American Lit 2 Exam Study Flashcards
What time period was Huckleberry Finn written in? (Hint: time after civil war)
The Jim Crow era (African American’s still lacking freedoms even though free)
River Huck Finn is constantly interacting with. Symbol of freedom.
The Mississippi River
Is there a consensus about whether or not Huck Finn should be taught in school or not?
No, there is no consensus.
What is a way the theme of Slavery and Racism is embedded within Huck Finn?
Example answers: The Widow Douglas and Jim, the tyrannical Grangerfords, Tom Sawyer’s treatment of Jim, The King and the Duke selling Jim, etc.
What is a way the theme of Society and Hypocrisy are shown in Huck Finn?
Main answer: the Grangerfords Other answers: The Widow Douglas telling Huck to not smoke yet taking snuff herself, Huck’s conscience bothering him because of what society has told him about slavery, and society’s silly rules (i.e. not scratching your arm when at a funeral or among the elite)
What is one way the theme of growing up/maturing and character development is demonstrated in Huck Finn?
Example answers: Huck moving out west ahead of everyone, Huck going from being part of a silly violent gang to cringing at the sight of everyone in Peter’s family being deceived, Huck’s relationship with Jim (from runaway slave to closer than family), etc.
What is one way the theme of freedom is exhibited in the book?
Main answer: the Raft as a constant escape from danger Other answers: Jim and his path to freedom, Huck’s freedom from society’s rules and other’s judgments, etc.
What are two symbols used in Huck Finn?
1) The River 2) The Raft (the river symbolizing the unpredictable and difficult journey of life/growth and the raft being equivalent to safety and relationship)
Was Jim able to escape slavery in the end? How?
Yes, he was able to escape. During “the Evasion,” After Tom is shot in the leg and Jim saves him, he wakes up and reveals that Jim had been freed by Miss Watson.
What are some views critics take of the Evasion?
Some say that it is an extremely racist ending where Mark Twain’s use of humor is inappropriate while others say that it is the sharpest criticism Mark Twain has ever made of the Jim Crow era because even though Jim is free, he is still lacking true freedom and is at the mercy of others.
What were the four strands of the American Romantic Movement?
The Fireside Poets, Gothic Writers, Transcendentalists, and Romantic Writers
What were some characteristics of the American Romantic Movement?
Focus on Emotion, Wisdom of the Past, Common Man Hero, Individualism, Nature, Escapism
What were some writers of the American Romantic Movement?
Washington Irving, Edgar Allen Poe, Henry Wadsworth, Longfellow
REMEMBER TO REVIEW SATIRE, PARAPHRASING, AND C.E.R. ON THE STUDY GUIDE
REMEMBER TO REVIEW SATIRE, PARAPHRASING, AND C.E.R. ON THE STUDY GUIDE
