is huck finn a hero essay

Huck Finn: The Hero’s Journey

Huckleberry Finn is one of the most beloved characters in American literature. He first appeared in Mark Twain’s 1876 novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, and then again in its sequel, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Huck is a young boy who embodies the ideal of independence and self-reliance. He is resourceful, brave, and loyal. Most importantly, he is able to think for himself and make his own decisions.

Huck Finn goes on many adventures throughout the course of the two books. In each adventure, he faces challenges and overcomes obstacles. This is known as the “hero’s journey.” The hero’s journey is a story arc that is found in many myths and legends from around the world. It typically features a hero who goes on a quest, faces challenges, and ultimately emerges victorious.

Huck Finn is the perfect example of a hero who embarks on a journey and comes out changed for the better. He starts off as a rebellious teenager, running away from home and getting into trouble. However, through his adventures, he learns to be more responsible and to think about others besides himself. In the end, he matures into a young man who is capable of making wise decisions and taking care of those around him.

A hero’s journey is a circular path that begins as a hero and ends as one. Huck Finn, for example, perfectly matches the archetype of a hero in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn because he fits the description of a hero. The first stage in the adventure is known as the Innocent World of Childhood, and there are several stages throughout it. The Initiation is next; after that comes Freedom to Live (or Death). A certain period in Huck’s life may be represented by each of these phases.

It is a time when they are living in a carefree world where they do not have many responsibilities. Huck Finn is introduced in the beginning of the book as a young boy who is living with Widow Douglas. He does not have many responsibilities and he is able to do what he wants. The Initiation stage is when the hero starts to face challenges and becomes more responsible. In the book, Huck goes through this stage when he helps Jim escape from slavery.

He has to take on more responsibility and make decisions that could potentially get him into trouble. The last stage, Freedom to Live, is when the hero has completed the journey and is able to live freely. This can be seen at the end of the book when Huck decides to head west instead of returning to the Widow Douglas. He is now free from society and can live the life he wants.

The hero’s journey is a cycle that many characters go through in stories. Huck Finn is a character who goes through this cycle in the book Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. He starts off in the Innocent World of Childhood, moves on to the Initiation stage, and finally reaches the Freedom to Live. Each stage represents a different time in his life and how he grows as a character.

This section covers the years prior to Huck’s unusual destiny. Huck’s youth was characterized by play with his best buddy Tom Sawyer. Huck’s days were spent engaging in pretend adventures that he believed were real. However, many of the events sought after or dealt with by Tom did not exist. This is significant since it helps to explain why Tom’s account of an adventure isn’t genuine, and everything Tom reads contributes to their own adventures.

The hero’s journey is characterized by a call to adventure. The call to adventure is something that Huck Finn experiences when he fakes his own death and floats down the Mississippi River. This event changes Huck’s life completely and leads him on many different adventures.

Without this event, Huck would have continued living a normal life without any major exciting events. The call to adventure is an important part of the hero’s journey because it sets the stage for the rest of the story. After the hero answers the call to adventure, he usually faces some sort of trials or challenges. These challenges test the hero and help him to grow as a person.

For Huck, some of these challenges include floating down the river on a raft, pretending to be a girl, and dealing with the Duke and the King. Each of these challenges is different and allows Huck to grow in different ways. Without these challenges, Huck would not have been able to develop as a character. The challenges faced by the hero help him to become a better person and to understand the world around him.

After the hero overcomes the challenges he faces, he usually returns home a changed person. For Huck, this means that he decides to go back up river to where he started from. He has learned many things on his journey and is no longer the same person he was when he started out. He is now a wiser and more understanding person.

Another part of Huck’s childhood is his education with the widow and Miss Watson. He lived a “civilized” existence, as he put it. He was fed, clothed, and well cared for, in his own words. The civilized life did not appeal to him as much as he appreciated what the widow and Miss Watson were attempting to achieve. Even though he acknowledged their efforts, he still had concerns about what they said.

An example of this is when Miss Watson tells Huck about heaven and hell. At first, he completely believes her and is terrified of going to hell. After some time, he begins to question the idea and does not believe it as much as he did in the beginning. This Huckleberry Finn hero’s journey is one that many people can identify with because everyone goes through a time in their life when they question what they have been taught and decide for themselves what they believe.

The Huckleberry Finn hero’s journey is one that has intrigued readers for generations. It is the story of a boy who is searching for his identity and trying to figure out where he belongs in the world. The Huckleberry Finn hero’s journey is one that will continue to be studied and analyzed for years to come.

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Home — Essay Samples — Literature — Hero's Journey — A Hero’s Journey in “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” and “The Odyssey”

A Hero's Journey in "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and "The Odyssey"

• Categories: Hero's Journey Huckleberry Finn The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn The Odyssey

About this sample

Words: 958 |

Published: Sep 25, 2018

Words: 958 | Pages: 2 | 5 min read

Table of contents

Hero's journey essay outline, hero's journey essay example, introduction.

• Introduction to the concept of the Hero's Journey in storytelling
• Mention of "The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn" and "The Odyssey" as examples
• Claim that "The Odyssey" more clearly follows the Hero's Journey template

The Importance of Correct Order

• Explanation of the significance of the correct order of events in the Hero's Journey
• Reference to James R Hull's perspective on the order of events in a Hero's Journey
• Analysis of how "Huckleberry Finn" deviates from the correct order
• Example of how the threshold and training stages are out of order in Huck Finn

Chronological Order in "The Odyssey"

• Description of the chronological order of events in "The Odyssey"
• Examples of the call to adventure and other stages in the correct order
• The clear adherence to the Hero's Journey template in Odysseus' story

Completeness of the Hero's Journey

• Explanation of the importance of not breaking off from the Hero's Journey template
• Quote from Huck Finn describing his initial home and the conventional slumber
• Analysis of Huck's failure to return home, breaking off from the Hero's Journey
• Reference to James R Hull's idea that the Hero's Journey should not be warped to fit a story
• Recap of the key points
• Emphasis on the importance of following all aspects of the Hero's Journey in the correct order
• Assertion that "The Odyssey" more convincingly depicts a hero's journey compared to "Huckleberry Finn"

Works Cited

• Campbell, J. (1972). The hero with a thousand faces (2nd ed.). Princeton University Press.
• DiYanni, R. (2007). Literature: Reading Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and the Essay (6th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
• Homer. (1997). The Odyssey (R. Fagles, Trans.). Penguin Classics.
• Hull, J. R. (2017, October 8). Not everything is a hero's journey. Mythic Scribes. https://mythicscribes.com/miscellaneous/not-everything-is-a-heros-journey/
• Johnson, W. (1984). The Odyssey: Structure, Narration, and Meaning. The Classical Journal, 80(2), 97–113.
• Lawrence, P. (2016). The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Study Guide. Cummings Study Guides. https://www.cummingsstudyguides.net/Guides4/Huck.html
• Reiner, L. (2019, October 4). Homer’s Odyssey: An Epic for the Ages. National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/history/magazine/2019/09-10/homers-odyssey-an-epic-for-the-ages/
• The Hero's Journey. (n.d.). Reedsy.
• Vogler, C. (2007). The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers (3rd ed.). Michael Wiese Productions.

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Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

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The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

By mark twain, the adventures of huckleberry finn essay questions.

Select five characters that Twain does not admire in Huck Finn. Name and describe the specific traits that each possesses that makes him or her not an admirable person.

Select five characters that Twain does admire. Name and discuss the specific traits that each possesses that makes him or her admirable.

Violence and greed are motivations of much of the action in this book. Discuss, giving at least three examples of each.

Mark Twain was able to find humor in situations that most people would regard as serious. Discuss and provide specific references from the novel.

Some critics claim that Jim is Huck's "true father." Defend or refute this statement.

Discuss the qualities Huck posesses which are necessary for survival on the frontier. Give specific examples from the novel.

What is the symbolic importance of the setting of the novel (land vs. river)?

What does the reader infer about Twain's attitude towared slavery and racism?

Discuss how the river provides freedom for Huck.

What is "civilization" in the mind of Huck?

Discuss how Huck grows as a person; what life lessons does he learn from his encounters on the river?

Although Mark Twain, in his introductory "notice" to the novel, denies that there is a moral or motive in the story, the work itself contradicts its author. How?

Discuss the role of religion in the novel.

Discuss Huck as an archetype hero.

What does Twain admire in a man and what is he contemptuous of?

This novel is also a satire on human weaknesses. What human traits does he satirize? Give examples for each.

What evidence do you find of Twain's cynicism?

Discuss three recurring motifs (any idea, object, feeling, color, pattern, etc. which repeats itself) in the novel. Give specifics.

Discuss the role of superstition in the novel. Explain how Twain criticizes superstitious beliefs and give specific examples.

Appearance versus reality is a major theme in Huckleberry Finn. Using specifics from the book, discuss this very prevalent theme.

How does Huck search for a family? What does he find and what does he learn?

How is Huck's trip down the river actually a passage into manhood?

How would you defend Huckleberry Finn against charges of being a racist novel?

Huckleberry Finn has been called the "Great American Novel." However, it is the sixth most frequently banned book in the United States. Discuss why this masterpiece is banned mostly in Christian academies and in all black institutions.

Explain how the American Dream is or is not achieved by three characters in this novel. Begin by explaining what each character holds as his or her American Dream.

Discuss how Huck displays several textbook characteristics of the child of an alcoholic.

Analyze and trace the moral maturation of Huck Finn. Discuss the events that disgusted and depressed him, the coping skills that he learned, and his actions and the circumstances for such.

"Picaresque" is a word used to describe a character who comes from a low class of society, is poor, lives by his/her wits, travels, and has eposodic adventures. Using specific examples and quotes from the novel, explain how Huck is a picaresque figure.

A persona is an alternate name and personality uses for many different reasons. Discuss the many personas used in the novel.

Discuss the similarities and differences between Jim and Pap, as parents.

If you had to name a modern day Huck Finn who would it be?

Explain how Huck's loss of innocence as a boy is symbolic of America as the country moves towards the Civil War.

Compare and contrast Realism and Romanticism in the novel.

Select two of the social institutions (i.e. democracy) at which Twain pokes fun. Use specific references to show how he accomplishes this.

What do you think makes this novel an important record of American culture?

Point out the weak and strong character traits in Huck. How do his character and personality compare with those of Tom Sawyer?

Lionel Trilling says that Huck possesses a sense of humor. Do you think this is so? Site examples for a yes or no answer.

A major unifying element in the novel is illusion (pretense) vs. reality. Find examples. Explain their significance to Twain's overall themes.

Identify the literary techniques used by Mark Twain in Huckleberry Finn. Consider techniques such as: figures of speech, language, narrative techniques, sentence structure, diction, organization, syntax, detail, structure, imagery, irony, and tone.

How does Mark Twain create a humorous effect (exaggeration, irony, satire, understatement)?

How does Twain use satire to expose and criticize human failings?

Discuss Jim as a Christ figure.

As a way of illustrating his theme, Twain deliberately sets certain events with Huck and Jim on the river and others on the shore. Compare and contrast the major events on the river with those on the shore and develop a supportable thesis for why you think he makes the choices he does. How do these choices subtly reinforce his theme? Back up your thesis with specific quotes and detailed explanations.

Discuss how Twain criticises the values of Southern society by showing the difference between Huck's acquired values and his own innate sense of goodness.

Discuss the theme of individual conscience verses society and how it relates to the theme of freedom in the novel.

Authors often use dramatic irony to define something. Describe how Mark Twain uses dramatic irony to define "freedom."

In some ways Huck's story is mythical but it is also an anti-myth -- a challenge to the deceits which individuals and cultures use to disguise their true natures from themselves. In the midst of this deceitful culture, Huck stands as a peculiarly honest individual. Discuss, referencing the novel.

Discuss the Civilized, Primitive, and Natural Man in Huck Finn.

Huck is born into nature, but is morally influenced by society.How does the book show Huck's development into trusting his natural morals again?

Discuss historical revisionism and whether Huck Finn should be part of a high school curriculm.

The overall American critical reaction to the publishing of The Adventures of Huck Finn in 1885 was summed up in one word: "trash". Louisa May Alcott (author of Little Women and Little Men) said, "If Mr. Clemens cannot think of anything better to tell our pure-minded lads and lassies, he had better stop writing for them." The Public Library Committee of Concord, Massachusetts excluded the book as "a dangerous moral influence on the young." Defend or refute the position that the novel is indeed "trash" with evidence from the text to support your claim.

Compare and contrast Rule of the Bone by Russell Banks with Huckleberry Finn.

Twain's writings were directly affected by him growing up in Hannibal. How did Twain write about himself through the characters Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer as well as through many others?

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Huck says this because he has come to realize that Jim is far more than Miss Watson's slave.... he is Huck's friend, and he is a member of humanity. Huck doesn't care because he knows that his friendship with Jim is more important than the...

I think it is supposed to mean poison.

What did Judge Thatcher want to do with the interest on Huck’s money?

He wanted to invest it.

Study Guide for The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn study guide contains a biography of Mark Twain, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis of Huck Finn.

• About The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Summary
• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Video
• Character List

Essays for The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Huck Finn by Mark Twain.

• Twain's Pre-Civil War America
• Censorship and Classics
• An Examination of Religion in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
• Examination of Freedom as an Overall Theme in Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
• Twain's Women

Lesson Plan for The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Introduction to The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
• Relationship to Other Books
• Notes to the Teacher

E-Text of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn e-text contains the full text of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain.

• CHAPTER II.
• CHAPTER III.
• CHAPTER IV.

Wikipedia Entries for The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

• Introduction

Huck As Hero

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