The Man, the Whiskers, the Legend: Introduction to Mark Twain(1835-1910) and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

“All modern literature comes from one book by Mark Twain call Huckleberry Finn.” Ernest Hemingway, The Green Hills of Africa

Why Mark Twain Matters. Born Samuel Longhorn Clemens in 1835, is considered to be the greatest humorist of 19th Century American Literature . Twain first came to fame with stories that captured the “local color” of the West He established himself as one of the best writers in American History by transmuting his childhood experiences into classic American novels such as : The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1885)

Ever the Twain Shall Meet Twain was a “vocal champion for ANY oppressed minority.” Campaigned for black rights, supported workers, deplored anti-Semitism (hating Jews), supported Native Americans (Indian Removal Act of 1830, Trail of Tears), and spoke out in favor of Women’s rights Samuel Longhorn Clemens was born in Florida, Missouri but soon moved to Hannibal, Missouri which became the setting to many of his novels

The Legend Continues Eventually he began writing under the pseudonym Mark Twain which means “All Clear” for a riverboat 3.6 meters of water, the depth needed for a boat’s passage

Let’s pause for Vocab Vernacular- ordinary language of people in a particular region. Twain, like many other authors, used vernacular to create realistic characters and an informal tone Tall tale- is a widely exaggerated folktale- often contains outrageous events and unbelievable occurrences

About Huck Finn Huck Finn takes place in the Mississippi Valley from 1835-1845 At the time written, many reviewers considered the work as coarse and racist In 1885, the novel was banished from the shelves of the Concord Public Library for its “foul language.” The novel is still frequently in the media, as schools across the country alternately ban it or restore it to their classrooms.

"I have no color prejudices nor caste prejudices nor creed prejudices "I have no color prejudices nor caste prejudices nor creed prejudices. All I care to know is that a man is a human being, and that is enough for me; he can't be any worse."

Free vs. Slave States in America in the mid 1800’s

Themes in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Racism and Slavery In Huck Finn, Twain exposes the hypocrisy of slavery. It does not support slavery. Intellectual vs. Moral Education Huck is forced to make a decision between education and moral correctness Mocks or pokes fun at “Civilized” Society Twain shows the ways in which society of his time did not act in a civilized manner

Twain’s Death Twain was born when Halley’s comet appeared in 1835 and died (as he has predicted) when it appeared again in 1910. Halley is the only short-period comet that is clearly visible to the naked eye from Earth, and the only naked-eye comet that might appear twice in a human lifetime.[every 75-76 years] “It was the greatest disappointment of my life if I don’t go out with Halley’s Comet,” he wrote. “The Almighty has said, no doubt: ‘Now here are two unaccountable freaks; they came together, they must go out together.’”

The Least You Need to Know Twain is widely thought to be the greatest American humorist and one of our greatest novelists. A mythical tale of death, rebirth, freedom, and bondage, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of America’s most influential novels. Twain used vernacular, exaggeration, and a straight-faced narrator to create humor.