...American writing came from “one book by Mark Twain, Huckleberry Finn” and that there was no American Literature before the book. Hemingway was wrong because, American Literature is written works that are created by utilizing the English language and based off of the culture and history of America. It is true that in the period before Huckleberry Finn, British and European writers influenced the majority of the literature produced. But, as America found its identity while settling in the new found land, so where the early American writers. Moreover, some of the literature produced before Huckleberry Finn is American Literature because it does contain the essential elements...
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...Huck Finn Collaborative Essay Slavery, discrimination, and tears. These are some of the main concepts in the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Written in 1885, this book, written by Mark Twain, is set pre-civil war where slavery is a common occurrence. Mark Twain uses several techniques to show the time and setting of this classic. The book illustrates an important angle to society's influence on its people. Throughout the book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, several literary devices support the important theme, societal influence on characters actions and decisions. Symbolism is a very important literary device used throughout the book to show the theme, societal influence on a character’s decision. Mark Twain uses symbols such...
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...American Literature 23 November 2009 Analytical Essay of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, was written by Mark Twain and originally published in 1884 during a time when slavery was prominent in the United States. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is the story regarding the interracial friendship between the two main characters, Huck and Jim. Huck is a young white male who is on the run, making his getaway from his abusive father. While escaping the life he lived, his adventures take him down the Mississippi River. Jim is a black escaped slave, making the same journey along the Mississippi River as Huck, making his way to freedom. As they experience different adventures on their travels along the Mississippi River, Huck and Jim form a very unique friendship. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn became a book that both revolutionized American literature and became a book at the center of literary debate (Webb). Many people regard The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn as one of the greatest novels in American literature; others think it celebrates racism and should be banned from our schools. “In recent years the racial (and racist) implications of every aspect of the novel have been subject to critical debate, as have questions about the racial beliefs of the author”(Levine 95). The reason for the wide spread debate is mainly due to the books vernacular use of the word “nigger” and, although some argue that the novel is extremely racist,...
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...Name Course Course Instructor Date Parent figures in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn In Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck indirectly searches for a home among the different characters, with whom he interacts. The theme of parental figures is core to this piece of work. There are different characters, which represent parental figures. These are important to Huck, as they help to shape him into a man. The characters that are a representation of parental figures include Jim, Mr. Grangerford, Miss Watson, Judge Thatcher, and Widow Douglas. According to De Koster, these are seen to play an important role in different aspects in the development of Huck, thus are a personification of parental figure to Huck (56). This essay therefore, argues for the theme of parental figures in Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Parents are important in the life of a child. Their presence and involvement in the life of their children contributes positively to the growth of the children. However, when parents are absent during a child’s growth process, or are irresponsible, and do not look after the child, this has a negative impact on the child. Parents ought to be there for their children to count on them. In Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, parental figure is an emerging theme, because Huck, who plays an important role, lacks parental guidance and care. For most of his life, his biological parents are not part of him, and therefore, have limited influence...
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...able to eloquently and succinctly put those thoughts onto paper. Because he wrote a combination of fiction and nonfiction, it is difficult to categorize Mark Twain as an author. According to Neil Schmitz, Mark Twain was, “a southern humorist gone over, not just a deserter, a dissenter, but a literary scalawag, a southern writer in unionist discourse and narrative” (91). Most people recognize Twain’s brief, witty, straightforward proverbs that are often quoted today. He also wrote many novels, a few nonfiction books, a plethora of short stories, and essays. Mark Twain uses a variety of rhetorical devices including carefully chosen, colorful language, satirical tone, and unique symbolism to entertain and to enlighten his readers about the moral dilemmas and the beauty of the America he knew. According to Ernest Hemingway, all of American literature comes from one great book, Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Twain, Huck Finn vii). Although this statement may seem hyperbolic, it does indicate the important place Mark Twain holds in American literature. Early Nineteenth century American writers tended to try to write like English writers with flowery, ostentatious language (Schmitz 100). Twain’s writing style was innovative when it was written and is still absolutely unique. He writes with simple prose and careful word choice. Each word is carefully selected and each sentence is meticulously crafted. Twain writes, “The difference between the almost right word and the...
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...appreciated novels, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn follow countless boyhood adventures between the rambunctious young boys, Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn. While Twain’s novels depict long playful summer days spent in the sun, his work is far from children’s literature. Twain’s novels include dark adult themes such as death, ignorance, physical punishment, deceit and most prominently, racism. Twain modeled both novels based on his own life experiences growing up along the Mississippi River (Frost), hoping to mirror how one's surroundings influence their character development, furthermore shaping who they will become. To do so, Twain creates a world of struggle for his protagonists,...
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...The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn By Mark Twain By Brenda Tarin British Literature 2323 Lois Flanagan January 27, 2009 Tarin ii I. Introduction II. Biographical sketch of author A. Past to present B. Experiences and achievements III Plot analysis A. analysis of plot structure 1. Exposition 2. Complication 3. Crisis 4. Climax 5. Resolution B. Theme of plot IV Critical analysis A. Theme 1. Racism 2. Slavery C. Characters D. Atmosphere E. Conflicts V. Evaluation VI. Review of movie version VII. Conclusion Tarin 1 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Samuel Langhorne Clemens also known as the famous and brilliant Mark Twain, was born in the small town of Florida, Missouri on November 30, 1835 to John Marshall and Jane Lampton Clemens. Clemens was the youngest of the five children, as a child Clemens moved around a lot, he first moved to the small town of Hannibal at the age of four. Here he attended a private school and seemed to finally recover from his poor health at the age of nine. When he was twelve his father died of pneumonia, he suddenly decided to leave, and make money, since his family needed all the help they could get. He quit school and was a printers apprentice, then moved and helped his brother print and edit for a newspaper. In 1858 Clemens became a river pilot...
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...How to compare and contrast essay As you generate points of comparison, consider the purpose and content of the assignment and the focus of the class. What do you think the professor wants you to learn by doing this comparison/contrast? How does it fit with what you have been studying so far and with the other assignments in the course? Are there any clues about what to focus on in the assignment itself? Here are some general questions about different types of things you might have to compare. These are by no means complete or definitive lists; they’re just here to give you some ideas—you can generate your own questions for these and other types of comparison. You may want to begin by using the questions reporters traditionally ask: Who? What? Where? When? Why? How? If you’re talking about objects, you might also consider general properties like size, shape, color, sound, weight, taste, texture, smell, number, duration, and location. Two historical periods or events When did they occur—do you know the date(s) and duration? What happened or changed during each? Why are they significant? What kinds of work did people do? What kinds of relationships did they have? What did they value? What kinds of governments were there? Who were important people involved? What caused events in these periods, and what consequences did they have later on? Two ideas or theories What are they about? Did they originate at some particular time? Who created them? Who uses or defends them? What...
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...Course Number and Title: American Literature 1 Number of Credits: 3 Instructor Name: Sos Bagramyan Email Address: sbagramyan@aua.am Telephone Number: 51 27 69 Office Location: Paramaz Avedisian Building, 132W Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday, 8am-9am Term/Year: Spring 2015 ENGL 120 – American Literature 1 This survey course introduces students to American literature from the beginning of European contact to the present, focusing on major authors and different literary genres. It examines the historical influences on the evolution of this body of literature and the construction of a distinct and complex American identity. Through close reading, class discussion and their own research and writing, students will explore how themes such as gender, race, class, spirituality, economics, and the environment play a role in the formation and evolution of the American experience Three hours of instructor-led class time per week. Required Materials: All readings are located in PDF format on our course’s Moodle page. Academic Integrity: All graded assignments must completed individually. Plagiarism is a serious offense, and any attempt to pass off another person's ideas and writings as your own will result in severe disciplinary measures, possibly expulsion from the university. This also applies to your Informal Responses, which should reflect your own understanding of the material and not simply repeat what I or your classmates have already said. Students are required...
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...Huckleberry Finn Essay In Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain Huck a common theme of having no morals/ethics is brought out repeatedly throughout the novel. Examples of this are when Huck thinks about turning Jim in due to the fact that he felt bad for Miss Watson and that she had never done anything wrong to him, when King and Duke do their "royal nonesuch" in each town, and the entire Grangerford episode. To start off, Huck thinks about turning Jim into slave hunters as they near freedom (or so they think) after they have gone many miles and gained a new found trust for one another. This shows morality and ethic problems, because Jim and Huck learn to trust each other and consider each other friends and all Huck can do is think about how helping Jim escape is an unmoral decision, because Jim is property of Miss Watson. only is slavery wrong, but all Huck can do is think about how Miss Watson took care of him and tried her best to raise him; however by helping Jim escape he is showing an ultimate disrespect toward her (in Huck's eyes.) ----------- The example of this from the book is one page 88 when Huck thinks "What had poor Miss Watson done to you, that you could see her nigger go off right under your eyes and never say a single word? What did that poor old woman do to you, that you could treat her so mean?" --------------- The next example of poor ethics and no moral conscious is when the Duke and King run their "royal nonesuch" on the Wilks family in...
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...Samuel L. Clemens Rocking in a chair with a stream of smoke flowing above the white, bushy hair lies a true American man who put forth his pencil and began to create art by word by paragraph by book. Samuel L. Clemens is a man that doesn’t “ring a bell” in many people's head, however, when the name Mark Twain is said America, Tom Sawyer, Mississippi, Huckleberry Finn, and Humor are thought by everyone. Clemens has a story that is like no other person with the horrors of the west to a successful author who gave his life to the art of writing. On a cool, crisp day on November 30th in 1835, America’s greatest writer was conceived in Florida, Missouri: Samuel L. Clemens. The beginning years of childhood for Clemens were a struggle, for his...
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...Reading Response to "The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger Dear Mr. /Mrs. I have read the book ‘The Catcher in the Rye’ that expresses its content in a total of 214 pages. The book, authored by J. D. Salinger, represents the coming-of-age genre which compares to the traditional period literature such as Mark Twain’s ‘The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” Indeed, the two texts tend to feature naïve and adolescent runaways as the spectators. Also, they both comment on the problems that existed in their timelines. This reading response seeks to explore the question of freedom and independence as portrayed in the book. "The Catcher in the Rye" begins with the protagonist directly addressing the audience and as the he starts to retell the events that cover three days from the past December. His story begins at Pencey Prep and the disillusioned departure from what could be the last in a number of educational institutions that failed to inspire and support him followed by a painful, and sleep deprived journey through the streets of New York. Interestingly, the author tends to create a harsh atmosphere from the start of the text with the main character being portrayed as lazy and a bit clueless about his future (Lomazoff, 1996). The entire story revolves around a flashback of the three day period with some few references to the present. The thing that separates the text from other literary works is the usage of profanity. There exists a significant measure of colloquialism which...
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...American Realism The Civil War tore the country apart. Once America was reunited in 1865, there was a lot of healing that needed to take place to correct the wounds Americans had suffered at the hands of their kin. In these years there were still a lot of questions to answer and still a lot of truth to be found out about the nation itself. The questions of the place of African-Americans, white Americans, political Americans and every other kind of American out there was a source for constant frustration and violence. This is the background and the huge dust storm that American Realism rose out of. Prior to the Civil War, America was knee deep in the Romantic Movement which included writers such as Hawthorne, Thoreau, Melville, Poe and Whitman. Their writings focused on the puritan aspects of their ancestors or of the dark romance and psychological perspectives writers such as Poe and Melville used. However, after the war, this movement began to fade and Realism increased as the choice reading of the people. This was due to multiple events and changes in culture that led to Americans looking for something better to relate to. The first event was the end of the Civil War. The Civil War showed the violent intentions men had towards each other and also showed the vulnerability of men and the nation and how ungodly man actually was. However, Realism did not begin immediately after the Civil War but rather took off in the 1880’s. So what happened in the 1880’s then? The 1880’s...
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...the widespread elementary boy’s books Captain Underpants, for its use of bathroom humor frequently throughout the series. Not only these books, but also beloved classics such as The Scarlett Letter, To Kill a Mockingbird, The Grapes of Wrath, and The Great Gatsby have all been removed from the curriculum of many schools in order to shelter students from the taboo topics they discuss, such as racial prejudice, adultery, and alcoholism. Many concerned Americans have begun to wonder whether or not the government should have the power to control what students read and believe that censorship goes against the very foundations of our nation. While the United States Constitution does clearly state that “Congress shall make no law… abridging the freedom of speech or of the press”, does that apply to even the most explicit sexual and racial content? The issue had been consistently justified by courts cases involving racism and violence that many concerned parents believe are caused by these books. Compromise is the only way to solve the issue of censorship in schools. That way, students can still practice their rights as well read into controversial topics and taboos in...
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...24 January 2013 Anthony Burgess: Deeming Honor of Recognition We are gifted with a great opportunity as well as having the privilege, capability and means in exposing ourselves in a plethora of artful literature. Our freedom to choose what we read, our individual experiences to relate throughout in addition to our inter-feelings, we may develop our own interpretations of a story. With any given literacy we’ll comprehend and draw our own conclusions by the way of critical thinking. As a result, everyone does not view a single story the same way or draws the same conclusions to a stories ending. It’s up to the reader to “see” how it should play out. However, amid such freedom and range evolves readers of criticism and/or bias opinions towards various styles of literature. An author whose work has been of much negative criticism could be due to a reader of some ignorance towards the understanding of the context. Deficient to connect with a piece of literature, judgments of society, lack of critical thinking and understanding makes for a category of controversial authors. Among controversial authors’ such as, J.D. Salinger’s The Cather in the Rye, Dan Brown’s The DaVinci Code, J.K. Rowling’s The Harry Potter Series, Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Hasan, 2008), George Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty-Four, so is Anthony Burgess’s most controversial novel A Clockwork Orange. Over the past fifty years, readers have deemed Burgess’s novel taboo disgusted with the unbolted...
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