Let's discuss Twain's literary form for part this blog post. Please analyze Twain's use of dialect in this novel. What is the purpose of dialect? What are the pros/cons associated with reading a piece written in dialect as a reader?
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a satire. How does satire work? Why is it effective?
This post should be at least 350 words in length and should be void of cliches. Write only about what I've asked you to write about and take the time to look over what you've written prior to posting it since the entire class will be reading it. Be original and stick to the text.
This blog post is due by Sunday, August 26th by 11:59 PM. No late blogs will be accepted. This blog will be graded using the following system:
Grammar/Usage - 10pts.
Organization - 10pts.
Textual Evidence - 10pts.
Did You Answer the Question? - 10pts.
Mark Twain’s novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn uses dialect very consistently. Dialect is the use of certain words, or modifications of those words, to produce a sound most like that of the character or time period. Its purpose is to create the most genuine experience for the reader. This can be both a help and a hindrance. One way dialect contributes to the quality of the novel is by producing a realistic feeling for the era or character. Some examples of this in the novel are phrases like “by jiminy”, “Newrleans”, “Polly-voo-franzy” and “Ryo Janeero”. All of these phrases are spelled or designed so that they have a specific sound similar to the speech of the time. Dialect can also help to develop characters by showing exactly how they think as well as distinguishing them from one another. For example, Jim said “You take a man dat’s got on’y one or two chillen; is dat man gwyne be wasteful o’ chillen?” (pg 83). Dialect here produces a unique sound that allows Jim to be easily identified. In contrast Huck said “Some of them gets on the police, and some of them learns people how to talk French” (pg 84). Huck’s dialect doesn’t alter the spelling of words like Jim’s does, but the way it is phrased creates a completely different feel. Some drawbacks of dialect are that over time the meaning of words can evolve, which can make it difficult to understand. An example of this is the word “towhead”. This word could mean a person with blond hair, but in this novel, that would imply that a blond haired person stands in the water and lets Huck tie his boat to them. This doesn’t make any sense. Also, if the reader fails to comprehend the author’s use of dialect, the meaning could be completely lost (as shown above).
ReplyDeleteTwain also uses satire as a critical part of the novel. Satire is the use of irony or comedy to accentuate a sharp criticism. Satire works because it makes a situation appear so ridiculous that it isn’t at all feasible. An example of this is the feud between the Sheperdsons and Grangerfords. The feud has been around for so long that no one remembers what they were fighting over, and yet there are young boys spying on and killing one another. It is even stretched to the point of having the young couple from opposing families run off to be together. This situation has been blown to preposterous proportions in the sense that it has come to the extreme of children fighting one another (for reasons no one can remember) and hurting the families by having their children run off on them. This is criticizing the concept of feuds by inflating the events to show how ridiculous it can be. Satire is effective because the irony or comedic aspect of the event makes it memorable while at the same time emphasizing its impracticality. One other example of satire is the fact that Huck tells the king and the duke (after they had sold the slaves) that the slaves had their money. This is situational irony, and it is placing the criticism on the duke and the king as being frauds who didn’t deserve that money. Again, this is effective because it is a funny situation that people will remember and it emphasizes the fact that the characters put themselves in such an absurd situation.
In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, there is a massive amount of dialect. Dialect involves changing the spelling of words to make them sound like a character from a certain region or time period. Dialect has both pros and cons. The dialect used in this novel reflects a group of characters from the south. Jim, one of the main characters, has a very southern accent. Since Mark Twain had extensive dialect in the novel it was easy to figure out when people were talking. Another pro of dialect is that it gives every character a different image. The dialect adds a certain twist of interest to every character. The dialect also can place the reader in the time period with the characters. A main negative of dialect is the interpretation factor. At certain times it was often difficult to understand some of the characters. It makes the reader read very slowly and sound out all the words to decipher their meanings. Dialect is always both positive and negative.
ReplyDeleteThe novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, also contains a form a satire. Mark Twain uses satire to show how ridiculous certain events are. Satire involves irony to prove this. A good example of satire in the book is in chapter 22. This use of Satire showed the reader how low down the Klu Klux Klan was. A small character named Sherburn was approached by an angry mob. This mob wanted to lynch him for the murder of a drunken man. It was very ironic when Sherburn got onto the roof top and preached out to the mob which was prepared to kill him. Sherburn continued on about how they would not kill him in the day but at night with their masks on and torches in hand. He was able to make the mob disperse. Sherburn’s speech to the mob criticized the Klu Klux Klan. It pronounced the clan as being very cowardly. It was funny that a whole mob of people would just clean out after the man they were going to kill called them cowards. Satire was used in the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, to show how ridiculous the clans were.
Mark Twain effectively uses a lot of dialect in his novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Dialect can be used to show the way something is pronounced without using a conventional spelling, or can also be used in the way a sentence is structured grammatically. For example, Jim’s speech pattern shows a strong pronunciation style of dialect while Huck’s way of talking shows a style of non-conventional grammar. Dialect’s main purpose is to give the reader a deeper feeling that they are there watching the story take place. There are both positives and negatives to using dialect within a work of literature. One positive is that it helps the reader become more engrossed within the story by creating a deeper feel that they are there watching the story unfold. For example, without Huck’s unusual style of grammar, certain incidences would be made less memorable, such as the feud and the king and duke’s idea to con the Wilks’ family out of their inheritance. In spite of this, dialect can be very difficult to read or understand. Some words spoken by characters like Jim or the Phelps’ servants, such as “gwyne” (page 50), “Mars” (page 254), and “whah” (page 89) can be hard to understand at first, and with entire paragraphs with unusual spellings like this, a mere page can take several long minutes to get through. Another thing that makes dialect hard to understand is the constant shift of the English language. Some words that were commonly used in the time period of Huckleberry Finn are less heard of in this time period, or the old definition has changed over the years. Whether one views it in a positive or negative light, though, dialect has undoubtedly played an important part in this novel.
ReplyDeleteSatire is also commonly used in this novel. Satire is the use of irony or humor to create bad feelings for human nature, but can also ridicule against the ideas of humans as well. Twain’s use of satire in Huckleberry Finn is effective mostly because the situations themselves are almost too exaggerated to be possible, creating the humor and irony needed. For example, there was satire used against the actions of drunks. The actions of Huck’s perpetually drunk father are blown so completely out of proportion that it is hard to believe a situation happening that way in reality. It is natural for Huck’s father to want the money that Huck had, and even possible for him to be angry about being “surpassed” by his son in terms of schooling and civilization. However, it is hard to believe that Huck was taken by his father and kept in a cabin in the wilderness more because of his anger than to obtain the money kept by Judge Thatcher. Because of the complete implausibility of this, the situation becomes humorous and memorable, and the satire is then apparent to see. Another example of satire used within this novel is portrayed when, at the beginning of the novel, Huck, Tom, and a few other boys create Tom Sawyer’s Gang. The gang’s overall purpose was to entertain the boys with crimes including murder, kidnapping, and thievery. The whole ordeal is made completely complex with many rules, penalties, and even an oath that members had to sign, yet the members of the gang did nothing that they were created to do. Instead of robbing or killing, the boys only pretended to do those activities, and the group was disbanded after a mere month. This reveals a satire against childish follies. The entire circumstance is made comical by the boys’ initial commitment to their group and their retirement from the same group sheer weeks later.
Elements of literature provide insight into the thoughts, feelings, origins, and educational levels of a character or the author. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, dialect and satire both provide insight into major characters and Twain’s own unique beliefs.
ReplyDeleteDialect refers to speech patterns and word usage. When authors use dialect, based on how a character speaks, a reader can infer information about a character and the time period. Twain uses dialect to reveal information about Huck and Jim and to make the novel seem more believable. Dialect has positives and negatives. One positive of dialect is that it helps to characterize people. Dialect shows the difference in educational levels between Jim and Huck. Jim’s grammar and pronunciation is poor. When his phrases appear, they are almost written phonetically. At the end of the book, Jim receives a large amount of money. Here, Jim uses the words “git,” “jis,”and “ag’in.” This shows his lack of education. Although Huck does not speak perfectly, his grammar is decent and shows that he has had a formal education. The characterization of Huck, the white boy, having a superior education to the former slave, Jim, is highly expected for the time period and helps to show the difference between races. Also, specific words help to locate where the story takes place. The words that are used, such as “git” and “stannin”, are typical of the south. The use of a southern dialect helps to pinpoint where the story primarily takes place. Finally, dialect helps to illustrate the time period. The use of the word “nigger” would be typical for the 1800’s. Dialect also has negatives. It can be offensive at times, such as the use of the word nigger which can be offensive to some people today. Over time, language changes, as do the connotations associated with some words. The accents and poor grammar can also be difficult to understand. Twain is trying to explain his views of society through this story. However, the dialect is so thick that trying to understand the literal message can be very difficult at times. Thus, some of the underlying themes that Twain tries to convey are lost as the reader tries to understand what characters are literally saying.
Satire reveals emotions and feelings about a topic. It is defined by Webster’s dictionary as a discourse in which wickedness or folly is exposed with caustic criticism. Satire is effective as it questions society’s morals and values. It causes society to look at their actions and evaluate what is truly right. Twain satirizes a number of issues in this book, such as religion and family feuds, but perhaps most strongly that of slavery. Jim is taken in as a captive at the Phelps’ house. Huck and his friend, Tom, try to find a way to free him. Huck’s desire to free Jim shows an emotional attachment between a white boy and black slave. Twain really tries to convey the message that Jim is a human being. Jim says that Huck is the only friend that he has ever had. After Tom is shot in the leg, Jim gives up his freedom to help the doctor treat Tom. Jim’s actions and words make the reader become emotionally attached to him. The human side of slavery is vividly brought to light. Along the same lines, Huck is confronted with the quandary of whether to notify people that Jim is a runaway slave or do his best to keep him out of slavery. Huck starts to write a letter because it is what social conventions have told him to do. However, he does not feel right about it. Instead, he rips it, but he still thinks that trying to bring Jim to freedom is immoral. Ultimately, by making Huck choose the so called immoral action of not sending Jim back into slavery, Twain causes the reader to question what is the just moral decision. Satire is effective because it causes the reader to really think about the faults of society.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, reveal copious amounts of information about Twain and his characters through dialect and satire.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteIn The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain dialect is plays an important part in the narration of the story. The novel is written from the point of view of a young boy living in the south during the late 1830’s, so it is not the dialect a teenage girl living in New York in 2012 is used to. Twain uses this unique dialect to enhance the reader’s experience when reading. When Twain writes a sentence like “What’s de use er makin’ up de campfire to cook strabries en sich truck? But you got a gun, hain’t you? Den we kin git sumfn better den strawbries” (p. 49) it automatically transports the reader into the deep south. The dialect not only adds to the setting of the novel, but it also helps distinguish different characters. Huck’s speech is not terrible. His sentence structure is incorrect and he uses slang words like “ain’t” and “nigger”. This shows he has had somewhat of an education in his life. Huck’s speech compared to someone who has had no education, like his pap or Jim, is much better. The way Jim talks is mostly phonics. He says his words according to how they sound and not according to how they are actually pronounced, like in the example above. One downfall of Twain choosing to write in this dialect is that it can be difficult to understand. The audience may have to reread a sentence once or twice until it becomes easier to realize what the author is saying. Unfamiliar vocabulary also adds to the difficulties when reading. Words like “junketing” aren’t used in every day conversation like they may have been in the set time period. If the reader is having trouble understanding what the author is trying to say then it starts to take away from the novel as a whole. Twain did an ace job at utilizing the dialect used in the south without making it too strenuous to understand.
ReplyDeleteSatire is a way for an author to attack an idea or concept and is usually done so by the means of irony, comedy, or ridicule of said idea. Right of the bat Twain exposes satire to the readers. Miss Watson claims she is a good Christian woman. She goes to church, reads the bible and defends her Christian values. Contrary to the Christian belief that God loves everyone equally and people should respect all life, Miss Watson owns a slave, Jim. Miss Watson is doing something completely hypocritical of her faith. Twain is ridiculing the idea of slavery because someone who should have a genuine heart is making her slave do her bidding. This makes the reader ponder more on the concept of slavery, which means Twain’s use of satire has done its job. It’s not until the end of the novel where it’s revealed that Miss Watson felt guilty about owning Jim, and set him free in her will. The fact that this seemingly hypocritical woman set her slave free really emphasizes that Twain is anti-slavery. This event can stick in a reader’s mind and persuade his audience to believe the same things he does when it comes to slavery.
Mark Twain’s use of dialect was very crucial to make the book authentic to the Southern Antebellum society. His use of slang terms helps to portray the location and time period that the novel was set in. Since the story takes place along the Mississippi River, terms commonly used such as “befo,” “mo,” and “’twas” are used to enhance the reading experience. The slang helps the reader to envision the setting of the story and also helps to differentiate between the multitudes of characters presented in the novel. When Jim talks it becomes clear the reader because of the dramatic change in dialect. For example, “We’s safe, Huck, we’s safe! Jump up and crack yo’ heels! Dat’s de good ole Cairo at las’, I jis knows it!” Dialect is also used to show major differences in groups of people. Other slaves that Huckleberry comes in contact with also speak improperly showing lack of education, as well as characterizing a group of people. Despite the embellishing of the story through the wide spread use of dialect, there are some negatives that evolve. First the distinct southern dialect can be challenging for readers to understand. Some readers may find the word choices difficult to comprehend because of the fragments used. Mark Twain spells words like they’re pronounced which adds characterization, but can prove to be a distraction, causing the reader to read certain phrases over again for clarification. Also with words being shortened, readers can get the meanings of words confused which will change the entire meaning of a sentence or even a paragraph.
ReplyDeleteThe use of irony and sarcasm, otherwise known as satire, plays a big role in the novel. The purpose of the satire is to create a comedic approach, while criticizing society. Twain uses many cases of satire in the book one being the partnership with the Duke and the King. The Duke and King not only come off as arrogant, but also rude, to the towns of which they enter. They demand to be treated as royalty, and scam almost everyone they come into contact with. The dramatic exaggeration of the situation is meant to create humor, as well as to reveal the self-claimed superiority of the upper class. When the towns realized they were in fact being played, they arranged for others to go see the show so they would not be the only ones to be fooled by the Royal Nonesuch. The Duke and King constantly claim to be people of importance and nobility in all situations; however their savage actions prove them to be nothing greater than trash.
Dialect has a major role in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Mark Twain, the author, uses different dialects to identify and give further reality to the characters. Dialect is the form of speech a person uses. Such as the way they use grammar, vocabulary, and word structure. Mark Twain uses different dialects for each societal class that arises in the book. The purpose of dialect is to immerse the reader in the time period and characterization of the book. The dialects make the book more realistic and easier to connect to on the reader’s level. Due to the southern dialects Mark Twain uses it can be immediately distinguish the setting is the south and that there are multiple societal classes in the book. Different dialects within the book are used. The speech used by Jim is one of the dialects used in the book. The way Mark Twain uses this dialect in the book by physically misspelling words and changing correct grammar structure is important. It gives the reader a sense of the way Jim would pronounce words and phrases. An example of this is,” Well, I ‘uz gwyne to spen’ it, but I had a dream, en de, dream tole me...” By doing these things the reader’s experience is enriched. Another dialect Mark Twain uses is Huck’s speech. Huck’s dialect shows better pronunciation of words but minor mix-ups in grammar. Such as, ”Well, this is too many for me, Jim. I hain’t seen no fog, nor no island, nor no troubles, nor nothing.” This shows the reader that Huck’s education went to a greater extent than Jim’s. Huck’s father’s dialect, the Duke and the King’s are all similar in the lack of grammar and correct pronunciation but not to the extent of Jim’s. The different dialects used show the different personalization’s and societal classes found within the pages of this Mark Twain novel. The dialects give the reader a view into the time period and life of each character.
ReplyDeleteSatire is when an author, such as Mark Twain, brings ridicule to a certain subject. Mark Twain does this to many points throughout the book. One such point when satire is used is when Huck encounters three men on a slave hunt. Huck lies to them and tells them that he is on a raft with his pa and that his pa is really sick with the smallpox. This allows Huck to keep Jim safe because the men are afraid. This is satire because Mark Twain writes it in a way that almost mocks the fear the men have. He shows the men to be cowardly towards Huck, a young boy. Another piece of satire Mark Twain uses is when Huck meets the “Duke” and the “King”. The whole lie the two men make is very over the top and dramatic. This scene is written in a way that mock the Duke and the King, which are really liars and scammers. The men’s hypocrisy shows in the way they demand to be treated by Huck and Jim. After the men finish outdoing each other Huck reveals to the reader that he knows the men are scammers. By writing this the way Mark Twain does he shows his displeasure at hypocrisy.
In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, the author uses dialect in order to really bring his characters to life and give them a new dimension. The reason behind Mark Twain’s use of dialect is to help one to understand the differences in society of the 1830’s. He is very consistent with his dialogue and some characters are completely based on their dialogue. This is best explained when one analyzes the characters. Huckleberry Finn is a young white male living in Missouri; he has little education, which is shown through his dialect. “I told them how pap and me and all the family was living on a little farm down at the bottom of Arkansaw… and never was heard of no more” (pg 102). Huck would be what Mark Twain considered an average southern person during this period. Below Huck in society would be the slaves. The slaves, like Jim, have the lowest of education and have the most dialect. This is shown when he is talking, “I’s a free man, en I couldn’t ever ben free ef it hadn’t ben for Huck; Huck done it.” (pg 93). The upperclassman such as the Grangerfords, the King and the Duke use less dialect than Huckleberry and are easiest to identify with because they speak most like our society today. In one instance dialect could be considered a pro because it really helps the reader to understand society during that time. It helps to create a new dimension and lets the reader sympathize and interact with the characters. The con of having dialect is that in society today it is very difficult to wrap the brain around what the characters are saying because it is so primitive to what we use today.
ReplyDeleteSatire in its most basic form is the use of mockery or irony in order to explain the holes or the mistakes in society, or could just be in a person in general. Mark Twain uses satire through the characters very generously throughout the novel to criticize a particular group or even all society as a whole. This is used in one of the earlier episodes that Huck and Jim adventure through. This is in chapter thirteen when they escape from the wreck by stealing the criminals’ boat. After Huck got away he states “I’ll go and fix up some kind of yarn and get somebody to go for that gang and get them out of their scrape, so they can be hung when the time comes” (pg 77). This is satire because Mark Twain is using irony because Huck wants them to be saved from drowning so they can be judged and hung. This is the author just trying to explain how confusing and honestly at some points just plain ridiculous society is by using satire. Satire as a technique is important because it is a way for the author to criticize a single person or a group of people without just down right saying it.
In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, almost the entire book is written in different dialects. Each dialect is individual to each character, and sometimes reveal important aspects of a character's personality. For example, the Duke and the King attempt to convince Huck, Jim, and the crowds that they meet they are actually royalty by using a proper and intelligent dialect. Instead, they verify Huck's suspicion that they aren't really royalty because they misuse their proper words. The different dialects featured in the novel help the reader to understand where certain people come from, how intelligent they are, and how old they are, and so they help the reader understand the story and develop inferences about characters. They also help distinguish when certain characters are talking. When Huck and Jim have long conversations, the reader will definitely know which one is talking because of their differences in speech. Huck's speech isn't perfect regarding grammar, but his is much better than Jim's, who slurs some words together and cuts off other words. One main reason why dialect may not be as useful is that it makes the book much harder to read. Sometimes when some of the characters speak, especially Jim, it is very hard to interpret their words so that the reader knows what is going on. Also, it takes much longer to read the story if the reader is constantly having to interpret what the characters are saying. The dialects in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn have some downsides, but overall they are very important to the narration of the story.
ReplyDeleteMark Twain uses satire many times throughout his story, and usually it creates very comical situations. Satire is a literary devise that is used not only to create these comical situations, but also to mock a certain aspect of society that the author may want to change. One example of satire in the story is Tom's obsession with adventures and old stories in which men rescue princesses, escape from prison, or do other dangerous and sometimes seemingly impossible tasks. This gets Huck, Tom, and Jim into a lot of trouble when Huck and Tom try to free Jim. Tom takes weeks completing a task that could have taken one night, and makes his plan so convoluted that it just barely works and puts all three characters in mortal danger. This event could be seen as an interesting part of a fictional story, or it could be seen as Mark Twain's way of poking fun at his society's love of adventure and action. Satire can actually help the society that it makes fun of. When people read stories such as this, it can make them question the society they live in, or even cause changes to occur to fix the problem the satirical story refers to. Mark Twain used satire very effectively in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, and surely this novel caused a part of society to change.
Mark Twain has used a certain type of dialect that really adds to the novel. He purposely used this type of dialect to let the reader try and get involved with the novel and the characters. Dialect connects us more with what is going on and how the characters feel and react to the situation they are in. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is written in the old, southern, backwoods dialect. This style comes with many downfalls such as the confusion of the reader. Many times throughout the book, the characters are talking and it is to the point where you have to guess the meaning of the word(s) they used. For example, when Huckleberry found Jim, Jim explained that he was so hungry that, “I reck’n I could eat a hoss” (pg. 49). It takes the knowledge of that phrase to know that he said “horse”. There are pros to this type of dialect. As the reader delves into this novel, the backwoods dialect of Huckleberry and Jim, and other characters lets the reader understand the lack of schooling that the people had.
ReplyDeleteThis novel written by Mark Twain is classified as a satire. This means that the novel includes a use of irony, or sarcasm. This element works throughout the book to surprise or confuse the reader. This is done by giving a situation, or event, and then have some activity or character do something completely different than what the reader expects. The use of satire is very effective in, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. For example, the King and the Duke try to make money by performing skits; “Romeo and Juliet” pieces, the soliloquy from “Hamlet” and the swordfight from “Richard III”. However, a larger crowd pays to see the hilarious, and different, act of the King painted up while being naked (pg. 151). This ironic part of the novel completely throws the reader, because the reader wouldn’t expect the crowd to enjoy the racier skit. Another example of satire that is ironic to the times the novel is set in is the relationship that Huckleberry and Jim have. It is completely opposite of the times that they are in; where a white boy has a friendship with a black man. Throughout the book the African American characters are constantly called “niggers”. For example, Huck calls Jim, “a mighty good nigger”, in that case Huckleberry wasn’t insulting Jim, which is yet another example of satire. This relationship displays the irony since Jim and Huckleberry are very close, while other instances the blacks are treated as servants and slaves. Satire is used very effectively in this novel by comparing the way people live and how Huckleberry Finn lives, which is, in a way, with morals.
In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, dialect varies due to the time period, different areas and to create distinctive characters. A number of different dialects are used, such as wit, backwoods Southwestern, and “Pike Country.” These are modified throughout the novel, based on societal class, education and race. Dialect is used to create a realistic vision for the reader and differentiate between the characters. Specifically, the slang terms are mostly used by slaves and/or uneducated people during the pre-Civil War time period. Set near the Mississippi River, the reader is taken on a journey, meeting new characters and different dialects. As Jim speaks, Twain misspells words and uses grammatically incorrect phrases. Jim says things such as “Who dah?,” or “Dog my cats ef I didn’ hear sumf’n.” Due to the way he talks, it is clear to the reader that he is underprivileged. Other slaves are introduced throughout Huck’s adventure. They all speak relatively the same with similar pronunciation and appearance. This can cause confusion for the reader. Huckleberry Finn has more knowledge, from learning things such as spelling from Miss Watson and The Widow Douglas. When Huck talks, it is easier to understand. For example, when Huck says “Tom, if it ain’t unregular and irreligious to sejest it..,” there are errors in his English, however, it is much easier to understand. Tom Sawyer, a young boy with a respectable upbringing, spoke much clearer than other characters. “What’s that got to do with it? Neither did that other fellow. But you’re always a-wandering off on a side issue. Why can’t you stick to the main point?” It is obvious that Tom Sawyer is intelligent and at the top of the social pyramid. The dialect used in this novel has both pros and cons. While it is difficult to understand at times, it provides a crucial part in learning and understanding Huckleberry Finn’s story.
ReplyDeleteHuckleberry Finn is seen as a satire for many reasons. Although satire provides a form of comedy, it also represents social views on things such as religion, slavery and politics in the mid-western society. The use of irony and sarcasm adds a bit of humor to this novel. Satire is seen throughout the feud between the Grangerfords and Sheperdsons and as the Duke and the King act as something they are not. However, slavery is the issue Twain focused the most on. Huck was constantly faced with the decision to help Jim reach freedom or to do what was socially right, and turn him in. Huck chose to do what he felt was morally right, although he thinks this will send him to Hell. Huck realizes that Jim is not just a “nigger,” but a human being. He also realizes just how cruel humanity can be to one another. The reader is shown a part of slavery that is sometimes forgotten when Jim shares his story of losing his family and his other obstacles. The reader can emotionally connect with him and that makes this use of satire effective. The reader must question this and decide what they would choose. Twain forces the reader to learn and understand the problems in society.
Dialect is a crucial component in Mark Twain’s novel, The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn. The deep southern dialect Twain writes in helps to make the novel sound more authentic as well as give the reader a better understanding of the characters and the overall setting of the book. For example, the way Jim speaks is much more difficult to understand than the way Huckleberry Finn speaks, which may lead the reader to the conclusion that Jim, as a slave, has a much lower social status or education level than Huck Finn. While dialect can be extremely helpful to the reader by helping to differentiate between characters and helping to form ideas about other elements of the novel, it has many negative points as well. One of these is that dialect can be very difficult to interpret and understand, and in some cases it’s nearly impossible to understand what the characters are trying to say. At one point Jim says, “I tuck out en shin down de hill, en ‘spec to steal a skift ‘long de sho’ som’ers ‘bove de town, but dey wuz people a-stirring yit” (Twain 51). While a person reading this would be able to use context clues to decipher that Jim is explaining how he escaped from Miss Watson, the dialect it is written in still makes it very difficult to understand exactly what he is saying. The dialect Twain uses, although often difficult to understand, is very crucial to understanding key elements of the novel.
ReplyDeleteSatire is a way to harshly criticize a topic through the use of irony and sarcasm. Mark Twain often uses satire in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through situations that are much too ridiculous to plausibly happen in real life. There is a great example of this in the beginning of the novel. Tom Sawyer decides he wants to form a gang of highwaymen to rob and kill people. All of the boys Sawyer gets together seem young, and they clearly have no sense of what they would be doing. At one point Tom Sawyer mentions keeping people until they’ve been “ransomed”. None of the boys have any idea what this means, and the ridiculous ideas they have about what it could be show the reader exactly how absurd this situation is. Satire is an effective technique because it is memorable and comical for the reader, and it forces them to think about the topic at hand.
Mark Twain used dialect repeatedly throughout his novel. The purpose of dialect is to immerse the reader in the specific characteristics of speech used by characters in the novel or by people during a certain time period. In reading a novel written using dialect, many pros and cons are encountered. One positive aspect of reading a novel written with dialect is that the reader can experience the style of language that the author intended the characters in the story to have. Dialect also allows the reader to come in contact with words and phrases common to a certain time period or geographic location such as “honest injun”, “vittles”, and “reckoned”. Some troubles with reading a novel written using dialect is that the reading can be hard to follow in some places. Some words that the author included in their story may not be used during present times. Also, the context or meaning of certain words may have changed over time. The word “bully” is used in the novel multiple times, yet it is not meant to be someone who picks on others. "Music is a good thing; and after all that soul-butter and hogwash I never see it freshen up things so, and sound so honest and bully." (Twain, 164). “It was a real bully circus.” (Twain, 147). Some words may be spelled or pronounced differently depending on which character is speaking them, which could cause some confusion to a reader. For instance, on page 255, Jim says that he has a juice harp, and Tom Sawyer calls it a jew’s harp. Another problem with reading a novel written using dialect is that some words may be offensive to the reader. The word “nigger” is used frequently throughout the novel as part of the dialect. This was the term commonly used for a black slave when the story took place. Today, many readers may find this term to be offensive.
ReplyDeleteSatire works by using outrageous situations to expose problems or faults and to try to promote change. Satire is effective because it blows situations out of proportion to clearly depict some kind of fault. Satire is also effective because it can sometimes add humor to the story, making it more memorable. One example of satire is how Tom Sawyer went to extreme lengths as he attempted to replicate adventures from books he had read into real life without really understanding it. Tom Sawyer formed a band of robbers, made a pact in blood, planned an ambuscade, and talked about killing and kidnapping. However, no one in the gang knew what a ransom was and their gang only succeeded in breaking up a Sunday-school picnic. Another example of satire is when Tom Sawyer came up with a plan to rescue Jim from the shed because his plan was much more difficult and took much more time than was necessary. Tom Sawyer insisted that Jim had a rope ladder pie, keep a journal, leave messages on tin plates, and escape through a tunnel in the ground. Tom also had the idea to cut off Jim’s leg and have him tame a rattlesnake, spiders, and rats. These requirements from Tom Sawyer were really unnecessary, but he insisted that his plan followed these guidelines because that was how the stories occurred in the books he had read. By using exaggerated situations such as these, the author shows what the misguided leadership of an imaginative, adventurous, young boy can cause.
Alyssa F.
In Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, one of the most vital components is dialect. The definition of dialect is a regional variety of a language. Dialect in Huck Finn uses a certain spelling of a word to portray the time period (mid 1800s) and the different people talking (white vs. black, northern vs. southern). For example, Jim, a runaway slave says “nuffn” (pg. 49) whereas Huck says “nothing” (pg. 49). Another example of the dialect used in the novel is when Mrs. Hotchkiss was talking about Jim’s cabin “The very words I was a-sayin’ no longer ago th’n this minute to Sister Utterback, ‘n’ she’ll tell you so herself. Sh-she, look at that-air rag ladder, sh-she: ‘n’ s’I, yes, look at it, s’I- what could he ‘a’ wanted of it? s’I… ” (pg. 270). These examples show how various characters speak differently based on origin or cultural differences. The dialect helps to determine which character is talking and weather they are from the same area or not. Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer use a similar dialect because they are from the same town, whereas Aunt Sally may speak differently than Tom and Huck since she was from a different town . One downfall of using dialect in a novel is that if a reader is not used to that kind of speech, it may be difficult to read and understand.
ReplyDeleteIn addition to dialect, satire is used throughout the novel. Satire is the use of humor, irony or sarcasm to criticize people's irrationality. Mark Twain expresses his views and opinions through his characters’ thoughts, words and actions. Satire is shown when Huck and Tom “steal” Jim once he is free. There are two examples of irony in this case and the entire scheme is over exaggerated . One thing that’s ironic is that Huck looks up to Tom and lets him take charge when originally it was Huck’s idea to steal Jim in the first place and secondly, Huck’s decisions are much more rational than Tom’s. For instance, Huck’s plan to set Jim free was to first be sure everything was prepared for when the time was right, then steal the key, grab Jim, and run. Instead, they treated Jim as a regular prisoner that Tom had read stories about so that it would be harder to get away. In tom’s mind, it’s all about the glory. Tom’s plans were always more complicated and dangerous than Huck’s and in Tom’s eyes, they were the “right way” to do things. The second way this is ironic is that Huck and Tom were working so hard to “set a free nigger free”.
This novel is full of dialect and satire. These two elements help to make this novel a classic. After getting passed the dialect and learning how to interpret the language, it is an interesting piece of literature.
Mark Twain’s use of dialect is a creative way to enhance the piece of literature that people read today. The use of dialect helps readers understand what people used to talked like during the time the novel was written. For instance, the novel was written in the 1800’s and took place in Mississippi. The way that the characters talk and act reflect the time period and place. An advantage to having dialect that corresponds with the time and place is that it helps a reader understand the situation and the surrounding atmosphere of the book. Knowing how characters speak and refer to different objects and people make the reader feel like they are actually in that situation. The way that people speak in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn can help a reader come to the conclusion that most people in the south at that time period weren’t education and were racist if they have a basic knowledge of the 1800’s. It is also easier to understand the relationships between characters. However a disadvantage to the dialect in this novel is that at times words or phrases may be misconstrued. Certain southern slang that is used in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn can be hard to understand and are different than what readers from this time period are used to. It also takes more time to interpret and get used to because readers are not used to the reading context.
ReplyDeleteSatire is putting humor, irony, exaggeration or ridicule to use in order to criticize people’s vices. Satire is used often in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. One example is when Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn are meeting with other boys and forming a gang. The objectives of this gang are to rob and kill people. However this gang isn’t to kill women because Tom Sawyer states that once you capture a woman she falls in love with you because you are their savior. This is a perfect example of satire because the goals of this gang aren’t ideal. The first time that the gang goes to rob people is when they rob a Sunday school and get in trouble for it. Tom Sawyer based this gang off of a book that he claims the gang has to follow verbatim. However this book isn’t ideal because reality and books are two polar opposites. By criticizing this idea that Tom Sawyer has Mark Twain shows the true difference between people’s fantasies and the harsh truth we call reality. Therefore the characters able to observe reality can see the satire being used when Tom Sayer tries to form an ideal gang. The satire used is effective because it serves to exaggerate unrealistic ideas that characters may have. The satire also reveals characters’ foolishness when needed.
Mark Twain uses a very interesting form of dialect in his novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. In literature, dialect helps enhance the readers perspective on the story and the setting that it takes place in. The author can change the spelling of words in order to make them sound a certain way that relates to the setting. Mark Twain uses dialect very effectively. The novel takes place in the southern United States when slavery was still a common and legal practice. Jim speaks in a way that represents what a slave during that time period would have sounded like. Twain alters the spelling of some words to make them sound different. There are multiple examples of this. Jim pronounces “they” as “dey”, “shore” as “sho’”, “child” as “chile”, “get” as “git”, along with many other examples. Twain’s use of dialect increases the level of how realistic the reading experience seems to be. It also forces the reader to pay attention. If the dialect causes the reader to lose understanding, the reader must go back and read that section over in order to comprehend what is going on. The dialect in this story made it easy for readers to tell who is speaking. Jim and the other slaves in the story are the only people who had this strong, distinct accent that Twain represented in his writing. Dialect can have some downsides as well. At times, it creates a confusing state for the reader. It is somewhat difficult for most people to understand a “written” accent. For example, if in real life we were to listen to Jim speak to us, we would generally be able to comprehend what he is saying because we could hear him. In the novel, we cannot hear anything and have to rely on our reading skills to help us understand what he means.
ReplyDeleteMark Twain also uses satire in this novel. The entire novel can be considered a satire. This type of literature is used to expose and criticize certain things often having to do with controversial issues in society. Twain uses the duke and the king as sources of satire. These two characters are very arrogant and pompous. They are always greedily looking for ways to cheat people out of their money. Twain uses them to show readers how low and inferior criminals are in life. He also shows how ignorant society can be through the duke and the king. In their Royal Nonesuch productions, it takes the crowd a long time to realize that they are phonies. Twain is pointing out how oblivious people can be to the wrongs of society. The bad relations between the Grangerfords and Shepardsons are another example of satire in this novel. The two families don’t even know why they despise each other, but they continue to do so. This idea of having preconceived notions of people is another issue Twain is pointing out. The satire in this novel is very effective. Twain uses this entertainment source to get a point across. It keeps the readers interested. It also provides a source of comic relief at times.
Dialect has the purpose of exposing the reader to differences in how various characters were brought up and taught. It also shows where the characters come from, thus revealing to the reader differences in cultures or even towns. Mark Twain, as he notes, uses numerous dialects because there are some significant variations in characters, such as their origins and their up-bringing. I feel like the reader is given light to a character by how they speak and the words they choose. For example, Jim’s dialect shows that he is not as educated as most from the words he chooses, and he uses a lot of slang because that is probably what he was used to hearing growing up, which at times makes for a difficult read if never having been exposed to such a dialect before. I’ve had to go back at times and re-read certain phrases because I didn’t get them at first, and sometimes I won’t understand what is being said until I read the part I’m struggling with out loud. For instance, I had to re-read this particular line from chapter twenty-three over and aloud before I understood what was being said, “ ‘Shet de do’.’ “She never done it; jis’ stood dah, kiner smilin’ up at me.” It’s a simple sentence that was made challenging by the dialect used. On the other hand, these dialects also aid in placing the reader in the setting, since things were unlike what they are now. I don’t feel like I’m reading a novel from modern times because I get so immersed in the setting just through the use of the various dialects. I’ve learned so many new words for more modern words from reading this novel, like “sponduliks”, “palavering” and “ambuscade.” I’ve never traveled any farther south than North Carolina, so I’m not sure if these dialects are still used today, though there are probably variations of them with the continuance of time and new generations.
ReplyDeleteAfter looking up the definition of satire, I’ve figured that it’s basically sarcasm or irony that gives light to some kind of evil. I guess satire works its way as a travesty and/or tragedy for the good of the characters and readers. It could possibly teach the characters and readers some sort of lesson or heed warning to the dangers of the certain evil it is trying to expose. I would say that satire is effective in the fact that it is able to use cutting humor or unexpected surprises to keep the reader entertained whilst exposing an evil of the world. It’s something that could make the reader think back to what they have read. The reader can then apply what the satire taught them to events in their own lives. An example of the satire from this novel could come from the ending of chapter fifteen when Huck tries to play it off as if he had never been separated from Jim in the first place after the storm. He’s trying to amuse himself, though in a cruel way and from it he learns that it isn’t fun to take for granted a friend’s care for selfish amusement. Another example would be the tarring and feathering of the king and duke in chapter thirty-three. For all their evil acts, such as the stealing of money from a grieving family and fraud, death was the decided penalty. It shows that all actions have a consequence. One more example of this same lesson would be the discovery of the dead body in chapter nine as being Huck’s father in chapter forty-three. He had also been one to attempt to obtain money through morally wrong methods, such as stealing it from his only son.
In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, Twain employs the use of several different Midwestern dialects. He clearly went to great lengths to ensure that each dialect remained distinct and as accurate to the time period as possible. The use of dialect is important in that it allows for more realistic portrayals of characters and makes them easier to relate to. An obvious advantage of making use of this writing technique is that it gives each character their own unique voice. For example, in this novel it is quite obvious who is speaking when Jim and Huck are having a conversation. They each have an original dialect that is unique to them, and they will often say the same words but in different ways. For example, Jim will say “git” and then a sentence later Huck will say “get”. An effective use of dialect can make it easier for a reader to differentiate between and relate to the various characters in the story. Despite the advantages of dialect, it can also have the effect of making the story more difficult to understand for readers who are unaccustomed to the style of speech. This is especially true in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn which contains very strong and varied dialects and as a result it is difficult to get used to any one style of speech. Even though dialects are meant to make the characters more relatable, they can have the opposite effect. If the reader has a difficult time understanding the character then there is a good chance that they may be alienated from them.
ReplyDeleteAnother major aspect of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is that it was written as a satire about social aspects of the day. A satire is a type of literature or play that is written to exaggerate and poke fun at political and social injustices of the time. They are usually written in a way that indirectly displays the author’s opinions with the intention of showing the reader the error of their ways by laying out injustices in a more obvious and blatant manner. In this story, Twain frequently attacks religion through Huck’s thoughts and opinions. For example, in the third chapter Huck talks about prayer and how he never seemed to get what he asked for when he prayed. Then, after thinking it over, he determined that prayer really never did anyone any good, and he decided that he wouldn’t bother with it anymore. Twain clearly thinks poorly of people’s blind faith in the teachings of the church, and he uses Huck’s words to make this known. The reason that satire is effective is that it lays out injustices in scenarios that can be easily understood and related to. When readers are able to look at their faults through the eyes of another person or character they become much more apparent.