PLOT
Huck escapes from Pap by convincing the town that this crime has taken place.
What is his own murder?
This character represents the conflict between realism and childish fantasy throughout the novel.
Who is Tom Sawyer?
Huck repeatedly questions whether society’s beliefs about slavery are morally correct, developing this major theme.
What is morality versus society?
Throughout the novel, this setting represents freedom, escape, and separation from society’s corruption.
What is the Mississippi River?
This quote reveals Huck’s discomfort with civilization: “The Widow Douglas, she took me for her son… but it was ______ living…”
What is “rough”?
After Huck disguises himself as a girl, he learns that people suspect this runaway slave of murdering him.
Who is Jim?
Although society views him as property, this character consistently demonstrates wisdom, compassion, and emotional intelligence.
Who is Jim?
Twain criticizes this societal flaw through characters who attend church while continuing violence and slavery.
What is hypocrisy?
Jackson’s Island symbolizes this temporary condition for Huck and Jim early in the novel.
What is isolation or temporary freedom?
Complete this quote showing Huck’s fear of society’s judgment: “People would call me a low-down ______…”
What is “Abolitionist”?
Huck becomes disgusted with humanity during this scam involving a fake inheritance and grieving daughters.
What is the Wilks fraud/scam?
This Southern gentleman criticizes mob mentality after publicly shooting Boggs.
Who is Colonel Sherburn?
Huck’s apology to Jim in the fog scene most strongly develops this theme.
What is moral growth or coming of age?
The Grangerford house symbolizes wealth and civilization hiding this darker reality.
What is violence and hypocrisy?
This quote reflects Huck’s growing respect for Jim’s intelligence: “Well, he was right; he was most always ______…”
What is “right”?
Sophia Grangerford secretly causes additional violence in the feud when she runs away with this member of the rival family.
Who is Harney Shepherdson?
This character’s kindness and innocence inspire Huck to risk himself morally by protecting her family from the Duke and King.
Who is Mary Jane Wilks?
The Duke, King, and “Royal Nonesuch” episodes mainly develop this theme about human nature.
What is greed and corruption?
In Part 3, the coffin containing Peter Wilks symbolizes this hidden moral idea.
What is buried truth, guilt, or corruption?
In the quote “It was enough to make a body ashamed of the human race,” Huck is reacting specifically to the cruelty of these two characters.
Who are the Duke and the King?
After escaping the chaos of the Wilks scam, Huck and Jim’s freedom is destroyed again because the Duke and King do this to Jim for money.
What is selling Jim to the Phelps family?
These two women attempt to “civilize” Huck, symbolizing society’s restrictive expectations and hypocrisy.
Who are Widow Douglas and Miss Watson?
Huck’s repeated moral decisions throughout the novel suggest Twain believes this is more trustworthy than society’s laws and traditions.
What is an individual’s conscience or personal morality?
Jim’s imprisonment at the Phelps farm symbolizes this larger injustice within American society.
What is racism and the injustice of slavery?
This quote marks Huck’s ultimate moral decision against society’s beliefs about slavery.
What is “All right, then, I’ll go to hell.”