2. |
Mark Twain, chapters 21 and 22 from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, 1885
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is set in the 1840s and offers a portrait of the people Jackson brought to power, men and women far different from the noble, thoughtful rustics of Thomas Jefferson's bucolic democratic vision. Here Twain satirizes the roots of American culture, including its class divisions and anti-intellectualism. These chapters contain the Sherburn-Boggs episode, framed by the rehearsal for and performance of the King's and Duke's Shakespearean entertainment. Approximately 12 pages.
Discussion questions
· |
What democratic values can be found in Twain's Arkansas town? |
· |
How does Twain suggest the change and flux of American life in this chapter? |
· |
What is the source of power and authority in the town? |
· |
What implications does Sherburn's behavior suggest for democracy? |
· |
Why does Twain choose to satirize a Shakespearean play? |
· |
What in the end is Twain's verdict on American democracy?
|
Reading highlights
· |
Note the chewing motif in the chapter. |
· |
Compare Twain's use of the word "loaf" with Whitman's use of it. |
· |
Compare the violence in Twain with the violence in Whitman. |
· |
Note how the circus crowd almost becomes a mob.
|
» Link |