After finishing chapter 5, answer two of the questions listed below in your post. Please write a well-organized response (3-5 sentence paragraph) for EACH question. You may use the Huck Finn section of Shmoop for help.1. How and why does Twain establish Huck's voice as a storyteller?
2. What do we learn about Huck from what he reveals of other characters' assessments of him?
3. What are Huck's feelings about his adoption by the Widow Douglas and her sister, Miss Watson?
4. As a motherless boy, does he need the Widow Douglas's and Miss Watson's influence?
5. Huck's upbringing is at issue in the book. What has he been taught that forms his core self?
6. What do other characters want to teach him and how do they wish to change him?
1. Twain shows that Huck is the storyteller because your seeing what's happening through Huck's eyes. It also shows what he is thinking or saying in that moment of the story. For example, when the boys are going to go out and hijack a car or wagon Huck says that "I clumb up the shed and crept into my window" (8). This just shows what Huck is doing and what is going on at that certain point in the story.
ReplyDelete4. Since Huck is a motherless boy, he relies on Widow Douglas and Miss Watson to influence him. For example, Huck will come to them and Miss Watson teaches Huck how to pray and show that he should be a good christian boy. They teach him many things such as using his manners and behaving. Miss Watson and Widow Douglas watch out for Huck since his father is the town drunk who does not care about anything but drinking.
Rachel,
DeleteI agree. We see the story from Huck's perspective. Why do you think that Mark Twain allows Huck to tell the story instead of a narrator who knows all and can see into all of the characters' minds? Why does he want the story to unfold through Huck's experience? The answer is not a right or wrong answer - just your thoughts.
Think about that and post another reply.
1. Twain introduces the book by telling a little bit about his other book, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. As a reader, you can infer that that book was all about Tom Sawyer. Twain mentions in the beginning of this book that Huckleberry and Tom were friends (in his other book). In this book, you are getting the point of view from Huck. Twain starts the book immediately in Huck's point of view.
ReplyDelete4. I think that Huck needs guidance from Widow Douglas and Miss Watson for they replace his mother. It's hard for any child to lose a close family member, so it is good to have people close that act as your guardian and care for you. I bet it is also hard for Huck dealing with his mother's death because his father is a drunk, and it doesn't seem like they have a very good relationship. In the book, I get the feeling that Huck doesn't really like Widow Douglas and Miss Watson, but I bet if he didn't have them, he would be more wild and out of control.
It is interesting that Twain chooses Huck to tell the story. He is a boy who has not been "educated" in school. I would ask everyone to think as you go along in the story, "Why would Twain choose Huck, an uneducated boy who has had a tough life, to tell this story?" We can discuss this at the end of the book.
DeleteHow and why does Twain establish Huck's voice as a storyteller?
ReplyDeleteThe book starts off with Huck introducing Twain. He describes the writing style that Twain had and that he had written “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.” Now, Huck is describing how that book turns out and some of the plot. What ends up happening is that he keeps telling the story; however, it turns into to “ Adventures of Huck Finn.” From then on, he is the narrator of the story. Twain does a good job of putting it thought the prospective of Hucks eyes as well.
As a motherless boy, does he need the Widow Douglas's and Miss Watson's influence?
A boy without a mother can became impolite, crazy, and maybe even a troublemaker. He needs the influences of the people around him especially for support and direction. Hucks father is not a good example for him, so he needs person to look out for him and keep him safe.
When I first read The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, I felt relieved that Huck would have an adult watching over him.
Delete5. Huck's upbringing is at issue in the book. What has he been taught that forms his core self?
ReplyDeleteHuck grew up without a mother, which must have been very hard for him. All he had was a father that was always drunk and was not a good influence on him. Therefore, as a kid he never went to school, slept outside, and was beaten everyday. From this one can observe that he was going to grow up to be like his whole family: uneducated and uncivilized. However, when the widow took in Huck, his out look on life was slowly changing.
6. What do other characters want to teach him and how do they wish to change him?
In Huck’s life there are two different people that want to influence him. The widow wants to turn Huck into a religious educated schoolboy that always prays to god and helps others. However, Huck’s father wants him to stop going to school and to “stop putting on the frills” (15).
1. Mark Twain establishes Huck's voice because he is, through a boy, giving a description of America in the time where the book is set. It is the same as Twain telling about the setting, he is describing what the people were like and what was acceptable in speech. The words that Twain chose for Huck to say are not acceptable nowadays, but back then they were what people said all day. It is important for him to show how he talks also because Twain has to let the reader know that Huck never went to school. He never how to read or say anything perfectly. He never read the bible and never was taught anything. Huck using bad grammar in his speech is an example of him never getting schooling.
ReplyDelete4. Miss Watson and Widow Douglas want to help Huck. They want to be as close to a mother as they can for him. He has never gone to school for his whole life, and they think that is wrong. He should go to school and learn. Huck on the other hand does not want them as much as they want him. He thinks that clean clothes are unbearable and the school is boring. He likes it at times, feeling accomplished from learning for the first time, but he also wants his old life back. He is not allowed to smoke or hang around town as he used to which he misses. He does not like what the two women do for him, but he does not realize how much good they are doing for him.
4. As a motherless boy, does he need the Widow Douglas's and Miss Watson's influence?
ReplyDeleteI think that Huck does need a motherly figure in his life. Without a mother, Huck has mostly been undisciplined and can do whatever he chooses. He spends a lot of time with Tom Sawyer, who is not exactly a great role model. He can be naughty like sneaking out of the house at night and sneaking into other houses with Tom. He even took out a pipe and started smoking. He could easily pick up bad habits and definitely needs someone who can watch over him.
6. What do other characters want to teach him and how do they wish to change him?
The other characters all want to change Huck to what they would like. Huck's father wants to teach Huck to not like school and learning. He says to Huck that he wants to never see him near the school again and doesn't want Huck to think he is better than him. Also, he tries to take money from him. The widow and Miss Watson, however, tries to teach Huck good manners and religion. And then there is Tom. He tries to change Huck into a wrongdoer who likes mischief and misbehaving. Huck is the innocent child who is amidst everyone's different views and beliefs.