Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
Since this is my second all time favorite book (after To Kill A Mockingbird), I am excited to be re-reading it from a language point of view. As we post comments, remember that your audience is world wide since this blog is not password protected. Use your best grammar and traditional spelling so everyone can easily follow your comments. OK?
Having said all that, how does Twain establish the innocent voice of Huck? What techniques does he use? (we can talk later about the advatantage of having an "innocent" narrator)
Tom Sawyer and his band of robbers are indicative of at least two things: it reveals the boyish, carefree nature of Tom and Huck. It also is a dig by Twain to make fun of all the romantic novels that were being published. Romantic novel, in this sense, does not have anything to do with love. It has more to do with being the opposite of realistic. . . the realities in a romance are softened, nothing truly bad happens to the characters. They also do not behave in a manner consistent with real life. They have been "romanticized." You will see other examples of Twain's opinion of romanticism this later in the book.
Having said all that, how does Twain establish the innocent voice of Huck? What techniques does he use? (we can talk later about the advatantage of having an "innocent" narrator)
Tom Sawyer and his band of robbers are indicative of at least two things: it reveals the boyish, carefree nature of Tom and Huck. It also is a dig by Twain to make fun of all the romantic novels that were being published. Romantic novel, in this sense, does not have anything to do with love. It has more to do with being the opposite of realistic. . . the realities in a romance are softened, nothing truly bad happens to the characters. They also do not behave in a manner consistent with real life. They have been "romanticized." You will see other examples of Twain's opinion of romanticism this later in the book.
Comments
I find it interesting that Twain incorperates the occult/superstitons in the characters belifs. Jim says got a pentagram charm from the devil and Huck tied a lock of his hair to keep the witches away. Things like that, I think were kind of odd to talk openly about in a novel.
Also i noticed how twain mocks the government thoughout the story so im guessing twain wasnt very supportive of the government at the time he wrote this story.
And, although it has been mentioned, one of the most significant things I've concentrated on is the rhetorical relationship between Huck and his father. Twain uses several variations of "beating" in "cowhide" and "licking."
Another important element is how Huck and his southern dialect change. When he is with Miss Watson and the widow, he writes/speaks (in diary-esque form) much clearer. When he returns to his lazy, vagabond life with his father, his tongue becomes a little lazier. Twain probably used this to express the change and impact that surroundings have on the education and development of a person.
Twains use of irony is evident throughout the novel as well and is central to understadning the book. The irony is clearly seen in the feud between the two families. The human condition Twain is criticizing is hicks in the south and their unintelligent ways of going about a fight. Another example of irony would be in chapter twenty-four "sick arab-but harmless when not out of his head."