IRONY

Irony is an implied discrepancy between what is said and what is meant.

Verbal Irony

Dramatic Irony

Situational Irony

Edgar Allen Poe- The Telltale Heart

William Shakespeare-Comedy / Tragedy

Gary Larson-The Far Side

Historical Irony

Light Vs. Dark Irony

ANTICIPATEDREADING GUIDE

TRUE or FALSEJim’s rough & ignorantdialect, systematic use of broken grammar, gawky expressions and ill-bred tone makes Jim seem dumb and ignorant, is derogatory and perpetuated negative black stereotypes.

Twain’s use of diction in the

novel is typical of the Southern

dialect during that time and area. Each person’s

speech fits with their character.

Huck’s and Jim’s plain diction is meant to set them apart from other characters, such as the Dauphin, the Duke, and Wilks brothers, who all

speak fluently and correctly, but are lack a

sense of morality. This is to reveal Huck’s

and Jim’s genuine nature.

TRUE or FALSELabeling Jim as “Nigger Jim” has racist tones, regardless of the novel’s settingor any intent to offerhistorical accuracy, due to the universally negative connotation associated of the term.

The term “nigger” appears in the novel

212 times.

However…

…the people Huck and Jim encounter on the Mississippi are …

…drunkards, murderers, bullies, swindlers, lynches thieves, liars, child abusers, numbskulls, frauds, hypocrites, windbags and traders in human flesh. EVERYONE OF THEM IS WHITE

The only man of honor in this charade of morality is

‘Nigger Jim,’ as Twain called him to emphasize the IRONY

of a society in which the only true gentleman was held beneath contempt.

TRUE or FALSEHuck’s sense of morality in the novel is flippant at times. He tells fibs, stretches the truth, disrespects authority and disobeys rules, but caves in to his Pa, Aunt Sally, and others. When he does these things he feels guilt, remorse, or regret only some of the times while at other times feels nothing.

Hence, Huck’s morality is hypocritical.

Huck is troubled by the tensions between what society tells him is right and his

own sense of morality—his conscience. In chapter 33, Huck declares, "it don't make no difference whether you do right or wrong, a person's conscience ain't got no sense, and just goes for him anyway. If I had a yaller dog that didn't know no more than a person's conscience does I would pison him. It takes up more room than all the rest of a person's insides, and yet ain't no good, nohow.”

Although Huck thinks helping Jim escape is

wrong because of societal rules…he resolves to help his friend and declares “All

right, then, I'll go to hell…” Huck thinks he is going to hell for his

immoral actions, but is he?

TRUE or FALSEDespite personal beliefs or opinion,there is an unquestionable overtone to the novel that is racist or Immoral at times.

Final Thoughts.

• If we believe one must follow the dictates of the law, how do we reconcile Huck as a hero?

• If we believe that it is moral to follow one's conscience, how do we decide which laws or social conventions are wrong?

• Who gives us the authority?

Closing Activity

Where would Huck stand? • The Civil Rights Movement? • Protest against the Vietnam War? • The war in Iraq? • Abortion Clinics? • The inclusion of the phrase, "under God," in

the Pledge of Allegiance?• Banning a book because it is immoral?

Found Poems

• Look for 50–100 words • Powerful, moving, or interesting• Think about the details that the syntax, tone,

and diction convey. • The words should all relate to the theme.• You may add up to two words of your own!

Banning a book because it is immoral?

words are a torchlightchained ideas, not free or safewrite well, tell, write right

Words are free ideas that run like a river steamboat or raft with procession. Planned words and ideas of the head waltz around freeing us and nurse us free. Give us all we want.