The Mississippi River Runaways lesson
Which of the following sentences are written in dialect?
"It was the most thrillingest one that ever was; and so he went on a-bragging." "He will be deeply obleeged if they mention it to theor friends." "We are sold - mighty badly sold." "These Arkansaw lunkheads couldn't come up."
Everybody sings out, "Sold!" and rose up mad, and was a-going for that stage and them tragedians. But a big, fine looking man jumps up onto a bench and shouts: "Hold on! Just a word, gentlemen." They stopped to listen. "We are sold - mighty badly sold. But we don't want to be the laughing stock of this whole town, I reckon, and never hear the last of this thing as long as we live. No. What we want is to go out of here quiet and talk this show up, and sell the rest of the town! Then we'll all be in the same boat. Ain't that sensible?" ("You bet it is! - the jedge is right!" everybody sings out.) "All right, then - not a word about any sell. Go along home, and advise everybody to come see the tragedy." -The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain Is this gentle or serious satire?
Gentle
"Don't it s'prise you de way dem kings carries on, Huck?" "No," I says, "it don't." "Why don't it, Huck?" "Well, it don't, because it's in the breed. I reckon they're all alike." "But, Huck, dese kings o' ourn is reglar rapscallions; dat's jist what dey is; dey's reglar rapscallions." "Well that's what I'm a-sayin; all kings is mostly rapscallions, as fur as I can make out." -The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain What is Twain's intent or meaning?
Even children recognize the abuse of power.
But, Huck, dese kings o' ourn is reglar rapscallions; dat's jist what dey is; dey's reglar rapscallions. -The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain What does Jim's strong dialect suggest about him?
He likely has not had a formal education.
Greenhorns, flatheads! I knew the first house would keep mum and let the rest of the town get roped in; and I knew they'd lay for us the third night, and consider it was their turn now. Well, it IS their turn, and I'd give something to know how much they'd take for it. I would just like to know how they're putting in their opportunity. They can turn it into a picnic if they want to - they brought plenty provisions. -The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain Based on the duke's sarcasm, how do you think the duke feels about the townspeople?
He thinks that they're getting what they deserve.
Walk fast now, till you get away from the houses, and then shin for the raft like the dickens was after you! What does the duke's dialect reveal about his character?
His informal language suggests that he might not really be an upper-class duke.
"Don't it s'prise you de way dem kings carries on, Huck?" "No," I says, "it don't." "Why don't it, Huck?" "Well, it don't, because it's in the breed. I reckon they're all alike." "But, Huck, dese kings o' ourn is reglar rapscallions; dat's jist what dey is; dey's reglar rapscallions." "Well that's what I'm a-sayin; all kings is mostly rapscallions, as fur as I can make out." -The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain What's funny about this passage?
Huck has decided that all kings are rascals.
What is the effect of Jim's dialogue in the story?
It presents Jim's language as he really speaks. It shows that Jim is comfortable enough with Huck to share his negative opinion of the two men. It contrasts Jim's uneducated speech with his ability to recognize the men as rascals.
"Don't it s'prise you de way dem kings carries on, Huck?" "No," I says, "it don't." "Why don't it, Huck?" "Well, it don't, because it's in the breed. I reckon they're all alike." "But, Huck, dese kings o' ourn is reglar rapscallions; dat's jist what dey is; dey's reglar rapscallions." "Well that's what I'm a-sayin; all kings is mostly rapscallions, as fur as I can make out." -The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain What could Twain's viewpoint be, based on the humor and the author's intent?
Rulers abuse their power.
Then at the bottom was the biggest line of all, which said: LADIES AND CHILDREN NOT ADMITTED. "There," says he, "if I know that line don't fetch them, I don't know Arkansaw!" -The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain What does the duke's comment reveal about his own character?
The duke knows how to get what he wants. The duke shows signs of intelligence. The duke is intentionally trying to trick the townspeople.
The third night the house was crammed again - and they warn't new-comers this time, but people that was at the show the other two nights. I stood by the duke at the door, and I see that every man that went in had his pockets bulging, or something muffled up under his coat - and I see it warn't no perfumery, neither, not by a long sights. I smelt sickly eggs by the barrel, and rotten cabbages, and such things; and if I know the signs of a dead cat being around, and I bet I do, there was sixty-four of them went in. i shoved in there for a minute, but it was too various for me; I couldn't stand it. What makes this passage humorous?
The fact that the entire town has paid to see the "show" again, but this time they're bringing things to throw at the duke and the king.
Everybody sings out, "Sold!" and rose up mad, and was a-going for that stage and them tragedians. But a big, fine looking man jumps up onto a bench and shouts: "Hold on! Just a word, gentlemen." They stopped to listen. "We are sold - mighty badly sold. But we don't want to be the laughing stock of this whole town, I reckon, and never hear the last of this thing as long as we live. No. What we want is to go out of here quiet and talk this show up, and sell the rest of the town! Then we'll all be in the same boat. Ain't that sensible?" ("You bet it is! - the jedge is right!" everybody sings out.) "All right, then - not a word about any sell. Go along home, and advise everybody to come see the tragedy." -The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain What aspect of human nature is Twain focusing on?
The fear of appearing foolish to others
Everybody sings out, "Sold!" and rose up mad, and was a-going for that stage and them tragedians. But a big, fine looking man jumps up onto a bench and shouts: "Hold on! Just a word, gentlemen." They stopped to listen. "We are sold - mighty badly sold. But we don't want to be the laughing stock of this whole town, I reckon, and never hear the last of this thing as long as we live. No. What we want is to go out of here quiet and talk this show up, and sell the rest of the town! Then we'll all be in the same boat. Ain't that sensible?" ("You bet it is! - the jedge is right!" everybody sings out.) "All right, then - not a word about any sell. Go along home, and advise everybody to come see the tragedy." -The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain Whom is Twain ridiculing?
The judge ("jedge") The townspeople
I done it, and [the duke] done the same. We struck the raft at the same time, and in less than two seconds we was gliding down the stream, all dark and still, edging towards the middle of the river, nobody saying a word. I reckoned the poor king was in for a gaudy time of it with the audience, but nothing of the sort; pretty soon he crawls out from under the wigwam and says: "Well, how'd the old thing pan out this time, duke?" He hadn't been up-town at all. What does this humor show?
The king is disloyal to the people he needs
I done it, and [the duke] done the same. We struck the raft at the same time, and in less than two seconds we was gliding down the stream, all dark and still, edging towards the middle of the river, nobody saying a word. I reckoned the poor king was in for a gaudy time of it with the audience, but nothing of the sort; pretty soon he crawls out from under the wigwam and says: "Well, how'd the old thing pan out this time, duke?" He hadn't been up-town at all. What makes this passage humorous?
The king's self-interest
But, Huck, dese kings o' ourn is reglar rapscallions; dat's jist what dey is; dey's reglar rapscallions. -The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain Choose the sentence that best translates what Jim says into standard English.
The kings are regular rascals for sure.
Then at the bottom was the biggest line of all, which said: LADIES AND CHILDREN NOT ADMITTED. "There," says he, "if I know that line don't fetch them, I don't know Arkansaw!" -The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain What does the duke's comment reveal about the culture of these Arkansas townspeople?
The townspeople think that things that are inappropriate might also be fun.
I done it, and [the duke] done the same. We struck the raft at the same time, and in less than two seconds we was gliding down the stream, all dark and still, edging towards the middle of the river, nobody saying a word. I reckoned the poor king was in for a gaudy time of it with the audience, but nothing of the sort; pretty soon he crawls out from under the wigwam and says: "Well, how'd the old thing pan out this time, duke?" He hadn't been up-town at all. What could Twain's intent be?
To show the social dynamics between the men.
How is Twain effective at using humor? Cite evidence of humorous moments in the text. Also consider Twain's intent and viewpoint in your response.
Twain entertains readers. Twain makes readers laugh. Twain provides social criticism mixed with humor. Twain shows the dark side of human nature in a funny way. Twain expresses a serious viewpoint through silly characters.
Greenhorns, flatheads! I knew the first house would keep mum and let the rest of the town get roped in; and I knew they'd lay for us the third night, and consider it was their turn now. Well, it IS their turn, and I'd give something to know how much they'd take for it. I would just like to know how they're putting in their opportunity. They can turn it into a picnic if they want to - they brought plenty provisions. -The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain What types of irony are used when the duke says, "they can turn it into a picnic if they want to - they brought plenty provisions"?
Verbal irony and sarcasm
Walk fast now, till you get away from the houses, and then shin for the raft like the dickens was after you! -The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain Which sentence best translates the duke's words into standard English?
Walk quickly until you're past the houses, then run for the raft as if you were being chased.
