Writing into the Day: Reflection on Research Project

Writing into the Day: Reflection on Research Project

I think that researching and putting my ideas together have been the most difficult part of this project so far. It wasn't too difficult to choose a topic to research, however the process of dividing my topic into several points and organizing everything was hard. Once I had a rough idea of the subtopics that I wanted to investigate, I had to find reliable information to support my claims. This proved to be difficult, because many sources online were either from blog pages or cites such as "spark notes". Therefore, I had to carefully sort through all the sites that I was given, and find reliable sources with supporting information.

Once I gathered all my research and created an effective outline, everything else fell into place. I was able to write my essay smoothly, and even found that I wanted to focus more on the realistic/ unrealistic views of Huck and Tom, rather than other aspects. I think that I am most proud of how I was able to organize my points efficiently in order to support my thesis.

Although I am proud of how I was able to effectively organize my essay,  I think that I need to review my paper, and make sure that I fully supported all of my claims with rational argumentation. 

Overall, this process has influenced me, because it has made me aware of time management. For future papers, I plan to work more avidly during given class time,.

Research Project

For my research project, I am interested in investigating how Mark Twain critiques unreal romanticism in society. In other words, I will be discussing how Twain discusses the differences between what is real and what is imaginary. I plan to explain how Twain contrasts both Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn and their real/ imaginary ideas. 

Twain does this by: 

-Having Huck go on an adventure, and discovering for himself what is real

-Using Huck to critique Tom's imaginary ideas, and contribute his own possible ideas to the audience

Reflection of "About a Boy and a Raft", and Socratic Seminar Question

2. What are some of the major themes that Twain raises in his novel? Which themes resonate most strongly with you? Why?

Mark Twain illustrates several themes throughout his story, Huckleberry Finn. One theme that resonated with me the most, was the idea of a hypocritical society. Throughout the book, Twain constantly mocked society’s tendency to go against their own morals and beliefs, such as organized religion. For instance, Twain mocks society’s religious values in a church scene with the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons. In this scene, the two neighboring clans sit on opposite sides of the meeting house with guns, while listening to a sermon about “loving thy neighbor”. In regards to this church service, Huck states: The men took their guns along…The Shepherdsons done the same. It was pretty ornery preaching-all about brotherly love. and such-like tiresomeness; but everybody said it was a good sermon, and they all talked it over going home, and had such a powerful lot to say about faith, and good works, and free grace and prefore-ordestination, and I don’t know what all, that it did seem to me to be one of the roughest Sundays I had run across yet” (Twain 76). From this passage it is evident that Twain believes that many religious people are hypocrites, and do not actually take into account the morals of religion. Even after the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons attend a church service about loving their neighbors, they still engage in their family feud. Twain continues to mock society and its moral values, by introducing Aunt Sally to the story. Aunt Sally appears as a sensitive and moral person, yet she has racist views. When Huck tells Aunt Sally that only a black man died during an explosion on a steam boat, Aunt Sally replies by saying, “ Well, it’s lucky; because sometimes people do get hurt (Twain 143). This statement is extremely racist, because Aunt Sally says that it’s “lucky” that a black man died, completely disregarding the fact that this man was a human being too. Therefore, although Aunt Sally appears to be a moral person, and cares for others, she does not embrace people of other races. Overall, society’s hypocrisy is a central theme of Huckleberry Finn, because Twain continuously draws attention to the morals that people neglect. 

Reflection/ Analysis: “About a Boy and a Raft” 

The article “About a Boy and Raft”, by Thomas C. Foster, reviewed the great literary elements and aspects that were included in Huckleberry Finn. While reading Foster’s analysis on Huckleberry Finn, I found that I agreed with Foster’s belief that Tom negatively affected Huck’s development of morals. When Tom was introduced at the end of Huckleberry Finn, Huck easily bends under Tom’s influence. This is frustrating, because before Tom arrived, Huck had made his own decisions during his adventures. He had the opportunity during his journey to decide was was morally acceptable and what was not. For instance, when Huck and jim travel with the Dauphin and the Duke, Huck comes to the conclusion that these two men are frauds. Huck understands that the Dauphin and the Duke are intentionally taking advantage of people and stealing their money. Therefore, Huck has to decide wether he will continue to join the men in their scandal and earn a living, or leave them. Huck ultimately decides that the men are in the wrong, and chooses to escape their influence. Huck also acts as an individual and thinks for himself by agreeing to help Jim escape slavery. Huck understands that he would risk his life by helping Jim, however he decides to anyways. During their travels together, Huck even decides that Jim is similar to him, and sees Jim as his equal. However when Tom arrives, Huck bends under Tom’s command. Huck agrees to Tom’s suggestions on helping Jim escape, and does not try to enforce his own logical ideas. This is rather rather frustrating for the readers because Huck has been on a journey in which he has shown the ability to decide what is right for himself, yet he agrees to tom’s complicated and illogical ideas. Overall, I would agree with Foster that the introduction of Tom was one of the most frustrating components of Huckleberry Finn. 

Journal Entry #3, Question 2

Analyze the conflict between the Shepherdsons and the Grangerfords. Why does Twain include these families in his novel?

During chapters 17 and 19 of Huckleberry Finn, we are introduced to the Grangerfords and the Shepherdsons. These wealthy, aristocratic families have engaged in a family feud for over 30 years, and continue to fight for no reason other than to continue the feud. Neither families seem to understand why they are fighting; they simply continue to kill each other and seek revenge for an unknown event of the past. When Huck asks Buck why the two families are engaged in a feud, Buck does not have a clear explanation as to why: “Oh, yes, pa knows, I reckon, and some of the other older folks; but they don’t know now what the row was about in the first place” (Twain 75).  Although the families do not understand why they are fighting, they continue to fight for the sake of it. 

Twain may have included the dispute of the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons in Huckleberry Finn in order to allude to the Civil War. By describing two feuding groups who do not entirely understand what they are fighting for, Twain could possibly be alluding to the conflict between the North and the South. During the Civil War, the North and South disagreed over several issues such as slavery, and fought as a result of sectionalism that grew over the years. However, some of the younger men who were drafted for the Civil War may not have entirely understood what they were fighting for or what past issues led to the division between the North and the South. Older adults may have understood the conflict, like the older members of the Grangerford and Shepherdsons apparently remembered why the two families were engaging in fighting. But Twain may have thought that the younger generation who fought in the Civil War did not entirely understand what issues led to the war and fought only for the sake of fighting. Perhaps this is what he was trying to convey in his book by creating a feud between opposing sides, within the same area, that generally did not understand the purpose for fighting. In other words, Twain may have seen the Civil War as a ridiculous event, and alluded to it in his story. 

"The Lowest Animal" Response

 Throughout Twain's essay "The Lowest Animal", Twain argues that the human race is worse than any other species. I would agree with Twain's belief that man is the "lowest animal", because as human beings we understand what is right and wrong, and know when we are intentionally hurting one another. However, despite our senses on what is acceptable in life, we still deliberately hurt one another. We commit atrocious acts in that generally do not contribute to the survival of the human race, and our only done in order to satisfy selfish desires. According to Twain, "Man is the only animal that deals in that atrocity of atrocities, War. He is the only one that gathers his brethren about him and goes forth in cold blood and with calm pulse to exterminate his kind." Twain stresses the point that war decreases our value as a species, because we our only hurting our own kind. We are purposefully threatening our own species, and we are well aware of this. However, animals are not aware of the atrocities that they may commit. For instance, Twain states: "The cat plays with the frightened mouse; but she has this excuse, that she does not know that the mouse is suffering." Animals do not have the ability to realize that they are harming others, and their innocence places them above humans. Humans are the "lowest animal" because they deliberately hurt others, with the understanding that they are inflicting pain and bringing suffering to others.

Journal Response #2: Question #2, Huck and Jim's Discussions

During discussions with Jim, Huck respects Jim’s input on life, while also contributing his own views and beliefs. It is evident during these discussions that Huck views Jim as his equal, and actually considers Jim’s ideas. When Huck first finds Jim on Jackson’s Island, he even admits, “ I was ever so glad to see Jim. I warn’t lonesome, now” (Twain 35). Clearly Huck appreciates Jim’s company, and is not bothered by Jim’s different background and race. In addition to this, Huck is not concerned by the fact that Jim is a runaway slave, and does not mind assisting Jim in escaping slavery. Huck informs Jim that “People would call me a low down Abolitionist and despise me for keeping mum- but that don’t make no difference. I ain’t a-going to tell, and I ain’t a-going back there anyways” (Twain 36). Evidently, Huck values his relationship with Jim more than any of his obligations to society. 

During discussions with Jim, it becomes apparent that Huck has actually learned from past experiences. It appears that Huck has learned to create elaborate scenes and stories from Tom. When Huck creates ideas, he constantly compares himself to Tom and what Tom would have done in the same situation. For instance, when Huck sees the sinking steamboat that the robbers attacked, he informs Jim that Tom Sawyer would not have passed the opportunity to approach the scene: “Do you reckon Tom Sawyer would ever go by this thing? Not for a pie, he wouldn’t. He’d call it an adventure- that’s what he’d call it; and he’d land on that wreck if it was his last act” (Twain 50). Huck has clearly been influenced by Tom’s sense of adventure, and as a result Huck suggests that he and Jim act boldly in situations. 

During conversations with Jim, Huck listens to Jim’s superstitions, yet decides for himself whether or not he will actually believe in these ideas. During one conversation, Huck denigrates Jim by claiming that the superstitions are wrong. Previously Jim had made a prediction that Huck would receive bad luck, since he touched a snake’s skin. However, after the two runaways receive good fortune by finding a house boat full of provisions, Huck questions Jim’s superstitions, and accuses Jim for making false assumptions. However, later Huck is forced to praise Jim for his superstitions, because the two runaways do experience bad fortune. After Jim is bitten by a rattlesnake, that was the mate to a snake Huck had killed, Huck is forced to accept Jim’s superstitions. Huck realizes that there is truth to a few of Jim’s superstitions, and agrees to not handle snake skin again.

Overall, it is evident through their discussions, that Huck and Jim treat each other as equals and offer various ideas to each other. They may not always agree with each other, however they consider each other’s ideas and look out for one another. 

Journalism Post #1: Huckleberry Finn

Cassandra Rockness

10/20/14

Period 4

Reflection on The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, the audience is introduced to Tom Sawyer’s friend, Huckleberry Finn. Huckleberry Finn is a young boy who has clearly had a troubled past. His illiterate skills, poor manners, and tendency towards cussing suggest that he was not adequately raised by his family. As the story progresses, we learn that throughout his life, Huck was greatly abused by his alcoholic father. Pap, Huck’s father, does not appreciate society’s influence on his son, and insists that Huck leads a life like him. However, when Widow Duglas attempts at adopting Huck, she stresses the importance of having an education and abiding by her morals. She expects Huck to attend school, refrain from cussing, and accept Christian values and beliefs. However, surprisingly, Huck does not seem to mind living with the widow. He even states, “ I was getting sort of used to the widow’s way, too, and they warn’t so raspy on me… I liked the old ways best, but I was getting so I liked the new ones, too, a little bit” (Twain 19-20). Although Huck was not raised to abide by civilized ways of living, Huck finds that living with the widow is not as terrible as he originally thought it would be. Perhaps this is because the widow actually cares for him, when Huck never had anyone who actually cared for him before. Huck also finds that he had many misconceptions towards school- it’s not as miserable as he perceived it to be. The school also serves as a safe haven for Huck; a place where Pap cannot interfere with his life. Despite Pap’s threats on attending school, Huck continues to pursue an education and escape his father’s harsh influence. It is interesting how Huck’s father does not want the best for his son and does not want his son to be above him. One would think that it is the parents’ obligation to advise their children against making the same flaws as them, so that their children may lead better lives. However, Huck’s father seems to have ideas that are contradictory to this general assumption. Unfortunately, Pap acts very negatively towards his son’s educational and social improvements, and wants Huck to be bellow him. Pap, an alcoholic man in poverty, wants his son to lead the same life as himself. It is very unfortunate that Huck is influenced by such a terrible man, and it will be interesting to see how Huck will continue to grow and mature in spite of his father’s authority.