Huckleberry Finn – Mark Twain
Name _________________________
Chapter 1
1. Discuss the setting.
St. Petersburg, Missouri on the Mississippi River, 1850s
2. How does Huck feel about the Widow Douglas?
She is a decent person but too civilized for him.
3. How does Huck feel about Miss Watson?
He doesn’t like her. She is the Widow’s sister, and she owns Jim.
4. Discuss the use of superstition in the novel.
There are numerous cases of bad luck signs, references to witches, and
the devil.
Chapter 2
5. Discuss what happens when Huck and Tom leave the house.
Jim almost caught them sneaking out. Tom was willing to take risks in
leaving.
6. Explain Huck’s problem about the gang oath.
Each gang member had to take an oath and write his name in blood. Each
member had to have a family member to sacrifice if needed so Huck
offered Miss Watson.
7. What does Tom rely on for authority?
Pirate books and robber books that he read
Chapter 3
8. What does Huck learn about prayer from Miss Watson?
Miss Watson told him he would receive whatever he asked for; she lied.
9. What is the status of Huck’s father at this point?
He hadn’t been seen for over a year; people said he’d drowned.
10. Why did the gang break up?
Tom expected them to pretend and to imaging adventures. They operated
about a month.
11. Why is Huck impatient with Tom?
Tom lives in a fantasy world; Huck is practical.
Chapter 4
12. How does Huck get along at school and at home?
He doesn’t mind school, and he was getting used to the Widow’s ways.
13. What does Huck do at Judge Thatcher’s? Explain.
Huck saw Pap’s boot heel print in snow. He “gave” his money to Judge T.
to protect it from Pap.
14. Describe the hairball incident.
This came from the 4th stomach of an ox. Jim used it to “predict” the
future. The hairball gave nothing of value to Huck.
Chapter 5
15. Describe Pap Finn.
He appeared in Huck’s room. He is about 50 w/ long, greasy hair and
dirty, sloppy clothes.
16. How does Pap feel about school?
He seems angry that Huck can read, but yet he wants to hear Huck read.
He tells Huck to quit school.
17. Why had Pap gone to see Huck?
To get Huck’s money from Tom Sawyer; Huck gave Pap one dollar.
18. What action does the court take concerning custody of Huck?
The new judge will not take Huck away from Pap. (The Widow and Judge
T. wanted custody of Huck.)
19. What is Pap’s main problem?
He is an abusive alcoholic.
20. Explain what the new judge tried to do.
The new judge tried to reform Pap; it failed.
Chapter 6
21. What happens to Huck at this point?
Pap steals him away from the Widow Douglas and takes him to a cabin 3
miles upriver on the Illinois side.
22. What kind of life does Huck have with his father?
Huck was basically a prisoner with Pap. Pap would lock him in and beat
him.
23. What ideas does Pap have on government and race?
Pap blames the government for his troubles. Pap also feels blacks should
never be allowed to vote in anywhere.
24. Describe Pap’s behavior at the end of Chapter 6.
Pap was drunk and violent. Huck got Pap’s gun because he was afraid.
Pap passed out and wondered why Huck had the gun when he woke up
the next morning. Huck said someone tried to break in.
Chapter 7
25. How does Huck get a canoe?
Huck found a canoe floating in the river from the June rise. He hid the
canoe from Pap.
26. Describe Huck’s escape from the cabin.
Huck sawed his way out. He killed a wild pig and made it look like he was
killed with an ox and that his body was dumped in the river. Huck took
items from the cabin with him.
27. Where does Huck go?
Jackson’s Island
28. What is the size of Jackson’s Island?
3 miles long and ¼ mile wide
Chapter 8
29. Describe the search party and their activities.
People on a ferryboat were looking for Huck’s body. One way was to fire a
cannon over the water to make his body come to the surface.
30. Describe what Huck does on the island.
For 3 days and nights he listened to the current; counted stars, logs, rafts;
caught fish; slept; found berries and grapes.
31. What does Huck do when he finds the ashes of the campfire?
1. He put his belongings in the canoe and hid it. Then he went up a tree
for 2 hours.
2. Then he went to the Illinois shore until he heard horses coming.
3. Then he searched the island and come upon Jim and his campfire.
32. What is Jim’s reaction to Huck?
Jim was fearful because he thought Huck was dead.
33. What is the situation with Jim?
Miss Watson was going to sell Jim for $800 to someone from New
Orleans so Jim ran away. Hick says he won’t tell on Jim.
34. Give one example of bad luck signs that Jim tells.
You should not try to catch young birds trying to fly, or someone will die.
35. Explain the requirements for being rich, according to Jim.
If you have hairy arms and a hairy breast, it is a sign you will be rich.
Chapter 9
36. Discuss the cavern on the island.
The found a cave in a ridge 40 feet high. It was as big as 2 or 3 rooms.
They put their belongings in there and hid the canoe nearby. They were
lucky to have this cave when the rain came.
37. Describe the effects of the rainstorm.
The river rose for 10-12 days over its banks. Water was 3-4 feet deep in
low places and on the Illinois side. Rabbits, snakes etc. were on tree
limbs.
38. Describe the raft that Huck and Jim find.
It was a pine plank raft about 12’ wide and 15-16’ long.
39. Describe the contents of the house that is floating down the river.
Furniture, clothing, masks, cards, whiskey, bottles, a dead man that Jim
wouldn’t let Huck see, $8.
Chapter 10
40. Describe the bad luck that came to Jim.
Huck killed a rattlesnake and put the snake on Jim’s blanket. The snake’s
mate came there and bit Jim on the heel. Jim drank a lot of whiskey and
was laid up for 4 days and nights.
41. What does Huck do because he “wanted to get a stirring up some way”.
He was bored and curious so he dressed up as a girl and went to the
Illinois shore to get info. about himself, his father and Jim.
Chapter 11
42. What does Huck learn from the woman about himself, Pap, and Jim?
The latest gossip was that Jim Killed Huck because Jim ran away the
night Huck was killed; there was a $300 reward for Jim. Some people
thought Pap Finn killed Huck to get Huck’s money so there was a $200
reward for Pap.
43. What does the woman say to really upset Huck?
Her husband and a friend are going to check out Jackson’s Island at
midnight. They had seen smoke and thought Jim might be there.
44. How does Mrs. Judith Loftus learn that Huck is not a girl?
1. Huck can’t thread a needle correctly. (Don’t push needle at thread.)
2. He throws lead at a rat like a boy would.
3. He puts his knees together to catch a lead chunk that she threw at him.
45. What happens to Huck and Jim at the end of chapter 11?
Huck hurries back to Jackson’s Island. They leave with the canoe and raft.
Huck built a fire in hopes that the men would expect them to return.
Chapter 12
46. What is a towhead?
A sandbar with thick cottonwood trees on it
47. What improvements are made on the raft?
1. Jim built a wigwam.
2. They put a layer of dirt 5-6 inches deep in the middle of the wigwam so
they could build a fire.
3. They made an extra steering oar.
4. They fixed up a short, forked stick to hang the lantern on.
48. How did Huck and Jim get food?
They caught fish. At night Huck would go ashore and steal a chicken or
pumpkins or corn ect.
49. Describe the events on the crashed steamboat, the Walter Scott. (Jim Turner,
Jake Packard, Bill)
On the 5th night below St. Louis they came upon the steamboat. Huck
convinced Jim to go aboard. Jim is tied up on the floor. Bill and Jake want
Jim dead; they want him to drown. Jim and Huck decide to leave, but the
raft is gone.
Chapter 13
50. Who left the steamboat in the skiff?
Huck and Jim. (Bill and Jake started to leave but went back to check for
Jim’s share of the cash.)
51. What does Huck do because his conscience was bothering him?
He arranges it so the owner of a ferryboat would go try to save the people
on the crashed steamboat.
52. What are we to assume happened to the men on the steamboat?
that they drowned Huck saw the wreck coming down the river very deep.
Chapter 14
53. What two areas are discussed in Chapter 14?
Jim doesn’t understand about King Solomon and the baby. Huck and Jim
argue about language.
Chapter 15
54. Why were Huck and Jim watching for Cairo, Illinois?
The planned to sell the raft and take a steamboat up the Ohio River to the
free states. Cairo was the town at the bottom of the state of Illinois where
the Ohio River comes into the Mississippi.
55. How did Huck and Jim become separated?
There was a heavy fog. Huck took the canoe with a line attached to the
raft. The current tore the tree out, and the line tied to the raft let go so the
raft got away. A large island separated them.
56. Explain the trick Huck played on Jim.
When Huck finally came upon the raft, Jim was asleep. Huck pretended
he’d been asleep too. Huck tried to pretend there had been no fog. Huck
tried to convince Jim that Jim dreamed it all.
57. What does Huck realize from this experience?
Huck realizes that Jim is a human being with feelings. Huck realizes Jim
was right: it is wrong to lie to a friend. Huck apologizes to Jim, a black
slave.
Chapter 16
58. How does Huck feel when Jim speaks of freeing his wife and children?
Huck gets upset because he feels responsible. Huck knows he should be
turning Jim in according to society.
59. What does this show about Huck’s upbringing?
Huck has been taught that Jim has no rights to his wife and children as
long as his family were owned by whites. Huck feels he must tell on Jim.
60. Explain how Huck saves Jim from the slave hunters.
Huck hints that his father has smallpox so the men decide not to go to the
raft. The men feel sorry for Huck, and each give him a 20 dollar gold
piece. The men are afraid of smallpox.
61. How does Huck feel after he saved Jim?
At first he felt bad; then he realized he would have felt bad if he had turned
Jim in too. He decided to do whatever comes more easily at the time.
62. What happened to the Cairo plan?
They missed Cairo in the fog. (Someone stole the canoe so they have to
continue with the raft.)
63. How are Huck and Jim separated?
A steamboat ran into the raft at night. When Huck surfaced, he couldn’t
find Jim or the raft.
Test I – Chapters 1-16
Chapter 17 (The feud includes Chapters 17 and 18.)
64. Explain how Huck comes to live with the Grangerfords.
He tells them he fell overboard off a steamboat. They let him stay with
them.
65. How does Huck get his name back?
Huck forgets what name he used so he asks Buck to spell his fake name.
(George Jackson)
66. Describe the Grangerford house.
Huck felt it was a beautiful house with lots of style. There were books,
pictures, curtains, and carpet. The house was whitewashed outside.
67. Describe Emmeline, the deceased, and tell about her death.
She died when she was 15. Once when someone died, she didn’t get her
tribute written before the undertaker came for the body. She didn’t live
long after this. She did crayon drawings about lost love.
Chapter 18
68. Describe Colonel Grangerford.
He was a gentleman and well born. He wore suits and was well respected.
69. Briefly tell about the other Grangerford family members.
Bob and Tom were the oldest sons, they were in their 30s. Charlotte was
25. Sophia was 20. Buck was about 13-14. Three other sons had been
killed. Emmmeline had died. Each person had a slave.
70. How does Buck define a feud? (108)
a fight between 2 family groups that goes on for years with many people
killed
71. What caused the feud?
No on knows for sure, but it started about 30 years ago.
72. How do the Shepherdsons and the Grangerfords feel about each other?
The families respect each other. They used the same steamboat landing
and go to the same church.
73. What is ironical about a sermon on brotherly love for the two families?
Both families were impressed with the sermon, but they don’t practice
brotherly love themselves.
74. Why did Sophia have Huck get her Testament at church?
Harney Shepherdson had left a note in her Testament (Bible) telling her
when to meet him that night. (2:30 a.m.)
75. Tell how Jim and Huck were reunited.
Huck’s slave Jack led him to where Jim was hiding in a swamp. Jim had
gotten the raft back from the slaves and fixed it up.
76. Tell what caused the battle and give major events of it.
Sophia and Harney ran off in the night to be married. The families started
to fight. Col. G., Tom, Bob, and Buck were all killed.
77. Was Huck to blame for the deaths? Explain.
No, but he felt bad. It was a matter of time for the families.
78. How does Huck feel about living on the raft? (116)
He was glad to get back to the raft and life on the river
Chapter 19 (Chapters 19-33 are the king and the duke episode chapters.)
79. What does Huck find at this point that is important for their travels?
A canoe (their canoe had been stolen in chapter 16)
80. How did Huck meet the king and the duke? (until end chapter 33)
The men ran toward Huck and asked him for help. They are running away
because they were doing illegal activities and got caught.
81. Describe the king and the duke and tell what each does. (120-121)
King- 70 years old, bald head, sloppy clothes; temperance revival but was
a drinker himself.
Duke- 30 years old, sloppy clothes; selling medicine to remove tarter, but
it removed enamel too.
82. Why was Huck willing to treat these two con-men like royalty? (125)
He was afraid of them. They are older and are criminals.
Chapter 20
83. How does Huck convince the king and the duke that Jim is not a runaway?
Huck tells a story about his family being killed when a steamboat ran over
the raft leaving only Huck & their slave Jim alive. They go nights because
so many people had question,
84. Give two examples of how the men take over the raft.
1. They took over Huck and Jim’s beds.
2. When it stormed, Huck & Jim had to stay on watch.
85. How do the men plan to make some money?
The duke convinces the king to put on Shakespeare plays in small towns
along the river.
86. Describe the camp meeting where Huck and the king go.
There were nearly l,000 people in pole sheds in the woods. The king
pretended to be a pirate from the Indian Ocean. The people gave him money so
he can “reform” other pirates.
87. How does the king make $87.75?
This was from the camp meeting scam.
88. How does the duke make $9.50 in Parkville, Arkansas?
He collected part of 3 newspaper subscriptions and took advertisement
money at a lower rate for cash.
89. How does the duke arrange so that the raft can run in the day?
The duke had printed a poster on Jim saying Jim was a runaway slave
from 40 miles below New Orleans. The reward was $200.
Chapter 21
90. Define: soliloquy – a speech made by an actor to himself alone on the
stage; audience learns his thoughts and feelings
histrionics- behavior exaggerated for effect
phrenology – practice of reading one’s character from the shape of
the skull
91. Why did the king and the duke put up posters?
To advertise 2 Shakespeare plays for that night (Romeo & Juliet and
Richard III) The circus was there but would be gone before night.
92. Describe Bricksville, Arkansas.
The houses and stores are old and unpainted and upon stilts above
ground. Streets are mud; hogs run loose; dogfights create interest.
93. Describe Boggs.
He was a drunk over 50 years old. He sassed at people, but most felt he
was harmless. He threatened Colonel Sherburn.
94. Describe Colonel Sherburn.
owned the largest store; proud, well-dressed 55 year old; didn’t like Boggs
95. Describe Boggs’s death.
Colonel Sherburn told Boggs he was sick of the threats and said if Boggs
didn’t quit by 1 p.m. he would shoot him. Colonel Sherburn shot and killed
Boggs.
96. What went on at the drugstore?
People came to see Boggs’ body and re-enacted the murder. A lynch
mob was formed to go after Colonel sherburn.
Chapter 22
97. Tell about Colonel Sherburn and the mob.
Col. S. told the mob they were cowards. He told them to leave, and they
did.
98. Tell about the circus.
Huck enjoyed it. He sneaked in the tent. He liked the clown and the man
on horseback. This provides comic relief.
99. Describe the Shakespeare show in Bricksville.
12 people came; they all left early but 1 boy who fell asleep; the show was
a failure.
Chapter 23
100. Explain the Royal Nonesuch and tell how the king and the duke made $465.
The king was painted and naked. He crawled around the stage. They did
the show 2 nights. On night 3 the duke took the money and left town. The
king had never left the raft.
101. How does Jim feel about the king and the duke?
Ho doesn’t like them. Huck thinks they’re crooks but is afraid of them.
102. Explain Jim’s thoughts at the end of chapter 23. (156)
Jim misses his family. He remembers a time when he hit his daughter
because she disobeyed him; he didn’t know she was deaf.
Chapter 24 (Chapters 24-30 are the Wilks episode chapters about the gullibility of
people.)
103. What is the duke’s plan so Jim would not have to be tied up?
He wants people to think Jim is crazy so no one will go near him. They put
a dress on him w/wig and whispers and painted him blue. They put a sign
by him describing him as a sick Arab.
104. What does the boy tell the king and Huck about Harvey and William Wilks?
This boy named Tim Collins tells the king all about the Wilks family.
105. Where is this boy going, and why is this significant?
The boy is going to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He won’t be around to tell
people that he talked to the king and Huck was there.
106. Write down the Wilks family members.
George is the father to Mary Jane, Susan, and Jo Anna. George and his
wife died last year. Peter, William and Harvey are uncles to the girls.
Peter was a tanner; Harvey was a preacher in England.
Chapter 25
107. How did the king and the duke behave at the coffin?
They pretended to be sad; they cried and prayed.
108. Explain the contents of the letter.
The letter gave the dwelling and $3,000 gold to the 3 girls. Harvey and
William got the leather business, some other property, and $3,000 in gold.
The letter said where the $6,000 was hidden in the cellar.
109. Why did the king and the duke add $415 of their money to the inheritance
money?
They didn’t want people to think they had taken the missing money.
110. Why did the king and the duke give their own $3,000 to the three girls?
They plan to steal it all back anyway.
111. What 2 important people were gone when the king and the duke arrived?
Dr. Robinson and Levi Bell
112. Define: orgy – a wild drunken revel; a period of uncontrolled indulgence
obsequies – funeral rites or ceremonies
113. What des Dr. Robinson say about the king and the duke?
That they are frauds and that the girls should turn them away because
they are imposters
114. How does Mary Jane respond to Dr. Robinson? 169
She gives all the $6,000 to the king to invest for them without a receipt.
Dr. Robinson said someday they will feel sick whenever they think of this
day.
Chapter 26
115. Define: frock – a dress
valet – a servant, especially for a man
hove – past tense of heave; hoist or lift
pallet – bed of straw; small or poor bed
116. Describe the conservation between Huck and JoAnna in the kitchen.
They argue because she doesn’t believe that Huck is from England.
Mary Jane tells her to apologize to Huck.
117. Why does Huck’s conscience bother him?
He feels bad because the king and the duke are cheating the three girls.
Huck wants the girls to get their money back.
118. What does “hive” mean?
Steal, take, store away
119. Describe the conversation between the king and the duke that Huck
overhears. Tell what happens with the money.
Huck hears them arguing about whether or not they should leave right
away. The king wants to stay; the duke wants to leave. Huck takes the
money to his room.
Chapter 27
120. Explain what Huck does with the $6,000.
He takes the money during the night to hide it. However, Mary Jane
comes so he hides the money in Peter’s coffin. Huck is upset.
121. What upsets Huck about Peter’s burial?
Huck doesn’t know if the money is still in the coffin or if someone took it
out.
122. What events take place in the days right after the funeral?
An auction was set up for 2 days after the funeral. However, the king sold
the slaves the day after the funeral to slave traders. The children and
mother were separated; people didn’t like that.
123. How does Huck protect himself from suspicion when he is questioned by the
king and duke?
Huck put the blame on the slaves that were sold. Huck hinted that they
were responsible for taking he missing $6,000.
Test 2 Chapters 17-27
Chapter 28 (Royal Nonesuch Backup – Bricksville)
124. Why does Huck tell Mary Jane the truth?
He sees how upset she is that the mother and children were sold to
different places.
125. Describe Huck’s Plan?
Mary Jane appears to leave the area and go to the Lothrops; then Huck
tells her that the king and the duke are fakes. She is to say there until 9-
9:30 and then put a candle in her window. At 11 pm she’s to tell what she
knows and Huck will be gone.
126. Why does Huck insist that Mary Jane leave before breakfast?
He is afraid her face will give away what she knows.
127. Explain the note Huck wrote to Mary Jane.
She’s to read it on her way to the Lothrops. The note said Huck put the
money in Peter’s coffin after he took it to give back to her.
128. How does Huck feel about Mary Jane?
He respected her and admired her.
129. How does Huck convince Susan and JoAnna not to tell the king and the
duke that Mary Jane was gone? 192-3
He makes Susan and JoAnna realize that if they tell the king where Mary
Jane went that the king would make them wait 3 months to be sure Mary
Jane won’t get sick. The girls want to leave as soon as possible for
England so they decide not to tell the king about where Mary Jane went.
Chapter 29
130. Why didn’t the people believe the identities of the real Harvey and William?
William had a broken arm; their baggage had been put off at another town
the previous night by mistake. The king said these things were just
excuses.
131. Why is Hines important to the plot?
He saw the king and Huck in the canoe with the boy Tim Collins before all
this began. (See question 104)
132. Explain the handwriting test.
The king, the duke, and Harvey gave writing samples. The real William
couldn’t write because his right hand was in a cast. The real Harvey said
William wrote letters for both of them.
133. Explain the tattoo disagreement.
The real Harvey said Peter had a PBW on his chest. The king said the
tattoo was small, thin, blue arrow. Ab Turner and his friend said they
didn’t see anything. Levi Bell said that they needed to dig up the body to
check which tattoo is really there.
134. How did Huck feel on the way to the graveyard?
He was very afraid. The graveyard was 1 ½ miles away. It was a stormy
night. Hines has Huck by the hand in the storm.
135. Explain what happens when the coffin is opened through the end of the
chapter.
When the coffin is opened, Hines let go of Huck’s hand when he saw the
bag of gold. Huck “borrowed” a canoe to get back to the raft. Huck was
afraid when he saw Jim all dressed up. The king and the duke showed up
before Huck and Jim got away.
Chapter 30
136. Describe the conversation between Huck and the king and the duke on the
raft.
The king accused Huck of trying to leave him and the duke behind. The
duke said the king would’ve left Huck too.
137. Why did the king admit to hiding the $6,000 in the coffin?
The king admitted this because he was afraid of the duke. He didn’t want
the duke to choke him or drown him. Then they both got drunk. (end of
Wilks situation)
Chapter 31
138. How does the king arrange it so that he could sell Jim?
One morning the king went to a small town. If the king didn’t return by
noon, the duke and Huck were to go to town too. So they went and found
the king in a bar. Huck escaped and went back to the raft, but Jim was
gone. (The king sold Jim for $40 while Huck and the duke were in town
looking for him.)
139. How does Huck find out where Jim was and who sold him?
Huck met a boy on the road who had seen an old man sell Jim for $40 to
Silas Phelps.
140. What thoughts greatly trouble Huck?
Huck feels he should turn Jim in, but he doesn’t feel right about that.
141. What does Huck decide to do about how “terrible” he is?
He kneels down and tries to pray to be a better boy, but the words
wouldn’t come. He can’t pray because his heart isn’t in it.
142. Explain what Huck means: “You can’t pray a lie—I found that out.”
Huck couldn’t pray to give up sin when he really didn’t believe he was a
sinner to want to keep Jim free.
143. Why does Huck feel he will go to hell?
He made the choice to help Jim so Huck feels he’ll go to hell. Huck wrote
a letter to Miss Watson to turn in Jim. Then he tore up the letter.
144. What does Huck decide to do about Jim?
He decides to steal Jim out of slavery.
145. What does the duke tell Huck about Jim?
The duke tells Huck that the king sold Jim for $40. He duke is putting up a
sign for the Royal Nonesuch.
146. What information does Huck get from the duke for agreeing not to tell about
the Royal Nonesuch?
The duke lies to Huck about where Jim is so Huck learns nothing valuable
from the duke.
147. How does Huck learn who he is at the Phelps’ farm? (223)
Sally introduces him as Tom Sawyer to her husband Silas.
148. How does Huck feel about learning “who he is”?
He’s relieved and pleased but then realizes the real tom will arrive soon so
Huck goes out to meet Tom.
Chapter 33 (last chapter for the king and the duke)
149. Describe the conversation between Huck and Tom about Jim.
After Tom got over his shock that Huck was alive, Huck told him about
freeing Jim. Tom says he will help free Jim.
150. Explain Tom’s arrival at the Phelps’ farm.
Huck returns to the farm. Then Tom arrives and pretends to be a stranger
and kisses Sally on the mouth. He finally admits he is Sid Sawyer, Tom’s
half brother.
151. Explain what happened with the Royal Nonesuch.
Jim had told Silas what would happen. Huck wanted to save the king and
the duke, but it was too late. They were tarred and feathered and put on a
rail out of town. (“Human beings can be awful cruel to one another.” 231)
(end of king and duke from Chapter 19)
Chapter 34
152. What was wrong with Huck’s plan for freeing Jim? 233
Huck’s plan is too simple and clear. Huck’s plan didn’t have enough
difficulties.
153. What does Huck feel about Tom’s willingness to help steal Jim?
Huck can’t understand why a respectable, well-raised, educated boy like
Tom could allow himself to be involved with helping a run away slave.
154. What is Tom’s basic plan for Jim?
Tom wants to dig Jim out since the floor was dirt.
Chapter 35
155. What does Tom say about the importance of difficulties?
Tom says there is more honor to release a prisoner when they have
difficulties to overcome, even if you have to make up the difficulties.
156. Why is it necessary for Jim to have a rope ladder?
Tom says Jim needs to hide it in his bed for a clue after he has escaped.
157. Why does Tom say stealing for Jim is all right?
Stealing is ok since they are representing a prisoner.
158. What tools will be used for digging?
Tom says they need to use table knives (case knives) not picks and
shovels.
159. What is the timetable for digging?
They will dig as fast as they can and pretend it took 37 years.
Chapter 36
160. What decision does Tom make when the case knives take too long?
Tom says they’ll use picks but pretend they’re using the knife.
161. Why does Jim go along with Tom’s plans for his escape?
Tom and Huck are white people and are supposed to know more than
blacks.
162. How does Tom feel about the plans? 249
They are the “best fun he ever had in his life, and the most intellectual.”
Tom said he’d like to keep it up for the rest of his life.
Chapter 37
163. What missing items does Sally get upset about?
Silas’s shirt disappeared from the clothesline. A spoon and 6 candles
are gone. A shirt is gone from the clothesline. A brass candlestick is
gone.
164. What favor do Tom and Huck do for Silas?
Tom and Huck plugged up the rat holes in the cellar.
Chapter 38
165. Define: coat of arms – shield bearing designs symbolic of family history
inscription - something engraved on a surface
jew’s harp - a simple musical instrument held between the teeth
and played by striking the free end of a flexible piece of metal with a
finger.
166. Why doesn’t Tom explain the details of the coat of arms? 258-9
Tom can’t explain the words because he made up the description and
has no idea what they mean.
167. Explain the grindstone incident.
Tom said Jim had to have it to carve inscriptions on. The stone was too
heavy for the boys to roll back from the mill so they let Jim out through
the hold. Then Huck and Jim rolled the stone back. Jim then had to
make the hole large so the stone would fit.
168. What four items does Tom say that Jim needs at the end of chapter 38?
Spiders, rats garter snakes, a flower
169. Why does Jim apologize to Tom?
Jim complained so much about Tom’s demands so Tom got upset. Jim
apologized because Tom made him feel guilty since they were helping
him escape.
Chapter 39
170. What problem came about with the snakes?
Sally got upset because the snakes got loose in the house. Huck didn’t
like having to find more snakes.
171. What was Jim’s biggest complaint about the creatures in the cabin?
He couldn’t get any rest because the creatures slept at different times.
172. In Tom’s opinion, why are the anonymous note, pictures of skull and
crossbones and coffin, and letter necessary?
They are part of procedures that Tom says they must follow. These are
warnings because Tom wants interference.
Chapter 40
173. Explain the butter incident.
Tom sent Huck to the cellar for butter; Sally caught him coming up so
he hid the bread and butter under his hat. When he got warm, the
butter melted. She thought he had brain fever, and then she sent him
to his room.
174. Why were the boys safe from the dogs?
The dogs knew the boys.
175. What happens to Tom?
Tom got shot in his left calf when the men were shooting at Jim, Huck,
and Tom. Tom seemed glad and felt the escape went well.
176. Explain Jim’s reaction to Tom’s injury and tell what is decided.
Jim says they won’t leave until a doctor sees Tom. Then Tom tells
Huck about how to go about getting a doctor.
Chapter 41
177. How does Huck get a doctor to Tom?
Huck wakes a doctor and says his brother shot himself. The doctor
took the canoe alone because he felt it was too small. Huck stayed
behind and fell asleep in a lumber pile.
178. Explain the meeting between Huck and Silas.
They met by accident. Huck says he and Tom had been following the
thieves but just woke up. Huck said Tom was at the Post Office.
179. What were people’s reactions to Jim’s cabin and the escape?
People were impressed with all the work that had been done to free
Jim.
180. What bothers Huck at the end of chapter 41?
He feels guilty about all the grief Aunt Sally is feeling so he doesn’t
leave to return to the raft.
Chapter 42
181. What is the truth about Jim?
Tom told Huck that Jim had been free all along. Miss Watson had freed
Jim in her will 2 months ago.
182. Why does Tom say he went to all this trouble?
Tom wanted the adventure.
183. Why had Tom’s Aunt Polly made the 1100 mile trip?
She came because she never heard from her sister Sally.
184. Where had her letters gone?
Polly had written letters, but Tom had taken them and hidden them.
Chapter 43
185. What does Jim say when Tom gives him $40?
Jim reminded Huck about what he’d said on Jackson’s Island: that he
was going to be rich again, and now he was. (See end Chapter 8)
186. What is the truth about Huck’s father?
Jim said Pap was the dead man they found in the house that was
floating down the river. (See Chapter 9)
187. What happens at the end for Huck?
Huck says he may run away because Aunt Sally might adopt him.
188.What is something that you liked about this novel? Explain.
Huck Finn – Vocabulary terms and definitions
l. bow – forward part of a ship, boat, or aircraft
2. fathom – unit of measure equal to six feet, used mostly in measuring the
depth of water and the length of roes and cables
3. hogshead – large barrel or cask, in the U.S. it contains 63-140 gallons
4. larboard – side of a ship to the left of a person looking from the stern to the
bow (see port)
5. port – the left side of the boat when facing forward
6. reef – narrow ridge of rocks, sand, or coral at or near the surface of the water
7. skiff – a small, light rowboat
8. starboard – the right side of a ship, when facing forward from the stern
9. stern – the rear part of a ship, boat or aircraft
10. texas – structure on the hurricane deck of a rive steamer where officers’
cabins are situated; it has the pilothouse in front or on top
11. traps – belongings, baggage
12. tributary – stream that flows into a larger stream or body of water
13. truck – small articles of little value; odds and ends
14. twain – two