Huck Finn Gets Some Changes

[knight_shadow]

Originally Posted by Drolefille

Yeah obviously individual experiences will vary. I just don't see the necessity of teaching the book. I don't think the book itself does a good job of counteracting the language in it. Also, reading in dialect is and always will be a pain in the ass. I'd rather kids read something more equivalent to the Diary of Anne Frank than Huck Finn if the point is learning about slavery in America. If the point is learning about Twain he's written other books, articles, and short prose as well. I know my teachers didn't do a good job of handling Huck Finn, and I never felt like I really learned anything. In all truth it may have been the first time I'd run across the n-word knowingly.

I was reading a relatively modern book out loud for a therapeutic book club at a day program and one of the characters is flashing back to his time working for a racist boss. I ended up reading the story as written even though I had several n-words, several c-words, and an assortment of the ones that I do actually say myself. I gave a warning ahead of time and just barreled through it. I'm not sure it was the best choice, but we talked about it after finishing the passage.

/my cool story bro.

I agree -- there are other works that do a better job of teaching people about slavery. I think HF has become one of the everyone else has read it, so you'd better read it too, lest you miss some references! books.

[Drolefille]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

I agree -- there are other works that do a better job of teaching people about slavery. I think HF has become one of the everyone else has read it, so you'd better read it too, lest you miss some references! books.

I think we've left a lot of those behind too. I don't know anyone who reads Moby Dick even in college for example - Call me Ishmael. And I can't even think of Huck Finn references that would be so important anymore. But insistence on the 'classics' is what made me read the Great Gatsby and I can't think of a more inane book. Except maybe Catcher in the Rye... no I take that back, Holden annoyed the crap out of me but there was some sort of point.

[ThetaPrincess24]

Originally Posted by knight_shadow

I agree -- there are other works that do a better job of teaching people about slavery. I think HF has become one of the everyone else has read it, so you'd better read it too, lest you miss some references! books.

I think Uncle Tom's Cabin does a better job teaching about slavery, but that's just me. I enjoyed reading this book much better than Huck Finn or Tom Sawyer.