Huckleberry Finn Essay Questions
You are to choose only ONE of the following topics. Please be thorough and cite
many examples and give quotes from the entirety of the novel. You will be graded on the
support (specific, detailed examples and relevant quotes) as well as your argumentation.
You will also be rewarded for the sophistication of your expression and ideas, the fluidity
and clarity of your paper, your grammatical correctness, correct spelling and punctuation,
and the breadth and depth of your paper. While I expect these papers to be 5-6 pages,
typed, double-spaced, 12-point font, I don’t expect to see repetitions or filler. If you
waste my time while I’m grading, you’ll suffer the consequences. This paper should
reflect what a second-semester junior is capable of. This essay is an important component
of your portfolio.
All essays must include an introduction that begins with an attention-getter, has a
linking statement with author of the novel and the title, and a clear, complete thesis
statement. Main body paragraphs should begin with topic sentences and must include
both examples and specific quotations taken accurately from the novel. The relevance
and significance of this support must be made clear to the reader with thoughtful, precise,
and complete explanations. Always reference and introduce your quotes (no “quoteplopping.”) Needless to say, but I will anyway, a good paragraph is about 10 sentences in
length. Your conclusion should sum up your main ideas, restate your thesis, and make
either a personal observation or leave the reader with something to think about.
Although it is acceptable to use the “I” voice in this paper, please remember that
this is a formal academic essay. Humor should be used sparingly, if at all, in this
assignment. (David Sapiro, this means you.) Never address the reader, use slang or
casual language, or announce/declare your thesis or topic sentences. (In other words,
never say, “In this paragraph I’m going to talk about Huck.” Or, “My essay is about…”
Shudder.) The tone of this essay is elevated and formal. This should be college-level
work.
While writing this paper, you may refer to outside sources; but these sources must
be correctly CITED as per M.L.A. guidelines. If I receive any papers that do not seem
authentic, the paper in question (and its writer) will undergo Academic Honesty due
process. The consequences for plagiarism include a zero on the assignment, with no
option of extra credit or a replacement assignment, and a notation in your student record.
Do your own work!!!
This essay is worth 300 points. Please label your essay according to the
prompt you have chosen (i.e. “Civilization vs. Freedom” or “The Development of
Jim as a Character” or “Huck Finn—Classic or Not?”)
Prompt #1:
At the end of the novel, Huck says, “But I reckon I got to light out for the
Territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she’s going to adopt me and sivilize me
and I can’t stand it. I been there before.” Why, at the end of the book, does Huck once
again reject “civilization”? In your essay discuss:
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What “civilization” means to Huck
Specific instances of hypocrisy, cruelty, and social satire in the novel (This will
take several paragraphs)
Contrast the raft life of Huck and Jim with the shore world
What Twain thinks of society in particular and mankind in general
Prompt #2:
Discuss the development of Jim as a character.
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How is he portrayed in the opening chapters of the novel?
How does his character evolve as the novel continues. What do we learn about
him?
How is he ultimately a foil or contrast to Pap?
Discuss the depiction of Jim in the closing chapters of the novel. Can you
reconcile him as both the victim of Tom Sawyer’s ridiculous “ambuscade” and
the noble soul who risks his long-sought freedom to save Tom’s life?
Decide and discuss whether Twain’s ending negates or strengthens Jim’s
character development.
Prompt #3:
Ernest Hemingway once said that all American literature came from one book:
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. According to Hemingway, it’s “the best book
we’ve got.” However, other scholars and students of literature dare to disagree with this
assessment. Examine the novel Huck Finn as a masterpiece of American literature. Does
it deserve a place in the canon of Great Books? (Do not automatically assume that your
teacher agrees with Mr. Hemingway.) Support or refute Ernest Hemingway’s claim.
Take a stand for or against the inclusion of this novel as required high school
reading. Develop your reasons for or against the novel’s stature as an icon of American
literature. Provide specific and intelligent reasons, and support those reasons with
specific examples from the novel, as well as relevant quotes. You will also need to
examine American society (and its students) today, as contrasted with society in the past.
Thus, you will need support from both the novel and “real life” when constructing your
arguments and marshalling your support.
Prompt #4:
Trace Huck’s changing relationship with Jim throughout the course of the
novel. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn gives us a glimpse of one summer in the life
of the thirteen-year-old boy. During that time, Huck develops an extraordinary friendship
with Jim, a runaway slave. Although Huck never comes to a final awareness that his
society is wrong to enslave another human being, he ultimately chooses loyalty to a
friend over the legal and moral code of his land. Discuss Huck’s “journey” in this
changing relationship with Jim. Be sure to address:
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The way Jim is depicted in the earliest chapters and how both Huck and Tom treat
him.
Huck’s decision to turn Jim in, then his decision to trick the slave-hunters as they
approach the raft.
Huck’s apology after the fog incident.
Huck’s surprise over Jim’s misery regarding his daughter. How is Jim a foil, or
contrast to, Pap?
Huck’s argument with Jim over King Solomon and the French.
Huck’s decision to tear up the letter to Miss Watson.
Huck’s tolerance of Tom’s escape plan.
Huck’s rationalization after Jim sacrifices his freedom for Tom.