Week 13 Work--Due Wed., November 29th

Vocabulary Week 13
solace
insipid
pedestrian (adj.)
visceral
inept

Read AT LEAST the first half of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Chapters 1-23).  I added two chapters from earlier (as this is a better breaking off point), so be sure to read through Chapter 23.  Expect a short quiz on these chapters at the beginning of our next class.

Note: Although I always encourage annotating as you read, I will not require nor will I check annotations for this work.

Audio:  As Huck Finn is full of dialect, listening to good audio version can be very helpful.  I still recommend you have the book in front of you while you listen.  Here's a very good free audio version:

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, audio

Background:  The setting of his novel is before the Civil War (circa 1830's- 1840's), but the novel was first published in the United States in 1885.  Twain is a central figure in the literary movement of American Realism and American Regionalism.

Written Work:

  

1. Please read the background for this period in your American Experience p.472-482
As you read, answer the following questions.

2. Watch this video biography  about Mark Twain and write a paragraph summarizing some of the highlights.

3. Print a copy of this map that tracks Huck & Jim's journey.  Keep it with your book and fill it out as you read.

4. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been a controversial work since its publication for a number of reasons. Initially some objected to the "coarse language" used in the book.  In our current culture, it's been accused of incorporating racial stereotypes and perpetuating racial slurs.

So that you understand the issue better, please watch this 60 Minutes segment and this The View segment.  Then write a paragraph summarizing your perspective on a "sanitized" version of Huck Finn.  Do you like or dislike the idea. Why.

5. I am still mulling either a project or a paper for this book.  Until next class, just make sure you read the text carefully to prepare for the quiz, do the work listed above, and we'll talk more then.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Mrs. Price

Thoughts for the week: