The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
Written by Mark Twain
Publisher:Chatto & Windus/ Charles L. Webster and Company
Copyright date: 1884
Number of pages: 327
Age Level: 13+
Historical Fiction
Historical Fiction
A young Mississippian boy, Huck, gets kidnapped by his father who is the town drunk. His father kidnaps him because he wants the $6000 that Huck was awarded from the treasure he found previously. Huck ends up escaping from a deserted house in the woods and finds a canoe to ride down the river. He comes across Jim, Miss Watson's slave, and they float down the river together in search of freedom. The have many adventures during their journey and become best friends. Huck learns a lot about life through these adventures and through his many talks with Jim.
While The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn did not win any awards, I think it is important to acknowledge all the achievements and accomplishments the book had. This book had been banned just one month after its publication. It had been challenged, banned, and defended for many years. Decades after Twain's death, the book gained the status of a masterpiece. Many famous novelists and poets such as Ernest Hemingway, Ralph Ellison, and T.S. Eliot had high praises for the book. The novel has been adapted to a musical numerous times. It won 7 Tony Awards over the years for Best Musical, Best Score, and Best Book of a Musical. It also won 8 Drama Desk Awards. The novel was also made into a movie in 1993.
For a lesson, I would have students create two storyboards. The first would be a character map. For each character they would include a drawing of the character based on the description in the book, a list of physical traits, a list of character traits, and how that character impacted the story. Their next storyboard would be of the plot. The storyboard must include an exposition, conflict rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.
I love that you included the history of the book on your blog. It is interesting to me that it has been challenged so many times. I love historical fiction that portrays real life, even if there are some controversial items. It's important to know what life was really like and not hide our past-good or bad. Since this was not written as a historical book, it's a true depiction of the time.
ReplyDelete