So Huck Finn... I really liked it! It was an adventure book and a bildungsroman mashed together with some humor and sorrow. This book did give me an adventure of my own though. I began with a bit of a closed mind not thrilled about reading in between everything else, but as i broke into the story, I could barely stop. One thing I did not like and just about made me scream was the "s'I" I could not bear it I think I skipped it 100 times. Also Jim really needed to talk less:). It was hard to understand a lot of the Southern slang. Also the treatment of people in general. The time difference in this book and today really show how the country and world has changed. Especially the treatment of slaves. When Huck is pretending to be Tom Sawyer, he tells Aunt Sally that the boat was damaged and mo one was hurt but a black died. I had to read that part over because I was amazed that they were treated that badly.
The setting in this book is probably one of the most important things. Without the language and racism the book would be a lot different. The presentation of the characters and their actions is the most important. Huck Finns carefree and innocent views of everyone is the reason the book works. The best example I think is when his father comes after him with a knife when he is drunk. Huck presents the situation as a kind of chasing game. To the reader the situation seems very dangerous, but to Huck, i is regular.
One other thing I found interesting was that Huck never kept track of any time. Granted they did know what time of day it was, but it was never mentioned how long they had been traveling. You only got bout one clue when Tom Sawyer told everyone about Mrs. Watson dieing. From this you can tell that Jim and Huck had traveled many months. Many things were differently planned with a child running away rather than an adult. I really liked the message I got from the book. "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" being a classic showed me that following your heart is the right thing to do. Huck believed in and loved Jim. His loyalty showed through in the end when Jim was really a free man. I liked this book a lot and am excited for the next book. I am going into it with am open mind:)
-Cool Beans:)
You know, I never thought about time, that's a very interesting point you bring up! Also I liked Jim too, he was such an interesting character.
ReplyDeleteI loved the setting in Huck Finn too. It really described the banks of the Mississippi very well. I also liked Jim too. I loved that you included about the time peroid that Huck Finn took place in. That is one of the most important components I think the story had.
ReplyDeleteYou raise an interesting topic with time and lack of time. Why do you think that is important? Do you think it was intentional? How do you know it was "many months"; where does it state that specifically in the text? (Remember to support with evidence when you make specific comments on a text.)
ReplyDeleteI must agree that this is a fun book to read, even thought it is very serious to the core because it addresses many social issues. Does the time issue help with the entertainment and social aspects of the book? Just wondering what your thoughts on this are?
I agree with you about what you said about the setting being an important part of the book. Huck always seems to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, especially with the grangerford's. However the setting causes Huck and Jim many problems. They are always worrying about the weather. I agree with you though, good job!
ReplyDeleteI disagree with this story being a bildungsroman as he matures into recognizing he is a child. Huck runs away so he won't be dependent on anybody, like an adult, but at the end he realizes he isn't ready and settles in with the Phelps. The times have indeed changed, and although there is still racism, hardly anybody is openly demeaning, except in crude jokes. Most aren't even rude to black people, they just hang a confederate flag above their southern ranch. I am glad Huck didn't keep track of time. Keeping track of days passing would have made the book seem to be paced much slower.
ReplyDeleteI think that it would be hard to keep track of time while traveling like they are. I know for me when things are happening so fast the days run all into one and you hardly remember if youve been gone 2 days or 5. I also had to go back and reread the part about "no one was hurt but a black man died". Its sad how that they dont even care about it and im glad we live in a different time because I think we would almost feel we were doing wrong helping a black man to freedom because we would have been raised believing that it would be wrong.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting guys. I really think i will do better on the next one. Yeah i am just sorta excited that you guys commented... Any way THANKS!!
ReplyDelete-Cool Beans:)
I love how you included Huck's carefree views. I often think that is what makes the book work as well. Like in the end when he sets out towards the west, if he wasn't carefree then that would of never happened and would the book really be looked at the same?
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