The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn – Group Theme Project

Prompt:As you read the book you will notice that certain ideas and topics are present throughout the novel. These topics include race, slavery, religion, education, nature, freedom, the frontier, women and violence in American culture. You will divide up into five groups of approximately 5-7 people each. One group has education/religion; this group must extrapolate the theme created simultaneously by both of these topics, which were much more connected in 19th century America than they are today. One group hasrace/slavery; this group must obviously analyze the character of Jim, his relationship with Huck, and slavery/racism in America.Another group hasnature/freedom/frontier; this group must analyze the setting of the Mississippi River and the West/Frontier imagery of the text, and issues of general freedom (not just freedom for black Americans but freedom for all people, especially Huck). Another group has women; analyze the role the female characters collectively play in the novel. And the fifth group has violence; analyze all of the violent occurrences in the text (including the shooting of Boggs and Col Sherburn’s response to the vigilante mob) and the character of Tom Sawyer. You will do a couple of assignments and discussions relating to the topic(s) you will be assigned and this will lead to a class-period-long presentation your group will create and present. The goal of your presentation is twofold. The first goal is to extrapolate Mark Twain’s theme(s) about this topic and elaborate on it and teach it to the class.

Here is an example: The topic could be The Old World vs. New World distinction in the text. Europe represents the Old World and America is the new world. In the text the characters of the Duke and King represent the Old World and Huckleberry and the other characters represent the New World. After reading about the shenanigans of the Duke and King in compare/contrast to the exploits of Huck, Jim and other characters, the theme Twain creates is: As problematic and corrupt as the New World may be with racial strife and other sins, the Old World, which Americans have traditionally idealized, is actually more despicable and repulsive, not more refined or cultured.

The second part is to make connections to our present day world and elaborate on how it is exemplified in the world around us; this includes comparing and contrasting the similarities and differences between 19th Century America and 21st Century America and looking at how these issues affect us today. If you were doing the topic of the Old World vs. New World your group might compare/contrast European socialist political philosophies vs. the mixture of socialist and conservative politics in the United States. This is just one of many possible connections between the Old World and New in the 21st century.

Put away your ideas of a stuffy, old-time, boring presentation. We’ll have none of that. Your presentation will be a one-of-a-kind masterpiece filled with your own interesting ideas combined with knowledge you gain from collecting information from various sources and presented with your skillful use of modern technology (PowerPoint, blogging, Wikis, music, video, et). Make a genuine effort to see, and to help your peers see, how these issues are still a part of our culture and society today. This makes it relevant and to us all.

Description:

Part One: The first part is an important base for the rest of your work. You are to keep a journal. As you read the novel, keep a record of all the references to your theme that you can find. Jot down the chapter and the page numbers and a brief summary of the reference. For example, “Chapter 6, pages 45-46: Huck’s father keeps Huck prisoner” could be a brief reference that applies to the topic of freedom. With the journal produce a multi-flow map that records the chain of events in the narrative and to show cause and effect. In another section of your journal, keep a little list of your own thoughts and things you have heard about that relate to your theme, either in modern/contemporary forms of media or in modern/contemporary life.

Part Two: With your group, look at and discuss how this topic is an issue in the world today. Your group will brainstorm a list of ways your topic and the theme Twain creates about this topic relate to the world today, and then narrow it down to one specific analogy.

Part Three: You now need to create a presentation to convey all of the ideas you have gathered. Your presentation must include information and passages from the text and information from your real world idea/analogy.

Making it Relevant:

How to Begin: Get together with other members of your group. Brainstorm a list of ideas of current topics that relate to your topic and theme. If you get stuck (or in preparation for your group discussion), ask your family, neighbors and friends what current topics might be appropriate for your theme.

What to do Next: You have a list of topics. Decide which topic you think will work best for your presentation. Which topic do you think will have the most written and visual information readily available for you? Which topic most interests you? Narrow your list down to one topic for your group and then divide up different responsibilities of the presentation for each group member.

Get the Facts: Each group member needs to prepare his/her part of the presentation while working together. Go to the library or look online to find articles from various publications and websites about your topic. You can also conduct interviews with people who are knowledgeable about your topic. If you do an interview record it. You’re an investigative reporter uncovering as much material as you can for your story. Take video pictures of things that relate to your topic. Keep in mind that you will have to make a presentation to the class. In that presentation you will have to use visual materials. Be on the lookout for things that could possibly be used.

Group Members: 1)______2)______

3)______4)______

5)______6)______

7)______