The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, by Mark Twain, uses various concrete objects, such as rivers, to symbolize a diverse range of feelings, emotions, and even actions. The ultimate symbol in the novel is the Mississippi River. Rivers often times symbolize "life itself, they are the flux of the world in manifestation, the macrocosm' (Cooper, 139)" (Protas, Allison). "River symbolism is based around water in movement" (Fraim, John). "On the river Huck and Jim witness life and death, tragedy and comedy, strife and peace" (The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn). In this case, the river ha...
... middle of paper ...
...her authors use symbolism in their own personal novels, one can see that Twain's symbolism dramatically stands out. It is not difficult to point out the outstanding symbols Twain chose to represent in this all-time American favorite. Also, as a very accomplished writer, Twain is a role model for many aspiring writers from just this one classic. Many authors have learned and are still learning from this great writer. Although many may not be as good as Twain in using symbolism, they will learn over time; after all, practice does make perfect.
You May Also Find These Documents Helpful
-
Symbolism is very important in books. It adds depth to almost everything and makes the reader wonder if the book has more meaning than just text on a page. Symbolism also usually combines the theme and the story. A theme usually doesn’t fit into a story without something else to disguise…
- 156 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
Symbols are small elements that formulate the themes of the books. Authors used them to disguise the themes otherwise, the story may loose it's drill. Also symbols allow the reader to interpret the ideas based on their perspective. In Fahrenheit 451, Bradbury explains the idea of knowledge and ignorance through a set of symbolic…
- 55 Words
- 1 Page
Good Essays -
Symbolism is something that many others use in their writing to give meanings without coming out and saying it. The dictionary states symbolism as “the art or practice of using symbols especially by investing things with a symbolic meaning or by expressing the invisible or intangible by means of visible or sensuous representations as artistic imitation or invention that is a method of revealing or suggesting immaterial, ideal, or otherwise intangible truth or states.” When authors do this it lets readers get different ideas as what they mean as they read the story, which makes them think a lot more as they read the story. This story has a lot of symbolism, most of it…
- 960 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
In the novel, “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn,” by Mark Twain, the main character Huck Finn is, for a majority of the novel, traveling along the Mississippi River. Huck and his caretaker’s slave Jim traveled down the river by raft, facing many hardships and problems along the great river including; heavy fog, getting lost and missing their intended paths, dangerous steam boats, and sleazy con men. But, seeing as it is a fictional novel, these hardships may not all be correct. And so this essay will evaluate the validity of the statements and obstacles seen on the Mississippi River as seen in “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”…
- 334 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays -
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain follows the story of a young white boy, Huckleberry Finn, as he travels down the Mississippi River. Twain uses the experiences of Huck as he travels down the river to comment on society. His opinions of many topics are given by satirizing other characters or events. An element this satire that twain uses is the depiction of the characters in a humorous manner. Throughout the novel the use of this satire is clear and express Twain’s opinions on American culture in the antebellum period. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is an effective piece of satire on American culture during the 1800s. Twain satirizes feuding, Pseudo-intellectualism and Greed in his story.…
- 1094 Words
- 5 Pages
Better Essays -
In the book Fahrenheit 451 Ray Bradbury does a excellent job of using symbolism to stress the key aspects of his story.…
- 732 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense. Symbols are used throughout literature to further explain a major theme. For instance, Ernest Hemingway uses many symbols in “Hills Like White Elephants”. In Hemingway’s short story, the main characters are a man referred to as “the American,” and a women referred to as just “the girl” and sometimes the nickname jig, both the American and the girl are discussing something important but as the readers we do not know exactly what the two characters are communicating about. The symbols used in the short story, such as the landscape, white elephants, the train, and the beaded curtain, gives the readers an…
- 156 Words
- 1 Page
Satisfactory Essays -
In 1885 during an era of severe racism, Mark Twain wrote the book Huckleberry Finn, questioning the practice of slavery. In this novel, slavery and social standards are analyzed through the eyes and innocence of a child. It is particularly important that these observations are shown through a child’s eyes, because children generally still posses their innocence and are not yet brainwashed by society. Twain uses the Mississippi River in this story to place Huck on a figurative island separated from the influences of society. Twain uses this separation to allow Huck to develop his own opinions according to his own moral values. The river is used as a method of illustrating specific themes such as desire for security, freedom, and equal human rights.…
- 724 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Adventures, kidnappings, slaves oh my! The theme portrayed in the thrilling book; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is freedom. The author develops this theme by using the river as a symbol of freedom for Huck and Jim. Both Huck and Jim are searching for two separate freedoms, but are striving for the same goal; living their own lives as themselves. In The Adventures of Huckleberry and Finn the characters experience quite a bit of turmoil and differences but they are united by their similar goal; freedom. Freedom is a privilege, but for some it’s not even an option.…
- 516 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Most authors include symbolism in their works which creates meaning to the story or to…
- 101 Words
- 1 Page
Good Essays -
In conclusion, there are many uses of symbolism and each of these symbols used they each played an important role in the book which include; the color red, winter, and the farm. Also, symbolism can mean all of different types of meanings…
- 1487 Words
- 6 Pages
Good Essays -
Authors use symbolism in their novels to get across a message in an entertaining way. Harper lee, in To Kill a Mockingbird, uses the ordinary, everyday mockingbird to symbolise innocence. By the end of the novel, both Tom Robinson and Boo Radley become mockingbird symbols.…
- 573 Words
- 3 Pages
Good Essays -
Twain describes the steamboat with the connotative phrase "black cloud" in order to show it as a juggernaut in Huckleberry Finn 's path. The intimidating river brings the minuscule raft and the mammoth steamboat together, forcing Huckleberry Finn and Jim overboard: "She come smashing straight through the raft" (Twain 71). By leading Huckleberry Finn up against such an overwhelming force, the river demonstrates its ultimate objective, to end Huck 's quest for freedom and passage into the underworld. Twain 's use of the connotative relations with the color black and lightning allows him to build up the river as an infuriating yet it carries him impediment to Huck 's journey and effectively depict it to represent the River Styx. The demonstration of the river to be an archetype of the River Styx, further develops the novel as a story of the…
- 3368 Words
- 14 Pages
Best Essays -
Step Four: Thesis The allegorical symbols of the land and river are uniquely constructed by Twain and used to explore the author’s views on the nature of good and evil.…
- 794 Words
- 4 Pages
Good Essays -
Symbolism is a figure of speech that is used when an author wants to create a certain emotion in his literal work. It usually is an object, person, and situation to refer a bigger picture and idea other than just an object.…
- 461 Words
- 2 Pages
Satisfactory Essays