The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

I. Contrast between River and Raft

        The river serves both as a symbol and as a unifying force in the novel as Huck and Jim alternate between life on the raft and life on land.
        Examine how Huck behaves on land, and contrast it with Huck's behavior on the raft:

        LAND

Escaping from Pap (Ch. 7)

 

Trip ashore disguised as a girl (Ch. 11)

 

At the Grangerfords (Ch. 17-8)

 

In town with the Duke & King (Ch. 21-3)

 

At the Wilks (Ch. 25-30)

 

At the Phelps Plantation (Ch. 32-3)

 

End of novel

 

        RAFT

Note end of Ch. 18

 

II. While Huck obviously learns much from his experiences on shore, he also matures on the raft. Trace important stages in his growth by looking at how Huck's relationship with Jim develops and at how Huck deals with his moral dilemma of helping a slave.

Huck's reaction to the news of Jim's escape (Ch. 8)

 

Huck's prank with the snake (Ch. 10)

 

Huck loses the raft (Ch. 15)

 

Jim and his daughter (Ch. 23)

 

Huck's decision (Ch. 31)