HUMN 303 Week 4 Discussion

Name

Chamberlain University

HUMN-303: Introduction to the Humanities

Prof. Name

Date

Week 4 Discussion: Literary Movements

Professor Morris and Class,

For this week’s discussion, I have selected the literary movement known as realism. This movement originated in France during the 1850s, emerging in the aftermath of the 1848 Revolution. The decline of the British Empire significantly influenced the development of realism. Realists distanced themselves from Romanticism, opposing its exotic themes and exaggerated emotional expression (Jacobus & Martin, 2019).

One prominent example of literary realism is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, published in 1888. The narrative follows Huckleberry Finn, a friend of Tom Sawyer, who experiences a life of poverty and abuse at the hands of his alcoholic father. Huck escapes down the river with Jim, a runaway slave who fears being sold away from his wife and children. Throughout the novel, Huck grapples with the moral complexities of slavery and Jim’s quest for freedom. The only moments of true freedom for Huck and Jim occur while they drift on their raft.

HUMN 303 Week 4 Discussion

However, their autonomy is disrupted when the duke and king commandeer the raft, compelling them to scam townspeople along the river. Ultimately, the duke and king sell Jim back into slavery. Huck attempts to rescue Jim, but is mistaken for Tom Sawyer. Tom arrives and pretends to be his brother Sid, joining Huck in the effort to liberate Jim. During the escape, Tom is shot in the leg by a farmer, and Jim refuses to abandon him, resulting in Jim’s recapture. In a twist, Jim learns that his former owner had died and freed him in her will, a fact Tom was aware of all along (History.com Editors, 2009).

Realism aims to represent reality by depicting ordinary experiences with honesty and clarity, employing straightforward language and detail. This genre avoids embellishment and euphemism. In The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, the narrative is presented in Huck’s Missourian dialect, reinforcing its realistic portrayal. Realism often focuses on relatable characters and settings, particularly from the middle and lower classes. Huck’s impoverished upbringing and Jim’s status as a slave highlight the political and historical issues of slavery, racism, and societal attitudes. Jim is depicted as strong, brave, and loyal despite his forced servitude, while many white characters exhibit violence and selfishness.

References

Jacobus, L.A., & Martin, F.D. (2019). The Humanities through the Arts. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Education.

History.com Editors. (2009). Mark Twain publishes “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” History. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/twain-publishes-the-adventures-of-huckleberry-finn