#1390. Analyzing Huck Finn: A Cooperative Learning Lesson

Literature, level: Senior
Posted Sun Nov 7 06:59:03 PST 1999 by Betsy Trible (mcbets44@aol.com).
Atlee High School, Mechanicsville, VA
Materials Required: text, pen, brain
Activity Time: 30 min.
Concepts Taught: analyzing text, supporting arguments with evidence

Huck Finn Group Questions--A Homework Grade

Group Names:

Directions: As a group, discuss the following question. You will present the answers and quotes to the class. The answers will be helpful to you on the test at the end of the novel.

The most important thing your group is to be doing is discussing these questions within the context of the book. This means that you are answering them with quotes as proof for your answers.

Question #1:

Satire is to make fun of something in society by poking fun at it in literature, TV, etc. (They do this on Saturday Night Live.) Twain satirizes many things in Huck Finn.

Make a list of the kinds of things (People, places, beliefs, society) Twain Satirizes in the novel. Is he effective?

Huck Finn Group Questions--A Homework Grade

Group Names:

Directions: As a group, discuss the following question. You will present the answers and quotes to the class. The answers will be helpful to you on the test at the end of the novel.

The most important thing your group is to be doing is discussing these questions within the context of the book. This means that you are answering them with quotes as proof for your answers.

Question #2:

Make a list of the different ways in which Huck portrays small-town life. What are the differences and similarities between the places he visits and travels?

Huck Finn Group Questions--A Homework Grade

Group Names:

Directions: As a group, discuss the following question. You will present the answers and quotes to the class. The answers will be helpful to you on the test at the end of the novel.

The most important thing your group is to be doing is discussing these questions within the context of the book. This means that you are answering them with quotes as proof for your answers.

Question #3:

Make a list of the different roles women play in the novel. Make sure you name characters and give examples from the text.

Huck Finn Group Questions--A Homework Grade

Group Names:

Directions: As a group, discuss the following question. You will present the answers and quotes to the class. The answers will be helpful to you on the test at the end of the novel.

The most important thing your group is to be doing is discussing these questions within the context of the book. This means that you are answering them with quotes as proof for your answers.

Question #4:

Make list of the different ways in which Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn are different or similar. Make sure you give specific evidence from the text.

Huck Finn Group Questions--A Homework Grade

Group Names:

Directions: As a group, discuss the following question. You will present the answers and quotes to the class. The answers will be helpful to you on the test at the end of the novel.

The most important thing your group is to be doing is discussing these questions within the context of the book. This means that you are answering them with quotes as proof for your answers.

Question #5:

Make a list of the ways in which Huck is weak. Then make a list of the ways in which he is strong. Make sure you give specific examples from the text.

Huck Finn Group Questions--A Homework Grade

Group Names:

Directions: As a group, discuss the following question. You will present the answers and quotes to the class. The answers will be helpful to you on the test at the end of the novel.

The most important thing your group is to be doing is discussing these questions within the context of the book. This means that you are answering them with quotes as proof for your answers.

Question #6:

Make a list of all the different tricks Huck uses in the novel so far. Which tricks does he play to help people? Which tricks does he play to hurt people?

Huck Finn Group Questions--A Homework Grade

Group Names:

Directions: As a group, discuss the following question. You will present the answers and quotes to the class. The answers will be helpful to you on the test at the end of the novel.

The most important thing your group is to be doing is discussing these questions within the context of the book. This means that you are answering them with quotes as proof for your answers.

Question #7

What aspects of Huck's personality make him a good, trustworthy narrator (or, the person who tells the story)? What aspects of his personality make him an untrustworthy narrator? Give examples from the text.

Trustworthy Narrator Untrustworthy Narrator