Literature Discussion post: this is the study guide questions only need to choose one to write the page on for my paper Twain, Huckleberry Finn, Chapters XVII-XXI/II, Study Guide II

this is the study guide questions only need to choose one to write the page on for my paper

Twain, Huckleberry Finn, Chapters XVII-XXI/II, Study Guide II

Literature Discussion post

1. Chapters 17-18 were written in 1880-81. How do they differ in tone and substance from I-XVI?

2. Comment on the prose style of these chapters.

3. What is humorous about the alias that Huck gives to the Grangerfords?

4. What trick does he employ to remember the name? What comment is Twain making about lying? What kind of liar is Huck?

5. Is the theme of “the lie” present throughout the novel?

6. If so, give other examples.

7. Read the opening paragraph of Chapter I again. Does this help to explain at a very simple level the purpose of the name episode?

8. How is Buck characterized? How does he differ from Tom Sawyer? How does he differ from Huck?

9. How are the Grangerfords generally characterized? What does Twain wish us to think about them?

10. What do the details about the furnishings of the house reveal about them?

11. What point is Twain making in his description of the drawings of Emmeline Grangerford?

12. To what religious denomination do they belong? Why is this important?

13. What is the function of the poem to “Stephen Dowling Botts”?

14. What is Sentimentalism or Sentimentality?

15. How does this relate to the Grangerfords? What are the implications of this in the world of the entire novel?

16. Why does Col. Grangerford have a title? Why is this important? What is he like as a human being?

17. Why does Twain raise the issue of “Aristocracy” in the novel? What is his view of it?

18. Why is Huck a perfect witness in these episodes?

19. Why does Twain concern himself with a feud? How did this feud begin?

20. What parallel with a famous Shakespearean play is established here?

21. What is the outcome of the entire episode? Why?

22. What do you make of the church episode? Can you relate it to the opening of the novel?

23. What is Huck’s role in the outcome of the Grangerford/Shepherdson episode?

24. How does Huck find Jim before the end of the episode? Why is this important?

25. What do you make of the way Jim and Jack refer to one another. Note their word choices.

26. What is Huck’s view of the fighting?

27. What do you conclude about the death of Buck? Why?

28. What does Huck do after the death? What is the significance of this?

29. What is Jim’s language like when he talks to Huck at the end of Chapter XVIII?

30. How has the relationship of Jim and Huck changed to this point in the novel?

31. Characterize the journey on the river at the opening of Chapter XIX.

32. What is beautiful about the prose style of these passages?

33. Comment on the significance of the remarks about the stars and their birth.

34. How does Huck encounter the king and the duke? How are they described?

35. How do these “aristocrats” contrast with the “aristocrats” of the previous two chapters?

36. What does Huck think of them at once? What does this reveal about Huck?

37. What story does Huck create to explain Jim to the king and the duke? What does the explanation reveal about Huck?

38. What type of scam do the king and the duke indicate? they will try in the next town they find? This is the second reference to Shakespeare. Why?

39. How is the revival/camp-meeting characterized? What is Twain attempting to convey here? Is it just local color, or does it relate to a wider theme in the work?

40. What is Twain’s intent by having the king assume the role of preacher? What are some of the implications of his success?

41. What scam/con is created by the duke?

42. What is your view of the fact that Huck assents to the duke’s plan for dealing with Jim’s presence on the raft?

43. Twain creates two story lines in Chapters 21through 23. The first is the Shakespearean performance. What is humorous about the rehearsal? What is the purpose of the reference to “Capet”?

44. What is being relayed about American cultural ideas at the time? Or, is it just a simply funny story?

45. How are the townspeople characterized in the Shakespearean/ Nonesuch episodes?

46. How are they characterized in the Colonel Sherburn episode? What is the setting of the episode like?

47. Characterize Boggs.

48. How does Huck appear to us throughout the entire episode?

49. How does the lynching attempt conclude? What general themes are being presented in the episode?

50. What is the most significant personal theme?

51. What view is being presented of the society of the Mississippi River towns?