The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Unit Intro English 9 Honors September 2016

Goals Analyze the impact of language on how we understand a text, censor a text, or discuss a text. Understand Twain’s intent in writing Huckleberry Finn and the reasons behind his treatment of race in Huck Finn. Research and discuss the controversy around Huck Finn and society’s use of racial slurs.

Background – A brief History of Language & the Controversy of Huck Finn Samuel Clemens (aka Mark Twain) began writing The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn in July 1876 and published it in 1885. The novel is set in the pre-Civil War south, in Missouri near the Mississippi River. Published 20 years after the end of the Civil War. By that time Congress had passed the 13th Amendment (abolishment of slavery), the 14th Amendment (the guarantee of citizenship to every person born in the U.S.), and the 15th Amendment (granting the right to vote to all citizens regardless of “race, color, or previous condition of servitude”) However, by 1877, many states had passed laws segregating schools, restaurants, restrooms, cemeteries, parks, and other public facilities. Twain’s theme of racism was part of current culture at the time.

Where it gets complicated… Critics during Twain’s time criticized the novel because it was “coarse” Today, commentators have deemed the novel as racist for its “stereotypical” portrayal of slavery and use of racial slurs. What many fail to understand is that Huckleberry Finn is a SATIRE What is a satire? What is Twain satirizing?

Language & Huckleberry Finn In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn the “N-word” is used more than 200 times. How should we teach the novel and its use of pejorative slang? pejorative: expressing contempt or disapproval Our goal is to discuss the issues and tension surrounding this word before we read it. In class, the texts we read will contain the word, you will be saying it in your head and thinking it, but we will use a euphemism (“the n-word”) to discuss it in class out of respect to your peers and the community here at the high school.

Language & Huckleberry Finn In the United States, "nigger" was first regarded as pejorative (expressing contempt or disapproval)  in the early nineteenth century. In the era of enslavement, the words "nigger" or "black" were inserted in front of a common American first name (e.g., John), given to a slave to distinguish the slave from any local white person with the same name. While usage of the word in African American culture is complex in that it can be used affectionately, politically, or pejoratively, the epithet is considered an abusive slur when used by white people.  The word has gained more acceptance in recent years in youth culture through song lyrics and stand-up comedy. Some claim that the word can be defused through reclaiming it. However, most adults continue to view the word as offensive and harmful.

Language & Huckleberry Finn Pre-Reading Questions: Have you ever been called a “name,” a derogatory label that signaled someone’s prejudice toward you? How did that act make you feel? Why do people call others “names”? What are the implications of labeling people in such ways?

Your Assignment Read and annotate the texts in the packet Come prepared to discuss the different perspectives in class FRIDAY! Note: These texts include the use of the n-word. Be prepared to encounter many different perspectives on its use in popular culture. Have an open mind, but also be mindful and mature in your approach. Ask Questions!

Socratic Circles English 9 Honors

What does “Socratic” mean? The word “Socratic” comes from the name Socrates (ca. 470-399 B.C.), a Classical Greek philosopher who developed a Theory of Knowledge.

What was the Theory of Knowledge? Socrates believed that the answers to all human questions and problems reside within us. Unfortunately, as human beings we are often unaware of the answers and solutions we possess. Socrates was convinced that the surest way to discover those answers and attain reliable knowledge was through the practice of disciplined conversation. He called this method the dialectic.

What does dialectic mean? Dialectic is the art or practice of examining opinions or ideas logically, often by the method of question and answer, so as to determine their validity.

How did Socrates use the dialectic? Socrates believed that through the process of dialogue, where all parties to the conversation were forced to clarify their ideas, the final outcome of the conversation would be a clear statement of what was meant. The technique appears simple but it is intensely rigorous. Socrates would feign ignorance about a subject and try to draw out from the other person his fullest possible knowledge about it. Socrates’ assumption was that by progressively correcting incomplete or inaccurate notions through discussion, one could coax the truth out of anyone.

What is a Socratic Circle? A Socratic circle (also called Socratic seminar) is a process to try to understand information by creating the dialectic in class in regards to a specific text. In a Socratic circle, participants seek deeper understanding of complex ideas in the text through thoughtful dialogue, rather than by memorizing bits of information. A Socratic Circle is not debate. The goal of this activity is to have participants work together to construct meaning and arrive at an answer, not for one student or one group to “win the argument.”

Steps to the Socratic Seminar 1. At the beginning of class, students are randomly divided into two concentric circles: an inner circle and an outer circle. 2. Students in the inner circle read a question or passage aloud and then engage in a discussion of the text for approximately ten minutes, while the outer circle observes the human behavior and performance of the inner circle. 3. Following this discussion of the text, the outer circle then assesses the inner circle’s performance and offers ten minutes of feedback for the inner circle. 4. Students in the inner and outer circle now exchange roles and positions within the classroom. 5. The new inner circle (the students who began in the outer circle) holds a ten-minute discussion and then receives ten minutes of feedback from the new outer circle.

The Opening Question A Socratic Circle opens with a question either posed by the leader or solicited from participants. An opening question has no right answer; instead it reflects a genuine curiosity on the part of the questioner. A good opening question leads participants back to the text as they speculate, evaluate, define, and clarify the issues involved. Responses to the opening question generate new questions from the leader and participants, leading to new responses.

Class Discussion – the N-Word What did you connect with in each article? What articles were antithesis to each other? How do you know? What does each say about context? How would each author react to the censorship of Huck Finn? Do you think there is a standard or a double standard for who can use the word? What do our authors think?