THE ADVENTURES OF HUCKLEBERRY FINN

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Chapter 21-30

1. How does the introduction of the "duke" and the "king" in Chapter 19 of The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn impact Huck and Jim?
Ans: After escaping from the feuding families, Huck is happy to be back on the raft floating down the
river. He and Jim are free from society and have a good time doing as they please. When the duke
and the king join them, society has infiltrated the serenity of the raft. The duke and the king are con
men and take what they want without regard to the feelings of anyone else. They take advantage of
Huck and Jim who once again are made to be subordinates. The slave and the mistreated boy are
accustomed to serving others and living in adverse conditions, and here they experience them
again.
2. In Chapter 22 of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn what does Colonel Sherburn say about
courage and cowardice, and how does it relate to Huck?
Ans: Sherburn ridicules the mob and shows no respect for them. When the people come together
as a mob, they act on fear and impulse. People join the mob because they feel they must rather
than because they feel they are doing the right thing. Most would prefer not to be involved, but they
will act if others do. They are rarely proud of their actions. On the contrary when someone acts on
his own and answers to his own conscience, he is a real "man." He will consider and measure the
consequences. Huck is in the midst of a dilemma that mirrors this. If he were to act alone and
answer to his conscience, he would assist Jim. If, on the other hand, he was to follow what his
society wanted he would return Jim to captivity.
3. In Chapter 23 of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, how does the con men's understanding of
people both help and hurt them take advantage of others with "The Royal Nonesuch"?
Ans: When creating the handbill for the show the duke wisely adds a note that women and children
will not be allowed to attend the show. This creates an expectation of a type of inappropriate
behaviour. The first show draws poorly and nearly causes a riot. However, at the end of the show
the duke and the king ask those in attendance to tell their friends. They recognize that those in the
crowd will want to see their friends get cheated too. Those in the crowd are at as low a level as the
con men on the stage and are happy to sucker their friends. However, when the duke and the king
do the same thing on the second night, their luck runs out. They have to run for their lives before the
third show. Their greed has blinded them.
4. Why does Jim's story about his family in Chapter 23 of The Adventures of Huckleberry
Finn impact Huck and possibly the reader?
Ans: For Huck the thought that slaves care deeply about family is a surprise. He says, "I do believe
he cared just as much for his people as white folks does for their'n." Families were often broken up
in the South so slaves would feel loyalty to their owner and not their family. Jim's feelings of guilt
over how he treats his daughter is surprising. In addition, Huck and the reader cannot help but
notice the care and concern Jim feels for his daughter. This is in stark contrast to how Pap feels
about Huck. Pap beats Huck regularly for no reason and does not feel guilty about it at all. In
comparison Jim feels guilty when he makes a mistake. This example of parental love is foreign to
Huck.
5. Why does Huck finally decide to upset the plans of the duke and the king in Chapter 28 of The
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?
Ans: The duke and the king defraud a number of people. Huck could be considered an accomplice
in these actions. At a minimum he allows these things to happen and shows little remorse or regret.
Prior to preying on the Wilks sisters, they defraud people who are generally cruel and mean and act
poorly toward one another. They deserve to be cheated. In contrast the Wilks sisters are good and
kind-hearted. Mary Jane in particular shows this goodness in her genuine sense of sadness over
the loss of her father, in her concern for the slave family, and in the way she stands up for Huck
when her sister says he is lying. Huck is attracted to her character traits and also finds her
physically attractive. These traits inspire Huck to stand up and follow his conscience to thwart the
duke and the king.
6. In Chapter 29 of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, what is Twain saying by having the doctor
and lawyer quickly recognize Huck is lying while others were unable to?
Ans: Huck has had to make up stories from the minute he left Jackson's Island. Since he dropped
pretending to be a girl he has gotten away with his lies and been able to manipulate people to get
what he wanted. The only person who even suspects him is Joanna Wilks (the youngest sister), and
Huck, with the help of the older sister, is able to get out of it. The lawyer and the doctor know Huck
is lying from the second he opens his mouth. Unlike the other people to whom Huck lied, these
gentlemen are educated and worldly. They do not simply accept Huck at his word and are not
gullible. The fact that other people are taken in by Huck so easily indicates they lack intelligence,
and Twain seems to be mocking this gullibility as a general problem in the South.
7. In Chapters 26 and 30 of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, how does the duke show himself
to be wiser than the king?
Ans: In Chapter 26 the duke is ready to leave after he and the king get a substantial amount of
money out of the Wilks. As Huck describes, "The duke he grumbled; said the bag of gold was
enough, and he didn't want to go no deeper—didn't want to rob a lot of orphans of everything they
had." The king, however, wants to keep going and steal as much as he can. In Chapter 30 the king
is ready to strangle Huck when he catches up with him and Jim on the raft. The king feels Huck was
ready to leave him behind to let the crowd have its way with him. In contrast the duke steps in and
defends Huck. While Huck's story is not all true, the duke's logic is correct and wise. While both men
are cons and are happy to rob people of their money, the duke shows some sense and knows when
it is time to quit. He recognizes other people's interests. The king has no such vision—he is greedy
and only considers his own interests.
8. How does Jim's capture in Chapter 31 of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn affect Huck?
Ans: When Jim is captured, Huck has an internal debate. He is ready to write a letter to Miss
Watson about Jim, but he realizes that will mean Jim will return to slavery. Huck considers all that
Jim has done for him and the kindness he has shown. However, Huck feels Miss Watson was also
good to him. He owes her. Plus, he does not want to be judged negatively by his racist society
which believes in slavery. After much thought and debate Huck decides to tear up the letter and risk
everything to free Jim. He is no longer interested in society's definition of right and wrong. He will
behave according to his own moral code. Jim's capture forces Huck to this conclusion, and it is the
climax of the book.
9. Does Huck's vow to help Jim in Chapter 31 of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn matter even
though he declared in Chapter 1 he doesn't believe in hell?
Ans: The less mature version of Huck did not take Miss Watson seriously when she spoke of hell.
Nevertheless, Huck declares he is ready to go there as it will mean a change and Tom Sawyer
might be there. This immature Huck is only interested in having fun. He does not consider what hell
might actually be like even though Miss Watson tries to explain it to him. However, by Chapter 31
Huck has travelled a great distance literally and figuratively. His journey has matured him and he
has a deeper understanding of the world and people. In particular, he has come to appreciate Jim's
humanity. Because of Jim, Huck is ready to go to hell even though he recognizes the
consequences.
10. Why is Aunt Sally's reaction to a black person dying in Chapter 32 of The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn so disturbing?
Ans: Aunt Sally is particularly happy to see Huck when he arrives (though she believes he is Tom
Sawyer). When she asks why he was late, Huck mentions an issue on the boat and says a black
person was killed. Aunt Sally's reaction is, "Well, it's lucky; because sometimes people do get hurt."
To Aunt Sally a slave is not a person whose life has meaning. As the story continues readers see
more of Aunt Sally. She seems to be a good person who treats people with kindness. However, like
Miss Watson, Judith Loftus, and other seemingly decent people in the book, Aunt Sally is racist and
thinks nothing of a black person's life. It is hard to reconcile decent people being racist, and the
author uses that exchange between Aunt Sally and Huck to demonstrate the hypocrisy that existed
in the South.

Chapter 31-44

11. How does Tom's re-emergence in the story in Chapter 33 of The Adventures of Huckleberry
Finn impact Huck?
Ans: Huck has grown over the course of the novel, particularly since he and Jim departed from
Jackson's Island. Huck has become a person who is willing to go against society and act upon his
conscience. He has recognized the evils in society and trusts his own instincts. When Tom re-
emerges in the novel, Huck plays second fiddle and follows Tom's instructions even when he does
not see the sense in them. Tom treats Jim and his freedom as something that can be used in one of
the adventures he reads about in books. Huck's willingness to go along shows that he still struggles
to fight for his convictions.
12. What is situationally ironic about Huck's judging Tom for his willingness to help Jim in Chapter
33 of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?
Ans: When Huck first sees Tom, Huck tells him that about his plan to rescue Jim. Huck expects
Tom to argue with him and not agree to help. When Tom agrees to help, Huck says, "I'm bound to
say Tom Sawyer fell considerable in my estimation." Huck is willing and determined to steal Jim but
judges Tom negatively for his willingness to do the same thing. When Huck tells Tom he is stealing
Jim, he says of himself, "I'm low down." Huck recognizes that he is on the outskirts of the
community, that he is uneducated and orphaned, and that his willingness to pull a stunt like freeing
Jim might be expected for someone of his poor upbringing. On the other hand, Tom is from a good
family. In addition, despite his mischievous ways Tom is essentially respectable and even
encourages Huck to be. In Chapter 1, he tells Huck that he "might join [Tom's gang] if [Huck] would
go back to the widow and be respectable." Tom is part of society and Huck is not, and therefore
Tom has more to lose by acting in a way that their society would not approve of.

13. Why is Tom's presence from Chapter 33 onward in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn so
jarring?
Ans: Many critics argue that the end of the novel detracts from its overall quality. Some say Twain
lost his nerve and the book reverts to a childish one for boys where previously it had dealt with
serious topics, including the evils of slavery. The story does indeed change dramatically. Tom's
plans are farcical, and there is a slapstick element introduced. The other characters are driven crazy
by Tom's wacky plans and his insistence on trying to recreate the adventure novels he has read.
The serious issues such as Jim's freedom and Huck's growth recede into the background. In fact,
readers might question whether Huck has truly grown, which had been the central story line up to
this point in the novel.
14. How does Tom's reaction to the gun-toting posse in Chapter 40 of The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn reinforce his views about the best escape plan for Jim in Chapter 34?
Ans: For Tom Jim's escape is a reason to put into action a real live adventure just like the ones he's
read about. In Chapter 34 when he hears Huck's plan for how to free Jim, Tom says, "But it's too
blame' simple; there ain't nothing to it. What's the good of a plan that ain't no more trouble than
that?" Tom wants the plan to be daring and adventurous, and he's more interested in style over
substance. Huck goes along with Tom's plans. However, when he sees the farmers gathered in the
Phelps's living room in Chapter 40, Huck is scared and runs to tell Tom. Tom's reaction to the news,
"No!—is that so? Ain't it bully!" Tom wishes there were more men as it would make his plan even
more daring. He gives no thought to the potential danger and the lives that could be lost while
executing his wild plan. Tom is all about the glorious adventure.
15. How does Jim's reaction to Tom's being shot in Chapter 40 of The Adventures of Huckleberry
Finn show the two of them to be opposites?
Ans: Jim is a grown man and is not interested in silliness or games. His goal throughout the book is
getting his own freedom and ultimately his family's as well. When Tom is shot Jim insists on getting
a doctor, putting his escape in jeopardy. He says, "No, sah—I doan' budge a step out'n dis place
'dout a doctor; not if it's forty year!" Jim's heroic actions help Tom to escape serious injury. On the
other hand, Tom does not want to get a doctor because it is not part of his grandiose plan and
vision. He is all about style and does not consider the consequences. Unlike Jim, Tom is completely
impractical.
16. How does Huck's comment in Chapter 40 of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn when Jim
insists on getting a doctor for Tom reveal he hasn't shed society's views on slavery?
Ans: Huck and Jim agree that they must get a doctor to look at Tom's wound. Jim's insistence in this
regard prompts Huck to say, "I knowed he was white inside, and I reckoned he'd say what he did
say ..." By implying that being decent and putting the interest of others before one's own is a white
trait, Huck is revealing a bias against slaves and black people. Huck has grown greatly in this book
and feels Jim deserves to be free. However, it is not clear if Huck feels Jim is a special case
because of the type of person he is, or if Huck feels slavery is wrong and that everyone should be
freed. Either way, Huck still feels that "white" is equivalent to "good," which is an idea that he would
have been exposed to growing up.
17. How does Huck's reaction to Aunt Sally's concern in Chapter 41 of The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn reinforce the differences between him and Tom?
Ans: In Chapter 41 Jim has escaped and Huck and Tom are nowhere to be found. When Huck
returns alone, Aunt Sally greets him lovingly. She insists that Huck stay home while others,
including Uncle Silas go to look for Tom. Huck is desperate to join the search as he knows where
they are. However, Huck is torn about leaving because he does not want to upset Aunt Sally. He
feels guilty putting her through more worry after all that has gone on. Part of Huck's maturation is
seen when he shows concern for others. Huck's concern for Aunt Sally contrasts with how Tom
treats her (ironic, since she is actually Tom's aunt and Huck is not related to her). In Chapter 33, for
example, Tom is a tease as he pretends to be someone else, which confuses and upsets Aunt Sally
(before he finally reveals he is Sid). Tom is more interested in his own fun and games and does not
care who is impacted and how. Unlike Huck, Tom is selfish and self-centred.
18. How does the mob's reaction to Jim's return in Chapter 42 of The Adventures of Huckleberry
Finn compare to the earlier mob reactions, including the one in Chapter 22?
Ans: There are a number of mobs in the book. Each time they are angry and blood-thirsty, they act
on impulse, and show no deep thought. They simply have an emotion and they act upon it, taking
justice into their own hands. As Colonel Sherburn notes in Chapter 22, people have courage when
part of a crowd but less so when it comes to standing up on their own. Because of this one man can
quell a mob if he has the courage to stand up. When Jim is brought back to the Phelps's farm,
people want to hang him so other slaves will not get any ideas, and for "making such a raft of
trouble, and keeping a whole family scared most to death for days and nights." In this case wiser
heads prevail as they realize that killing Jim will mean paying a debt to his rightful owner. So, when
a person or persons step up and speak out, the mob's anger can be defused just as it happened
when Colonel Sherburn spoke up.
19. How does Tom's reaction to Jim's continued imprisonment in Chapter 42 of The Adventures of
Huckleberry Finn represent Mark Twain's thoughts on slavery?
Ans: When Tom recovers from being shot he awakens and blurts out what he and Huck have done.
He is certain that Jim has escaped and is proud of this. When he learns that Jim has been
recaptured, Tom is incredulous: "They hain't no right to shut him up! Shove! —and don't you lose a
minute. Turn him loose! he ain't no slave; he's as free as any creetur that walks this earth!" Aunt
Sally thinks Tom has gone mad. It is only when Tom reveals that Miss Watson has freed Jim that
she understands. Mark Twain married into an abolitionist family and adopted their views. His view is
that which Tom has expressed. However, Tom does not limit it to Jim but all slaves. Everyone
should be free to walk the earth and be equal.
20. How does Jim's reaction to Tom's payment in Chapter 43 of The Adventures of Huckleberry
Finn contradict his earlier behaviour in Chapters 2 and 15?
Ans: Jim is a proud man and shows this multiple times throughout the book. For example, in
Chapter 2 Jim is proud to tell the story of his hat and the angels to all who want to hear. In Chapter
15 Jim's pride is wounded when Huck's lies make Jim look like a fool. Because of the obvious pride
that Jim has, his acceptance of the money that Tom pays him after all he has been put through is
surprising. After Jim realizes Tom put his life in danger to satisfy his own needs for adventure, one
would expect Jim to be at least annoyed with Tom. However, Jim's practical needs trump his pride,
and he takes the money with no regrets. Jim is no longer a slave, but he remains a man in need.