Great Books 102: Renaissance to Modern
Twain's Huckleberry Finn–Sapheads and Numskulls: Liberty is Freedom From Lies
Overview
Samuel Langhorne Clemens—better known by his pen name, Mark Twain—is the father of American literature. He rejected the special privilege traditionally given to British culture in 19th-century America. Twain’s works, including especially The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, proved that the American language was aesthetically capable of beautiful prose, and in doing so challenged the genteel tradition of American literature. While its narrator, Huckleberry Finn, is unreliable and unsophisticated, the novel presents complex moral dilemmas and pushes the reader to explore the American sources of Huck’s character.
Lecture
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Readings
- Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Excerpt I
- Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Excerpt II
- Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Excerpt III
- Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Excerpt IV
- Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Excerpt V
- Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Excerpt VI
- Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Excerpt VII
- Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Excerpt VIII
- Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Excerpt IX
Discussion Questions
- What are the moral dilemmas presented in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?
- Is Mark Twain the quintessential American writer? Why or why not?
- How are Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn related?
Q & A Session
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Daniel J. Sundahl is a Professor of English at Hillsdale College, where he is the director of the Hillsdale College Program in American Studies. He obtained his Ph.D. from the University of Utah.