The first book of the summer The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was difficult yet eye opening. The reason this book is considered a classic is obvious within the first few chapters. My so called "honors English nerd" in me came out in the first chapter. Thanks to Mr. Baxter, my book has pencil all over it. (Don't worry Mrs. Jesik, it's my book) I just felt the need to respond to the story as it went along. I still ponder whether or not I took a liking to this book, but it did interest me.
Immediately I noticed the kind of kid that Huck is. While he is adventuresome, I believe that he is very mature for his age and that is proven by the way he reacts to his various encounters along the way. He doesn't purposely disobey the Widow but he disagrees with the type of person she was attempting to create. His maturity really appeared when his father made his way into the story. However, you could sense that Huck feared his father. When Huck was held captive, he wisely thought of a way to escape. Even while on the island, Huck’s trickery proved to be a mature choice in the long run. I felt that I used a lot of character analysis while completing the book.
The main reason why I'm not sure about my opinion of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was because of the difficulty in the language. Mark Twain writes using a very recognizable tone in his stories. The language aids the reader to really feel the setting of the Deep South and to create a perceived “Southern drawl” which adds to the authenticity of the characters. The language was a challenge but once you overcome it, it makes the reading more enjoyable. That's how I personally was able to understand the story.
How did Huck begin to show his maturity? You mention that, but draw from the text and give a specific example of the maturity. What words or dialogue from the story show his maturation?
ReplyDeleteMany of you referenced the dialogue. How would the story be different if the language were not authentic? Would you have enjoyed Huck as much?