Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Huckleberry Finn
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a novel written by Mark Twain. It is currently published by Quill Pen Classics. Books like Huckleberry Finn are an integral part of language arts curriculum. This story follows a teenager by the name of Huckleberry Finn as he, and an escaped slave named Jim find adventure around every corner.
Although Huckleberry Finn is mischievous, lying and stealing on occasion, he values freedom. Despite the danger, Huckleberry Finn agrees to help Jim, the slave, escape to the North where he can be free.
Huckleberry Finn’s summary continues as the pair travel down the Mississippi River on a raft. They come across several obstacles which they must overcome, and Jim is even captured a few times. In the end, however, Jim is freed when his owner, Miss Watson, dies. She had left a will that granted Jim his freedom.
This book is important because it not only teaches children about morals, but also the value of friendship.
This Huckleberry Finn passage shows the beginning of Huck and Jim’s friendship. “I set there behind a clump of bushes in about six foot of him, and kept my eyes on him steady. It was getting gray daylight now. Pretty soon he gapped and stretched himself and hove off the blanket, and it was Miss Watson’s Jim! I bet I was glad to see him.”
Another Huckleberry Finn passage further demonstrates the bond between Huck and Jim. “Jim, this is nice,” I says. “I wouldn’t want to be nowhere else but here. Pass me along another hunk of fish and some hot corn-bread.”
Since Huckleberry Finn is a novel normally read by fifth and sixth graders, teachers can implement a few games to reinforce what was learned after the book was completed. First, teachers can write the names of the main characters on a piece of paper. These names are to be handed out to the students in groups. Each group must come up with a sentence that tells something true about that character. Finally, place a few scenes from the book on different note cards and hand the out. Have the student groups act out their scene in front of the class. Literature printable worksheets can help students retain information they have read. Additionally, teachers can put together a spelling list, or import a ready made eight grade Huckleberry Finn spelling list, and students can use this list to practice not only their spelling, but also their knowledge of the book.