Questions and Answers about The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Christal Williamson Williamson 1
Mrs. Ammons
English
November 20, 2013

Huckleberry Finn Questions 1. In the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, one of the characters, Jim, is portrayed as a heroic figure. A heroic figure is someone who is bold, daring, a leader, and will do anything it takes to save someone’s life. Jim was exactly this kind of person. Throughout the story, Jim starts to become Huck’s “father.” As Huck and Jim are on their journey, Jim takes care of Huck and tries to be a leader. Because Huck’s real father does not take very good care of him, Jim takes the stand and takes on the role. Jim and Huck start to bond and become very good friends even though Jim is an African American runaway slave. Huck sees his true colors and becomes a genuine friend to him. As described, Jim is a heroic figure in the story of the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

2. In the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the theme of racism and slavery is shown throughout the novel concerning Jim. Huck’s climatic statement, “All right, then, I’ll go to hell,” displays how much Huck cares about Jim and his true feelings toward racism. Jim is a slave because of his color, not because of intellect or education. Huck believes that he should not be a slave based on color. Jim is his friend and he wants it to stay that way. Huck makes this statement because he is making a point that he would rather go to hell than to not be friends with Jim. His statement shows how passionate he is about
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slavery and friendship. When slavery was legal in the U.S., brutal beatings would take place for the slaves and Huck would much rather keep his friendship than do something wrong by turning him in. When Huck does not turn in Jim, this shows how much he values his friendship with him. In Mark Twain’s captivating story, he portrays the issue of slavery and racism through the characters Huck and Jim.

3. In the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain uses the voice of a child, Huckleberry Finn, in order to emphasize the novel and show emotion. Since Twain is an atheist, and Huck is not, the question of religion is displayed in the novel. Throughout the novel, the reader does not hear the author’s voice coming through about religion. Instead, he lets Huck question religion and discover what he thinks is right. Huck does not seem to care much about religion, especially when the Widow Douglas mentions it. He disregards the idea of dead people and thinks that they do not matter. The significance of Huck narrating the novel is that Twain is letting the reader question the idea of religion with Huck and letting him think for himself. The idea of religion is portrayed throughout the novel by letting Huckleberry Finn think for himself.

4. In Mark Twain’s novel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Huck learns of two different types of providence concerning religion. The two types of providence are the minister’s view and the widow’s view. When Huck meets the Reverend, he is very sincere and Huck is more open to his religion. Widow Douglas, however, seems to be
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very cruel and Huck does not like her idea of religion. When the Widow mentions dead people, Huck disregards this comment because he does not think that dead people are important. Huck doesn't like the idea of religion because it doesn't benefit him, even with “spiritual gifts” the widow Douglas emphasized. He finds his ideas of religion divided between the widow's and Miss Watson's views, but decides to drop it, and go about life with his own moral compass instead. Huck develops his own kind of religion because these are two very different types of Christians and he is trying to discern the truth between the two. In conclusion, Huck Finn’s view of religion is revealed throughout the novel.