Introduction

Introduction to Theoretical and Applied Critical Approaches
of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

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Introduction to Theoretical & Critical Approaches of
Adventures
of Huckleberry Finn

Theoretical Approaches

Applied Critical Approaches

Literary Critics apply different analytical approaches to literature to better understand the text from different perspectives. Theoretical approaches vary from historical, psychoanalytical, gender and feminist, marxism, new historicism, classical, archtypal and mythical. Applied critical approaches take from as many theoretical approaches as the author wants and applies it to the text. In my analysis of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain I chose to use historical analysis and psychoanalytical, or Freudian analysis. The applied critical approaches came from professional essays that Toni Morrison and William Hoffman wrote. I was instructed to read their responses and use their format, using different examples to support my critique.

This novel has been the subject of many discussions as to whether adolescents and children should read it in school due to its repeated use of the word “nigger”, controversial antics of the characters, and the violent content involving a young boy. As we discussed in class, this story does not have the same tone Tom Sawyer has. If I were part of a discussion on whether to include this story in a middle-school curriculum, I would advise it be read aloud so the teacher could explain the story in a historical and social context, and encourage questions from the students to clarify any misunderstanding or misconceptions. Does this mean I think this is a controversial subject? Absolutely, but what subject worth learning and reading about isn’t? I would encourage these same students to read this book later, from their adult perspective, to pick-up on things they might have missed from their youth’s perspective. This is a great story for so many reasons that to go a lifetime without experiencing it and all that it brings would be missing out on a significant learning experience.

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Introduction to Theoretical & Applied Critical Approaches ~ Final Essay on Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
© Tammia Madden, 2002
URL of this webpage: http://www.cocc.edu/tammiam/introduction.htm
Last Updated: 02 May 2002


Introduction to Theoretical and Applied Critical Approaches of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

Home Introduction to Theoretical & Critical Approaches of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Theoretical Approaches Applied Critical Approaches	Literary Critics apply different analytical approaches to literature to better understand the text from different perspectives. Theoretical approaches vary from historical, psychoanalytical, gender and feminist, marxism, new historicism, classical, archtypal and mythical. Applied critical approaches take from as many theoretical approaches as the author wants and applies it to the text. In my analysis of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain I chose to use historical analysis and psychoanalytical, or Freudian analysis. The applied critical approaches came from professional essays that Toni Morrison and William Hoffman wrote. I was instructed to read their responses and use their format, using different examples to support my critique. This novel has been the subject of many discussions as to whether adolescents and children should read it in school due to its repeated use of the word “nigger”, controversial antics of the characters, and the violent content involving a young boy. As we discussed in class, this story does not have the same tone Tom Sawyer has. If I were part of a discussion on whether to include this story in a middle-school curriculum, I would advise it be read aloud so the teacher could explain the story in a historical and social context, and encourage questions from the students to clarify any misunderstanding or misconceptions. Does this mean I think this is a controversial subject? Absolutely, but what subject worth learning and reading about isn’t? I would encourage these same students to read this book later, from their adult perspective, to pick-up on things they might have missed from their youth’s perspective. This is a great story for so many reasons that to go a lifetime without experiencing it and all that it brings would be missing out on a significant learning experience. Top of Page

Introduction to Theoretical & Applied Critical Approaches ~ Final Essay on Adventures of Huckleberry Finn © Tammia Madden, 2002 URL of this webpage: http://www.cocc.edu/tammiam/introduction.htm Last Updated: 02 May 2002