AP English III / Falkner – Secondary Sources – Flashcards

primarily lauds Twain for his work. focuses mainly on the comparisons between boy and river. as the introduction to the novel it is appropriately complimentary. lacks real arguments as to why the book is successful.

"Introduction to Adventures of Huckleberry Finn"

opposite of Eliot. she expresses disdain for the novel. but like Eliot, she doesn't present very solid arguments for the failing of the novel. smiley seems to think the purpose of the novel was to depict slave life at the time and that the book and especially the last 12 chapters fail in accurately showing the life of a slave. she thinks we should read Uncle tom's cabin. also thinks that Huck Finn is undeserving of the praises for being "the greatest American novel"

"Say it Ain't So: Second thoughts on Mark Twain's 'Masterpiece'"

most well-developed article from the book itself. has counter arguments and takes a more fair and neutral stance on the novel in regards to his opinion. focuses more on racism in the novel.

"Huck, Jim, and American Racial Discourse"

the book's eminence comes from our mythologizing of the West

"Why Huckleberry Finn is not the Great American Novel"

argues that Society influences one's morals (Huck's) more than the individual's will. That is why Huck is unable to maintain his "moral development" in the end, because when he is back in society (and with Tom) he no longer HAS to change.

"Hucks Ironic Circle"

argues that through Adventures of Huck Finn Mark Twain reveals the true nature of American society/stereotypes, or at least his view of it: which would be shallow, corrupt, hypocritical, etc. He also argues that since this book comes from older works, American literature is therefore not only based on Huck Finn, but also previous "american novels"

"Mark Twain and the American Myth"

"The Magician Suspends the Children"

"This is a Photograph of Me"

"Love Poem"

"I Saw in Louisiana A Live-Oak Growing"

"Traveling through the Dark"

"Birches"

"Fifteen"

"Lost"

"The Snow Man"

"Mirror"

"Waiting"