dead because dead people don't float on their back. He figured he'd show up sooner or later

Describe Tom’s imaginative stories and the allusion to Don Quixote. (Please look up Don Quixote if you don’t understand the allusion.)

They're going around pretending like they're killing people when they really aren't. Tom has a crazy idea that there are Arabs, soldiers, elephants, and magicians that are disguising themselves as a Sunday school. Relates to Don Quixote because he had gone crazy from reading and thought windmills were giants, Tom is now going through that.

Whose boot marks are in the snow? How does Huck react to them?

It's his father's boot marks (had a cross on the left foot to ward off the devil). Huck lets that guy keep all the money then goes to Jim asking why his dad would be here.

Who is waiting for Huck in his room when he gets home that night?

His pap or dad.

How does Huck’s father feel about his education?

He's mad because now that Huck can read and write some he thinks he's better than his old man. Wants to knock him down a peg. Told him to stop going to school and stop learning.

Why did Huck sell all of his property to the judge for only a dollar?

So he wouldn't have to give it all to his father. His father wants all his stuff since he thinks Huck thinks he's all high and mighty, so he gives it all to the judge.

What do Judge Thatcher and the Widow try to do for Huck? Why doesn’t it work?

They wanted to get the court to get Huck away from his father and let one of them be the guardians, but it was a new judge that didn't know the father, so he said no. He didn't want to separate families.

How does Huck’s father show the truth of his character to the new judge?

Huck's father is very deceptive. He dresses all nice and takes him out, telling him that he's turned a new leaf and tried to get his life back on track just so he could stay as Huck's guardian in order to be paid back. The next morning he wakes up drunk and falls and breaks a few bones.

Where does Pap take Huck? How does Huck feel about the move?

He takes Huck up to their old house across Illinois shore. After thinking about how simple life was when living there, he started to like it and didn't want to go back to the widow's.

Explain the allusion to Adam.

Huck's father returns from drinking all night in town, and he's all dirty and muddy. He goes on to say "A body would've thought he was Adam, he was all mud." Adam was made out of mud, so that's the allusion shown.

Why does Huck have to sit with a gun by the end of the chapter?

Huck's dad got insanely drunk and started chasing him around with a knife thinking he was "The Angel of Death" while trying to kill him. He soon got tired and laid down, and that's when Huck got the gun and the chair and waited for his dad to wake up again.

What does Huck find after the river rises? What does he do with it?

Pieces of lumber floating, and a sprinkling of bark. He'd also get dozens of floating logs and sell them to the wood yards and saw mills.

Explain Huck’s escape plan as thoroughly as possible. Who is he trying to trick?

He plans to take the canoe about 50 miles down the river and camp. Killed a wild hog and used its blood to leave drag marks leading to the river, then took all of Pap's utensils and such and brought them to a little creek aways out. So people would think he was killed, dragged into the river, then people stole from his father. He wants to trick his dad and Widow Douglass into thinking that he died so that they will stop looking for him.

Think back to Huck’s discussion about prayer in the earlier chapters. What does Huck think about the bread that comes to him on the river in connection to prayer?

He has a little more belief because he knows that the widow prayed the bread would find him and it did. He thinks it works on the bread, but not all things.

Why are there people on a ferry-boat? Why do they shoot a cannon into the water?

They are people trying to find Huck (people that know him), and they shoot the cannon in the water so that the carcass will come to the top.

Who does Huck find on Jackson’s Island?

Jim

Why did the person Huck found run away from home?

Miss Watson treats him poorly and says they won't sell him to New Orleans to a slave trader, but the Widow wants to for a lot of money, but Jim decides to just run away. He overhears a conversation between Widow Douglas and Miss Watson.

Even though this person has no real money, why does he/she say he/she is rich?

Jim has lost all of his money from stock involving cattle and investing in the church, but he considers himself rich because he owns himself and he is worth $800.

Where do Jim and Huck decide to make camp?

The door of the cavern.

Near the end of chapter 9, what surprising object floats down the river?

A two-story house.

What is strange about Huck’s description of the belongings in the house? (Hint: What does Huck surprisingly NOT describe?)

He goes into great description of all the items he found but did not look at the dead body.

How does the bad luck that Jim keeps warning Huck about finally come to the surface?

Tuesday was when they were talking about the dead body and Jim said it was bad luck, then on Friday Jim got bit by a rattlesnake. Huck had killed it's mate and put it on the foot of Jim's bed, so it came looking for it.

Describe two of the superstitions in chapter 10.

When you leave a snake dead, its mate will come and curl around it.

Don't look at the moon over your left shoulder.

How does Huck disguise himself so he can travel across the river to see what’s happening?

He disguises himself as a girl.

Who do the townspeople believe killed Huck? Why do they think this?

They think that Jim killed him, but they're also suspicious of Huck's dad. Huck's dad because he wanted the money and Jim because he ran away a little time after Huck supposedly died.

What has Huck’s father done in Huck’s absence?

First he went and told people of the death, then they wanted him lynched. Then he goes to the judge and orders that they hunt for Jim, then he gets drunk on a ferry and disappears with some strangers.

Where does the old woman want to look for Jim? Why does this upset Huck?

Wants to look for him over at Jackson's island, and Huck doesn't like that because that's where he and Jim set up camp. The lady says her husband and another man are going over there around midnight to hunt him.

What does the old woman reveal that she knows when she asks Huck for his real name? (Hint: She asks if it’s Bill, or Tom, or Bob.)

She knows that he's actually a boy who is a runaway.

How does the woman test Huck’s story of working on a farm?

Keeps on asking him questions involving living in the country. Like which end gets up first when a cow or horse is laying down, or which side of the tree moss grows on.

What is this woman’s name?

Mrs. Judith Loftus

What does Huck do at the end of the chapter? How could this be seen as a sacrifice for Huck to help Jim?

He makes a diversion fire about a mile away from where they were, then he gets Jim and tells him people are coming after them and they need to leave. Showing that he's willing to go on the run with Jim even though he might end up in a lot of trouble.

How does Pap react to Huck having a gun in his hand? (pg 22)

• He asks him why he has a gun because he did not remember the night before

• Highlights how abusive Pap was and at 13 he felt like he had to sleep with a gun for his own protection

What does Huck find in the river when it rises? (pg 23)

• Finds a canoe

• Why does Huck fake his own murder? Why not just run away? (pg 24-25)

• No one will come after him

• How are people looking for Huck? (pg 28)

• On a ferry shooting cannons into water along with quiksilver in bread

• What does Huck say about bread and prayer? (pg 28)

• Believes religion and prayer does not work for people like him

• He knows he is not a religious, morally great person

Why did Jim run away? (pg 33)

• He overheard Miss Watson saying she was gonna sell him to New Orleans

• What passes by Huck and Jim on the river? (pg 38)

• A two-story house

• Jim tells Huck not to look at the body and finds a rag to cover the dead person with

• Why does the snake bite Jim? (pg 40)

• Because Huck played a prank on him by leaving a dead snake by his bed but the other snake comes and bites Jim

• “...I’d druther been bit with a snake than Pap’s whiskey.”

What’s the reward out for Jim? (pg 42)

• $300 bounty

• They think that he had killed Huck

Why did people assume Jim killed Huck? (pg 42)

• They left on the same night

• What has Pap been up to? (pg 43)

• Begging Judge Thatcher for Huck’s money and takes the money and gets drunk running around town - never is heard of

• Why do Jim and Huck need to leave Jackson’s island ASAP? (pg 43)

• Mrs. Judith tells him that her husband is going to look at midnight for Jim because she saw a fire there and nobody usually is there

Why do Jim and Huck have to light a lantern when they are traveling on the Mississippi River?

To keep them from getting run over by a steamboat. Didn't have to light it for up-steam boat unless they were in a crossing.

What time of day do Huck and Jim travel? Why?

They traveled at night to avoid being seen and questioned because you can clearly tell from the boat that Jim is an African American.

How does Huck describe St. Louis? What does this description display about his roots?

He said it was like the whole world lit up. A wonderful spread of lights even at 2 in the morning. This shows that he's not used to the big city with all of these lights, rather small towns with very small populations.

What does Huck want to do that Jim is opposed to?

Go check out the steamboat that had crashed into rocks because he says steamboat captains are rich. He said that they're paid $60 a month, and don't care how much they spend on things, as long as they want it they'll buy it.

Why won’t Huck go back with Jim when they hear voices on the steamboat? (Hint: the answer has to do with a person)

He is too curious and says that Tom Sawyer wouldn’t go back so he would not either.

What unfortunate thing happens while Huck is on the steamboat?

There is most likely about to be a murder by either drowning or shooting. The 3 men names are Jim Turner, Bill, and Jake Packard. Bill holds a gun to a tied up Jim as Jake is standing next to him with a lantern. It seems like Jim was going to tell of Bill and Jake's secret, and also seems like Jim killed one of their friends. Maybe all 3 of them were murderers, but Jim wanted out and was going to tell

Why is Jim upset at the end of the chapter?

Their raft was gone, so they were now stuck on the boat with the 3 men.

How do Huck and Jim escape the steamboat?

They hijack the other guys skift. The other guys were in their skift, but got out and left it for pickings because they forgot to get Jim Turner's share of money. This gave Huck and Jim an opening to take it.

What story does Huck fabricate and tell to the watchman?

He tells him that his mom, dad, sister, and Miss Hooker are all stuck on that wrecked boat. Miss Hooker's oar broke so she had to get on the ship, and Huck and his imaginary family crashed into it and had to get on. I think he made Bill out to be a hero by saying he helped them on.

What does the watchman tell Huck to do?

He told him to head to the light out yonder and turn west when you get there, to until you get to the tavern, dart to Jim Hornback's and foot him the bill. Then tell him that the watchman will have his niece (Miss Hooker) safe before he gets here.

Who does Huck assume would be proud of him for helping others?

Widow Douglas

What does Huck read to Jim about?

“...kings, and dukes, and earls, and such, and how gaudy they dressed, and how much style they put on, and called each other your majesty, and your grace, and your lordship, and so on…”. They were also talking of how they could get $1,000 a month if they wanted to, and they did nothing except maybe when there's a war.

According to Huck, who is the wisest man to ever live? Does Jim agree?

Huck says Solomon is the wisest man, and that's what the widow told him. Jim doesn't agree with this because he talks about splitting the child into two where basically 2 people own it rather than 1. Talks more about how people with few children values them more, but for Solomon he doesn't because he can always have more with all his wives.

Explain Jim’s understanding of different languages. What analogy does Huck use to explain this?

He thinks they talk the same way we do. They were talking about the French way of saying something. Huck then uses an analogy with a saying that since both a cat and a cow talk differently from us, can they understand each other talking. No, it's natural for them to talk different from us, like it should be natural for a frenchman to talk different. Jim argues saying that the cat and cow aren't a man, but the French person is, so he should talk like a man.

What is Huck and Jim’s plan at the beginning of the chapter?

They wanted to get to Cairo where the Ohio River comes in, then they'd sell the raft, get on a steamboat, and go up the Ohio to the free states.

What problem do Jim and Huck encounter in this chapter?

They get lost in the fog that appears and they have to whoop to each other in order to find each other. Huck get confused and hears a lot of whooping from different places.

What does Huck make Jim think had happened?

Tells Jim that it was all a dream and Huck was with him all along. Them getting lost and everything was a dream and he had just been sleeping for 10 minutes or so.

What lesson does Jim teach Huck after this prank? Remembering the racism of the time, what does Huck's apology show about his character development?

Jim knows that he was playing a prank on him. Jim was so happy when he finally found Huck, and he's mad that he's making Jim feel ashamed of himself and "put dirt on his head." He says Huck is trash because he's putting dirt on Jim's head and making him feel ashamed. Huck felt bad after and said he would've kissed his foot. He said he wouldn't have done it if he knew Jim would become so mad about it.

Based on what you read in this chapter, what is Huck and Jim’s relationship like?

They're friendship is getting stronger and we see that Huck is actually sorry for playing a prank on Jim.

What are Jim and Huck keeping an eye out for at the beginning of this chapter?

Cairo, stopping at any lights they see to get information about how far it is.

What can’t Huck get off of his conscience?

Having not told on Jim, and letting him run away. He feels bad that Miss Watson has been nothing but nice to him, yet he's helping her slave run away from her.

What is ironic about Jim's discussion of "stealing his children"?

In a way he kinda stole Huck. Huck is surprised when he's talking about all of this since he's a free man and remembers the saying "give a [slave] an inch and he'll take an ell."

After Huck starts to think about things on his conscience, what does he decide he will do? What stops him?

He decides that when they see first light, he'll go up to shore and tell on Jim. He then changes his mind when the men come because of what Jim was saying to him as he was going to the shore.

How does Huck escape the men who are looking for runaway slaves?

He tells him that Jim is his father and that isn't feeling well. The men keep asking what's wrong with him, and he never gives them a definitive answer, but they think it's smallpox and don't get anywhere near Jim.

What do the two men tell Huck he can get from turning in runaway slaves?

Money

Explain this quote: "I reckoned I wouldn't bother no more about it, but after this always do whichever come handiest at the time" (Twain 69). What is Huck's decision about Jim?

He decided to stop doing things based on if they're right or wrong because he'll likely feel the same way (bad) no matter what he does. So from now on when he's making decisions, he'll do what comes handiest.

What does Huck attribute to all of his bad luck?

The snake skin

Why are Huck and Jim separated at the end of the chapter?

They jump into the river when the steamboat is passing, and Huck goes under water for a couple minutes while it passes. Then whenever he comes to the surface he calls for Jim but doesn't get an answer.

When Huck wakes up after spending the night in Buck’s room, what problem does he encounter? How does he fix this problem?

When he wakes up, he forgets the name that he made up (George Jackson). He then layed in bed for about an hour trying to remember what it was. Then Buck comes to Huck asking to spell his name, then Huck turns it on him and asks Buck to spell his fake name so he'd remember it again.

Explain an allusion in this chapter.

Talks about "Pilgrims Progress" and Henry Clay's speeches.

What was Emmaline Grangerford’s strength?

It was poetry. She could say a line, then come up with another line to rhyme with it, and if not then she'd move on to the next line.

 What literary device is used when Huck is describing Col. Grangerford?

Similie

Why did Huck’s slave have an easy time waiting on him/taking care of him?

Because Huck had never had a slave before, so he wasn't used to having someone do everything for him.

Who was killed by a Shepherdson this year?

They killed one, and it was Buck's 14 year old cousin Bud. He got chased on horseback, then decided it was useless and turned around so the bullet holes would be in the front. Then the man that killed Bud was then killed within a week.

Who are the two families involved in the feud? With which family is Huck staying?

The feud is between the Grangerfords and the Shepherdsons, and Huck is staying with the Grangerfords. Started when there was a lawsuit filed, then the person that lost the lawsuit shot and killed the person that won it.

What can you assume about the paper that was left in Miss Sophia’s bible?

Possible meeting time for a person she shouldn't be meeting with.

 Where did Miss Sophia go?

She runs off in the middle of the night to marry Harney Shepherdson.

Why doesn’t Huck like to think about what happened that day?

The day that Miss Sophia ran off with the Shepherdson boy. Buck and the whole family left without telling Huck, and they got into a huge shootout with the Shepherdsons between a log store. Miss Sophia got away safe which made Huck happy, but a lot of people were killed including 2 of Buck's brothers along with his dad and some of the Shepherdsons. Then Buck and the others were chased into the river with the other family screaming "kill them." Buck ended up dying.

What do Jim and Huck hear that Jim believes are spirits?

People on a raft nearby were talking and laughing but they could not see them in the Fog.

Why does Huck get nervous when he sees other men on the river?

Huck thinks they are after him and Jim. It's just 2 men that are running away from people and ask Huck for help, and he does end up helping them.

What piece of information does the younger man reveal to them in confidence? Do you think this is true?

He reveals that he's the rightful Duke of Bridgewater, and I don't believe it. He's mad that he's royalty, and how he's in this company of young Huck and some old man who's on the run. He's with a bunch of felons on a raft. I think the guy just wants to get pampered. The old man also happens to be the King of France who was exiled.

According to Huck, what do you want, above all things, on a raft?

For everybody to be satisfied and to feel kind towards each other.

What is one thing that Huck does very well? (Hint: He does this in the beginning of this chapter)

Lying by making up stories, especially to get out of trouble.

What do the two “dukes” decide they will do when they come to a town?

They'll hire a hall, and act out the sword fight from Richard III, and the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet. Acting kind of for money, which Huck agrees to, but doesn't know how to do.