In many ways, Huck Finn is a coming of age story. The complexity of Huck's maturity, and the genius of the story, is that Huck is in constant conflict with not only himself in terms of his morality, but also against the conventions of a society in which he is generally an outsider. The book is one of moral crisis, containing a myriad of morally ambiguous moments in which Huck acts, or doesn't, and then must consider his action (or inaction) in the context of what is "right." But the ideas of "right" and "wrong" are muddled when reflected against the ultimately contrasting teachings of society and Huck's inner sense. Today, you will choose a chapter, and you will examine how the events in the chapter relay this thematic idea. You will:
1. Identify and examine the moral crisis or ambiguity (mc/ma) in the chapter.
2. You will explain how Huck internalizes the mc/ma. Then, you will provide insight into how the mc/ma shapes Huck's identity.
3. What is your family's personal view of the mc/ma...how would your handling of it compare or contrast to Huck's? Why?
4. How does the mc/ma provide a broader sense of Twain's overall thematic purpose? In other words, what is he trying to say about the individual vs. society?
Each member of the team will write a journal about one of the four questions (obviously double up if need be). On Wednesday, answers to each will be shared aloud with the class.
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