GROUP ONE--CHAPTERS 12-20

10/29/2010

1. Huck’s journey on the river is filled with adventures, but it is also a symbolic journey. What does his journey symbolize? How does his relationship with Jim tie in to the symbolism? Compare the symbolism of the shore to that of the river. Use examples from the novel and page numbers to support your view.

2. What does Huck do at the end of chapter 15 that was surprising in the historical and social context of the book? Why is this a turning point for Huck and Jim's friendship? What do you think Twain is suggesting through this example?

3. Contrast Jim's and Huck's reactions to the king and the duke. Use specific examples as evidence.

28 Comments

Ashley Beckham

4/4/2011 08:52:54 am

Question 1:

I believe that the journey that Huck and Jim share symbolizes freedom, not only for Jim but for Huck too. Huck escapes the cold and cruel eyes of his father. Jim escapes being a servant and a slave to Miss Watson. Many times along the way the loyalty of Huck is tested. He had many opportunities to tuen Jim in but his friendship with him was stronger than that. The shore was a place where Huck and Jim could easily hide from any other boats they would pass down the river. But when they are on the river they had to be very cautious and travel at night so that no one would be able to see them.

jack off

10/24/2013 03:16:27 pm

fuck you

Ashley Beckham

4/4/2011 09:12:07 am

Question 2:

In chapter 15 Huck and Jim become separated from eachother. When Huck comes back he lies to Jim and tells him that he dreamed everything but Jim knows hes lying. Jim gets very upset and cries because he thought he had lost Huck for good. Huck realizes after this that what he did was wrong and he humbles himself, or apologizes, for lying to Jim. Back in that time period it was extremely unusal, even unheard of, that a white man would ever humble himself to a black man. I believe this was the turning point in their relationship because Huck realized how much Jim really cared for him. I think Twain is trying to show that even though slavery was considered justifiable back then, that not everyone or everything has to be like that.

Ashley Beckham

4/4/2011 09:20:13 am

Question 3:

When Jim and Huck first meet the King and Duke, Huck realizes pretty quickly that they are lying about who they are. "It didn't take me long to make up my mind that these liars warn't no kings nor dukes at all..." (pg. 99) Jim on the other hand is fascinated with the stories they tell and is completely oblivious to their lies. "Jim's eyes bugged out when he heard that..." (pg. 97)

ryan smith

4/4/2011 09:22:32 am

question 1;

I beleive that Jim and Hucks adventure on the river symbolizes freedom. Jim was a slave/servant in the little town where Huck lived and now he is free with nobody ordering him around. Huck has gotten away from his drunk father and is able to live on his own without being abused and ordered around.I believe Huck and Jim's relationship grew stronger because Jim is black and was supposed to be turned in to be hung or punished. Huck promised Jim he wouldn't turn him in and Huck has kept his promise. On the river, Huck's promise has been challenegd because he has been stopped by people along the way asking if he has seen any blacks and if he had to turn them in. Huck has lied to keep Jim free and safe. Huck told one group of men that Jim was his father and that he had small pox so the men wouldnt get close and see who he really was.

ryan smith

4/4/2011 09:47:45 am

reply to ashley; question 1

I totally agree with ashley that Huck and Jim had to use caution while going down river. If Jim was seen then he would be caught and turned in. Huck did all he could to keep that from happening. The shore was a place they could hide and sleep and stay away from people who are in search of Jim.

Ashley Beckham

4/4/2011 10:06:55 am

Reply to Ryan: Question: 1

I totally agree with you that Huck and Jims friendship and loyalty has been tested. Huck has had many chances to turn Jim in but he hasn't yet and I believe this is a major roll in the whole story. One lady even talked about the huge reward they were offering for Jim but Huck kept his mouth closed.

ryan smith

4/4/2011 10:26:54 am

question 2

In chapter 15, Huck and Jim become seperated from each other. Jim worries about Huck until he returns. But when he returns, Jim immediatley qeustions Huck wanting to know where he was and what he was doing.Huck tells them he just dreamed the whole thing and that Huck was never really gone. Jim realized he was lying and became very angry and upset because he thought he may loose Huck as a freind.Huck feels bad and apologizes to Jim for lying. I think this is the turning point becuase they both realize how much the other one cares for them. Back then, it was very rare for a white to apologize to a black. Twain is showing that slavery may have been "right" back then but not everyine beleived it was fair and followed along with it.

Emily Clark

4/4/2011 10:43:35 am

Question 1

I think that their jorney symbolizes their new freedom and their longing for a family. On the river they are alone and only have one another. Through their adventures Jim becomes like a father figure to Huck, which is new because real father never really took care of him. Huck becomes a son figure and listens and talks to Jim which is different in this time period. The river is dangerous for the two and they have to use great caution, and travel only at night to avoid being caught. The shore is a place for the two travelers to rest, eat, and keep an eye on passing boats. The friendship between Huck and Jim is full of trust and their freedom can only be acheived if they help one another. In Chapter 16 Huck has the oppurtunity to turn Jim in. However, if he had he would have to finish his hunt for freedom. Huck would have regreted this action because he would have been lonesome again.

Emily Clark

4/4/2011 10:55:07 am

Question 2

In chapter 15 we see Huck and Jim's friendship tested and prevail even after a lie. In the chapter our two characters become seperated due to a dense fog. When Huck is reunited with Jim he lies and tells Jim that it was all a dream. Jim knows that Huck is lying and calls him out on it. Jim is hurt to think that Huck would treat him this way. In those days it was very un-natural for a white person to apologise to a black person. However, Huck does just that and he says that he never regreted it afterwards. Twain is showing that people can change because Huck swears that he will never lie to Jim again. He is also showing that slavery can end because Huck goes against the norm of the southern society.

ryan smith

4/4/2011 11:08:24 am

reply to ashely; question 2

I totally agree with you about how when Huck apologized it was the turning point. When Jim got angry becasue Huck lied, Huck couldve easily walked away and given up on Jim; he couldve easily went and turned Jim in. But he realized the relationship that him and Jim had together so he kept his promise and stayed as Jim's freind.

Emily Clark

4/4/2011 11:23:09 am

Question 3

Jim and Huck react very different towards the king and the duke. Jim is very surprised and is hanging on to every word they say. On pages 97 and 98 when the two men are telling their stories Jim's eyes bulge out in astonishment it talks about how he pitied the two. However, Huck knows that the two "humbugs" are lying because he says they are just like his father. Huck states that the one thing he learned from his father is that it is best to leave his kind of people have their own way. Huck also knows that the one thing you dont want on a raft is fighting so he doesn't say anything to anyone and is able to maintain the peace between everyone.

Emily Clark

4/4/2011 11:28:52 am

Reply to Ashley #2

I completely agree with what you said. This situation is a major test on Huck and Jim's friendship. Jim could have easily not forgiven Huck, and Huck could have easily walked in the other direction and left Jim to be caught. Instead of taking the easy way out both characters make their bond stronger because deep down they know they can't go on without each other.

Emily Clark

4/4/2011 11:34:08 am

Reply to Ryan #1

I agree that their journey symbolizes freedom. Both of them have escaped from harsh abusing environments. On this journey their bond has grown because they have trust in one another and because for once someone is listening to what they have to say. Neither of them are being ordered around, so they are free to do as they please.

cara saxton

4/4/2011 11:34:37 am

Q1
I think that the journey symbolizes the freedom they have. The river is a place where Huck and Jim can escape from everyone and everything. Huck escaped from his father who was keeping him locked in the house blocking him from the outside world.

Q2
In chapter 15, Huck and Jim become seperated from each other. Jim worries about Huck until he returns. But when he returns, Jim immediatley qeustions Huck wanting to know where he was and what he was doing. Jim became upset,walked away from Huck and went to the wigwam. What was surprising at the end is that Huck humbled himself to Jim for lying to him. For a white man to humble himself to a black man back then was very unusual during this time period.

Q3
When Duke and king pronounce that they are defintly royalty, Huck right then cathes that they are by far lying to Jim and Huck.The duke and the king go to a priniting shop and try to say jim is there slave and anyone who finds him will get a reward.

REPLY 1
I agree with your answer.Huck was willing to do anything to get away from his father who could careless about him and Jim was also willing to do anything to be free. Their only choice they really had was to run away. The shore was only place of freedom Huck and Jim could be completely safe

REPLY 2
Reply to Chloe's #2:
I agree with your response. Jim did become angry when he found out that Huck had lied to him. I think Jim took this so hard because he thought that him and Huck were close and for Huck to do this to him made him very upset. But the fact that Huck humbled himself to Jim was a big deal.

REPLY 3
I agree with your answer. Huck knew that these men were just liars and were doing all of this in order to get what they wanted. Jim on the other hand didn't realize that every word these men saying was a lie. He thought highly of them and was calling them majesty

Abbey Byrd

4/4/2011 11:36:36 am

Question 1
Huck’s journey on the river is filled with adventures, but it is also symbolic because the journey symbolizes freedom and shows us Jim and Huck’s personalities. Huck tries to find freedom by escaping from his alcoholic father. Jim tries to escape slavery for the satisfaction of being rich by owning himself. I think the two are also longing for a family but sort of lean on each other to make it through. Huck has been tested many times and has showed his loyalty to Jim every time by not turning him. This has made their relationship grow stronger and by the long travels and times they spend together. The river is very dangerous for them to travel on without getting caught and the shore is a place for the two too rest.

Question 2
At the end of chapter 15, Huck and Jim get separated and Huck lies to Jim telling him it really didn’t happen and that it was all just a dream. Jim knew that this was a lie and got very upset. At the end Huck went to Jim apologizing because he felt bad for lying to him. This was very unusual for a white man to humble himself back to a black man in this time period. This was the turning point of their relationship because they then realized how much they cared for each other and how much their friendship meant to each other. I think by Twain saying this he was suggesting his feelings for slavery and how it should be okay for a white man to humble himself back to a black man and it shouldn’t matter.

Question 3
Huck caught on pretty quickly by realizing the King and Duke were lying to him and Jim about being royalty. However, Jim did not realize they were lying and listened to the stories in amazement. Although, Huck did not want to tell Jim that they were lying just so there wouldn’t be any conflict between them and it would avoid Jim getting mad.

Emily Clark

4/4/2011 11:37:42 am

Reply to Ashley #3

I agree that it is obvious that Jim is very interested in the two men and is oblivious to their lie. Huck on the other hand is very observent and is also a very good liar himself therefore, he picks up on their skeem fairly quick. Huck is also very cunning because he knows that it is smarter to get his knowledge to himself than to call them out or tell Jim because he knows that it will only lead to fighting.

Abbey Byrd

4/4/2011 11:57:06 am

reply to Ashley B. Q1:
I agree that their journey does symbolize freedom. For Huck, he has escaped his cruel alcoholic father. As for Jim who has escaped slavery and being owned by Miss Watson. I also agree that Huck has been tested many times and has shown his loyalty. This has made their friendship stronger.

Reply to ryan Q2:

I also feel like when Jim finds out Huck was lying to him this was the turning point of the story because it does show how much they care for each other. It probably took a lot from Huck to apologize to Jim considering the time period. But I don't think Huck cares about what others think and he knows Jim care about him and that means a lot to him.

Reply to Emily Q3:

I agree, Huck and Jim both do have very different views on the King and the Duke. Jim seems very interested in the stories they tell them. Huck on the other hand knows that they are lying to them. But he does refer back to what his father had told him and he doesn't tell Jim to avoid conflict and to keep the peace between them all.

ryan smith

4/4/2011 12:03:15 pm

question 3

Huck's reaction to the duke and king was like the reaction you have when you see that Jim had when Huck told him he had dreamed about Huck being gone...it was a lie. Huck knew almost immediatley that these socalled people of a royal
status were lying. Huck just didnt say antyhing because he didnt want any troiuble with these guys in the future. Jim on the other hand fell for the whole scam. He truely belived they were royalty and that shows his lack of education.

ryan smith

4/4/2011 12:11:18 pm

reply to abbey; question 3

I agree with abbey that Huck didnt tell Jim about the lying going on with the duke and king because he didnt want to cause problems in the future. Huck knew that if he didnt go along there was the chance that the king and duke would go tell on Huck for helping Jim and both Huck and Jim would be in serious trouble

Thomas Carota

4/4/2011 01:08:50 pm

Question 1:

I think that the journey symbolizes the freedom they are trying to achieve. The river/boat is a place where Huck and Jim have freedom, to escape to. Huck escaped his drunk father who kept him locked away. Jim was escaped being a slave to Miss Watson. Their relationship a lot closer since the fact that they both escaped from home. The shore was were they hid in the thick brush to not be seen by other boats passing by. They only traveled during the night on the river to not be seen. On page 72 it says "Well, there's five niggers run off tonight, up yonder above the head of the bend. Is your man white or black?" This shows they have to be careful not to give up their identities. Huck lied to save Jim's identity from being known. This shows that Huck and Jim trust eachother and help each other out in every way possible.

Thomas Carota

4/4/2011 01:15:48 pm

Question 2:

Chapter 15 was a major turning point in Huck and Jim's friendship because there was lies but their friendship was still preserved In Chapter 15 fog seperates Huck and Jim. Huck tells Jim it was all a dream and lied to him. Jim automatically thinks that Huck is lying to him so he says something. Jim thinks that he was treated unfairly by Huck. In that time period it was pro-slavery so their friendship was very unlikely. Huck ends up apologizing says that he never regreted it. Twain is showing that people can change but still stay strong by the fact Huck will never lie to Jim again. He also shows that not everyone was for slavery because of Huck and Jim's strong relationship.

Thomas Carota

4/4/2011 01:22:02 pm

Question 3:

Huck's reaction to the king and duke is that he knew they were just lying and were fake. Huck didn't want to say anything to Jim about it. On page 99 Huck says, "It didn't take me long to make up my mind that these liars warn't no kings nor dukes at all, but low-down humbugs and frauds. But I never said anything; kept it to myself; it's the best way; then you don't have no quarrels, and don't get into trouble." This means that Huck knows they are frauds, but he keeps the facts to himself in order to keep peace in the family.

Thomas Carota

4/4/2011 01:28:52 pm

Reply to Ashley: Question 1

I agree with you completely. Huck and Jim's journey symbolizes their freedoms and escaping from their terrible guardians. Jim escaped being a slave to Miss Watson and Huck escaped the eyes of his drunk father who secluded him from the outside world. The river symbolizes their freedoms of getting away from it all.

Thomas Carota

4/4/2011 01:31:52 pm

Reply to Ryan: Question 2

I agree with you on the fact that they were seperated and when they were reunited Huck lies to Jim. Jim cherishes their friendship so he becomes very upset that Huck lied to them. Huck relizes he hurt Jim so he went ahead and apologized. It does show a turning point in their friendship for the fact that it is strong and can make it through things like this.

Thomas Carota

4/4/2011 01:35:22 pm

Reply to Emily: Question 3:

I actually agree and disagree with your statement. On pages 98 and 99 it shows that both Huck and Jim were uncomfortable with the fact of the duke and king, but did not want to talk to each other about it. I agree on the fact that on page 99 Huck says, "It didn't take me long to make up my mind that these liars warn't no kings nor dukes at all, but low-down humbugs and frauds. But I never said anything; kept it to myself; it's the best way; then you don't have no quarrels, and don't get into trouble." Huck just wants to keep peace between them without fighting or getting into trouble.

Kimberly Carpenter

4/6/2011 07:11:00 am

question 1:
I believe that the journey sybolizes freedom too. Huck can do anything he wants to do now and him and when him and Jim go to the river they get away from everything and Ms. Watson. They do not ave anyone to answer to anyone anymore and Jim is kind of the father figure that Huck never ad before,so they have become closer than before.

question 2:
in chapter 15,the two get sperated in the fog and Jim worried about Huck until he finally came back, but Huck lied to Jim about it and Jim knew that he lied though. Huck actually apoligized for it and it was surprising to him because back then, it was odd for a white man to apoligize to a black man. I think Twain was showing how it doesnt really matter what race you are and that you can still be friends and people change and have better personalities.

question 3:
on pg 99, Huck knew exactly what they were doing. They were lying to him and making up stories. he said he didnt know why they were saying they were kings, but he wasnt going to disturb the peace and start trouble. Jim, on the other hand, he falls for alot of stuff so he believed them and was fascinated by it all.

reply 1.
reply to Cara Q1
I agree with you that it represents freedom because his father kept him locked up in the cabin in the woods where nobody else was around. He would leave for long periods of time making Huck think he was going to die in there.

reply 2.
rely to abbey Q2
I agree that twain was showing his feelings for slavery. you can tell he is set against it and is an honest writer because he gives us so many examples of how it was in that time period.

reply 3.
reply to Thomas Q3
I agree with you.
Huck knew they were frauds but didnt want them to know he knew they were lying because he said he didnt want any trouble.

Mallory

4/10/2011 03:31:43 pm

Question 1: Huck's journey is one that will be remembered for a lifetime. His journey symbolizes his growth as a person, the growth of a friendship, and the change of an era. As Huck sees Jim as a friend and not a slave, so does America. While America's journey is a much longer one filled with many more hardships, both experience many conflicts and good points within. Huck grows because he begins making his own decisions, many of which cause him to chose what is right and wrong. When Huck and Jim first meet on the short Huck is friendly, but weary of the companionship of a runaway slave. On the shore we also see his boyishness. For example, he plays a prank on Jim that causes Jim to get bitten by a snake and fall very ill. As the story progress to the river Huck is faced with many situations of conflict. We see his loyalty to Jim grow as well as his maturity when he chooses not tell sell Jim and he hides him along the journey down the river.

Question 2: At the close of chapter 15 not only does Huck lie to Jim, but he tries to dupe him. Jim ends up realizing what's happening and it really hurts him. Huck finally admits what he did and he regrets doing it. He says, "I didn't do him no more mean tricks, and I wouldn't done that one if I'd knowed it would make him feel that way." This is a HUGE point in the novel because Twain aims to point out that Jim has real feelings and a regular white boy can see that. And even more, Huck feels emotion and regret toward what he has done to Jim. From this point on we'll see Hucks loyalty to Jim grow.

Question 3: On the arrival of the king and the duke we see Huck and Jim's different views. While an aim of Twain's novel is to put black American's in a good light, he shows the reality of Jim's ignorance because he is amazed by the king and duke and the stories they tell. He does not realize that they are only con artists. Huck on the other hand, can sense their deceit and realizes that the stories they tell are in fact fake. Here he says, "It didn't take me long to make up my mind that these liars warn't no kings nor dukes at all, but low-down humbugs and frauds." This relates back to Huck's realist point of view and how he can see the reality of a situation. He chooses not to expose the two men to avoid conflict.

GROUP ONE--CHAPTERS 12-20

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