Lesson Title:  Moral Dilemmas in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 

   

By: Mary Thomas

 

Objectives: After completing this lesson, students will be able to

 

·         Recognize Twain’s portrayal of religious hypocrisy

·         Identify and analyze moral dilemmas in the novel

·         Discuss the actions of Jim, Huck, and Tom

·         Analyze Jim’s situation and character

 

Context: 

This lesson is designed for an 11th grade English class.

It is assumed that students will have read the novel prior to this lesson.

 

Materials:

·   Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Puffin Classics). London: Puffin, 2008.

 

Procedures:

  1. Have students write for 10 minutes on the following topic:  Describe a moral dilemma that you had. What did you decide to do? Why? What factors did you consider? Discuss the students’ responses.
  2. Discuss the theme of moral dilemmas in Huck Finn, beginning with the disclaimer, “Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will  be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot. “Do the students take the disclaimer seriously? Why or why not?
  3. Distribute the moral dilemma handouts/ assignment to the students.  Demonstrate the procedure by discussing one of the dilemmas as a class. The students will work in groups of 3 to analyze one of the dilemmas. Each group needs a scribe, discussion leader, and a spokesperson.
  4. Groups present their findings to the class.
  1. Explain to students that they will be participating in a more in-depth analysis of Jim’s character and actions.
  2. Have students write for 5-10 minutes on the following topic:
    3. What is your opinion of Jim’s character? Is he merely a stereotypical figure? Why or why not? Provide textual evidence for your assertions.
  3. Distribute the “Another View of Jim” handouts/assignments. Read the first poem and discuss it. Then have the students complete the assignment in pairs.
  4. Individual assignments- Students choose one of the following options:

    Create a journal describing Jim’s thoughts and feelings

    (1)   when Huck returns to the island (2) after Huck lies to Jim (3) when Jim thinks about his family (4) when Huck agrees to Tom’s plan for Jim’s escape (rather than freeing Jim quickly) (5) choose another

    moment in the story.          Include at least 5 specific annotated references to the text.

Create an A-Z book with illustrations that describes plot details, characters, and themes from Jim’s viewpoint. For example, F is for Friendship, illustrated with a picture of Jim and Huck on the raft. “Huck; you’s de bes’ fren’ Jim’s ever had.     Include a quotation that explains the illustration.

 

Rationale:

This lesson encourages students to consider moral issues raised by the novel.

 

Extensions:

 Students may conduct further research on issues raised by the novel:

§  The life of slaves in the south

§  African-American poetry

§  Current moral/ religious issues

§  Gang violence

 

Resources:

·   Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Puffin Classics). London: Puffin, 2008.

§  Another View of Jim

 

Directions: Read each poem carefully and answer the questions.

 

A.     To the white people of America by Joshua McCarter Simpson (available from allpoetry: http://allpoetry.com/oauthor/show/Joshua_McCarter_Simpson

 

1.      What is the warning in the poem?

2.      Who are the hypocrites? What language does the poet use to reveal their hypocrisy?

3.      Is there evidence of religious hypocrisy in The Adventures of Huck Finn?  Give a

specific example.

4.      What is the tone of the poem? Explain.

 

B.     We Wear the Mask by Paul Lawrence Dunbar (available from the University of Ohio’s Paul Lawrence Dunbar site: http://www.dunbarsite.org/

 

1.      Who wears the mask? Why?

2.      Does Jim wear the mask? Why or why not?

If he does, does he ever reveal his true self?

 

C.     The Haunted Oak by Paul Lawrence Dunbar

          

1.      What haunts the oak?

2.      What is the tone of the poem? What language creates the tone?

3.      What are several possible fates for Jim at the end of  the novel?

 

D.     The Negro Speaks of Rivers by Langston Hughes (available from FamousPoets: http://famouspoetsandpoems.com/poets/langston_hughes

 

1.      What does the river represent in the poem? 

2.      What does the river represent in the novel?

3.      What is the tone of the poem?

4.      Which line of the poem is the most meaningful to you?

Why?

5.      What claim is the poet making? Explain.

 


 

 

·         Moral Issues in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

 

 Answer the following questions for each dilemma:

 

1.      What is the dilemma?

2.      What are the rules of the society regarding this issue?

Provide evidence.

 

    3. Is there evidence of societal hypocrisy? Explain.

 

3.      Why does Huck feel conflicted? What does his heart tell him to do?

 

4.      What is Huck’s decision? What is the result of his decision?

 

A.    Chapter 3 –Miss Watson urges Huck to “help other people”.

B.     Chapter 8-Huck learns that Jim ran away from Miss Watson.

C.    Chapter 13-Huck lies to the watchman.

D.    Chapter 15-Huck considers apologizing to Jim.

E.     Chapter 18-Miss Sophia asks Huck for a favor.

F.     Chapter 19-Huck realizes that the Duke and King are frauds

G.    Chapter 26-Mary Jane and Susan defend Huck

H.    Chapter 31-Huck considers betraying Jim

I.       Chapter 33-Huck considers Tom’s plan for rescuing Jim

 

Identify and analyze two decisions made by (a) Jim and (b) Tom.

       What do the decisions reveal about each character? Explain.