Intro to Realism & Intro to Realism & Huck FinnHuck Finn

A New Era: RealismA New Era: Realism

Outgrowth of the Civil War.Outgrowth of the Civil War. Cannot romanticize the horrors of war.Cannot romanticize the horrors of war. Grim reality forces people to look at what is Grim reality forces people to look at what is

happening. happening.

Concerned with the way things actually Concerned with the way things actually are.are. Drawn to ordinary lifeDrawn to ordinary life ““Real People,” not heroesReal People,” not heroes

Literature of the EraLiterature of the Era

Regionalism – Trying to capture the Regionalism – Trying to capture the essence of a particular locationessence of a particular location Dialects – Patterns of speech central to a Dialects – Patterns of speech central to a

locationlocation Words and StyleWords and Style

Dialogue tries to capture the way people Dialogue tries to capture the way people really speakreally speak

SatireSatire

Satire = Writing style in which the author Satire = Writing style in which the author subtly makes fun of characters and subtly makes fun of characters and society through their own ignorance.society through their own ignorance. Characters are not aware of the jokes.Characters are not aware of the jokes.

Sometimes causes confusion:Sometimes causes confusion: Can be difficult to detect as a reader.Can be difficult to detect as a reader.

Mark TwainMark Twain

Birth Name: Samuel Clemens. Born in Birth Name: Samuel Clemens. Born in Missouri in 1835.Missouri in 1835.

As a young man, served briefly in the As a young man, served briefly in the Confederate ArmyConfederate Army

Apprenticed on a steamboat – provides Apprenticed on a steamboat – provides expertise for expertise for The Adventures of The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnHuckleberry Finn

Huck Finn Key FactsHuck Finn Key Facts

CharactersCharacters Huck – 13. Uncivilized. Huck – 13. Uncivilized. Tom Sawyer – Huck’s best friend. Adventurous.Tom Sawyer – Huck’s best friend. Adventurous. Widow Douglas & Miss Watson – Huck’s Widow Douglas & Miss Watson – Huck’s

adopted caregiversadopted caregivers Jim – Adult slave owned by Miss WatsonJim – Adult slave owned by Miss Watson

Setting –Missouri. Pre-Civil WarSetting –Missouri. Pre-Civil War

Huck FinnHuck Finn

““All modern American literature comes from All modern American literature comes from one book by Mark Twain called one book by Mark Twain called Huckleberry Huckleberry FinnFinn.”.”Ernest HemingwayErnest Hemingway

““The The Adventures of Huckleberry FinnAdventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark , by Mark Twain, is the most grotesque example of Twain, is the most grotesque example of racist trash ever written.”racist trash ever written.”John H. WallaceJohn H. Wallace

The ControversyThe Controversy

Huck FinnHuck Finn has been banned in hundreds has been banned in hundreds of schools, while praised as a classic in of schools, while praised as a classic in hundreds of others.hundreds of others. Controversy stems over racism in the novel.Controversy stems over racism in the novel.

N-word used 213 timesN-word used 213 times In addition to this slur, many instances of In addition to this slur, many instances of

disparaging comments toward African-disparaging comments toward African-Americans.Americans.

Key QuestionsKey Questions

Essential questions of this text:Essential questions of this text: How can an individual break free against society?How can an individual break free against society?

What racial problems do we see today in America? What racial problems do we see today in America? How can we address them?How can we address them?