Bogg’s Shooting: Chapt. 21-22

Miles Hull, Bianca Montemango, Elizabeth Goodin, Megan Sibley

Chapter Summary Ch. 21● The Duke and the King practice scenes from Romeo and

Juliet, among other Shakespearian pieces

● They look for a place to perform their show in a small town in Arkansas and find that a circus in town so they decide to capitalize on it

● Meanwhile a drunkard named Bogg is threatening the life of Colonel Sherman

● Sherman has had enough of Bogg’s nonsense and shoots him

● Everyone is very interested in the whole situation and soon, everyone knows about it.

Chapter Summary Ch. 22Angry mob rushes Sherburn’s house in attempts to lynch him

Sherburn wards off the mob when he gives a speech about human nature, shaming the mob for their cowardice

Huck goes to the circus

Huck is appalled by the seemingly drunk man performing atop a horse

The Duke holds a performance for only 12 people

Huck’s Development: What is the lesson learned?

Courage is an uncommon thing. Not many men have it. Most hide behind numbers and masks in the dark. They follow other men with blind hope so others won’t discover who they really are, cowards.

Huck’s Development: How is the Lesson Learned?

This lesson of courage is taught to a lynch mob by their target victim, Colonel Sherburn, shortly after he shot and killed a drunkard by the name of Bogg in the street. He chastised his adversaries for their cowardice in their attempts to lynch him in the coverage of night, something they wouldn’t dare do in the daytime.

Huck’s Development: What is the Evidence?

After the harsh address, Huck and the others left. Huck recalls that he could’ve stayed, but didn’t want to, showing that he, along with the rest of the crowd, felt rather ashamed and reprimanded by the wise man’s words.

Onomatopoeia is the use of words that sound like their meaning. An example of this from the novel is “... and gaping and yawning and stretching…” (Twain 21)

Another example of onomatopoeia is “Then there was a racket of ripping and tearing and smashing.”(Twain 22) These are all examples of onomatopoeia.

Literary Analysis: Onomatopoeia

Literary Analysis: Alliteration

Alliteration is the occurance of the same letter or sound at the beginning of a string of words. “Ah, it’s sublime, sublime!” This is an example of repetition with the words “sublime, sublime!” ( Twain 21)

Literary Analysis: Stanza

A stanza is the paragraph of a poem.

Example:

“To be or not to be; that is the bare bodkin

That makes calamity of so long life;

For who would fardels bear, till Birnam Wood do come to Dunsinane” (Twain 21)

Study Guide Q’s: Ch. 21-23 1) Why is the town at the beginning of Chapter 21 described

so carefully?

The town is described so meticulously to show how close-knit it is as a community and to show the contrast between where Huck lived and there.

2) How is Colonel Sherburn described?

Sherburn is described as a well- dressed 55 year-old man, and apparently has a temper.

Study Guide Q’s: Ch. 21-233) How do the townspeople react to the shooting?

They are at first interested, however their emotions soon turn and they decide to for a mob.

4) Why does Twain call it a “lynching bee”?

Twain uses the term “lynching bee” to help portray how the lynching was a social activity.

Study Guide Q’s: Ch. 21-23

5) What is Twain’s purpose in inserting Sherburn’s address?

Twain included the address because Sherburn is attacking the moral strength of the mob and Twain is trying to portray to his audiences that cowardice shows itself as “courage” in large numbers.