Should The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn be banned?
Since the early ages of literature, there have been works of literature that have been considered controversial because of the content, as some believe they are offensive or inappropriate. Works such as Martin Luther 's 95 Theses and The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger are just two works of literature that have sparked major controversy. One of the most controversial works of American literature is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn written by Mark Twain and eventually published in 1885. The novel expresses major points of that controversial time period that many people take offense to. One problem that people have had for years about Huck Finn is whether or not to allow this novel to be taught in the English Language Arts curriculum. People included in a grade nine through twelve grade are taught by the use of the ELA curriculum. The groundbreaking themes of Huck Finn, outweigh the reasons why people believe it should be banned, making it an essential read in American literature. There are parts of the novel that should not be read by young children, such the use of the word "nigger," how Huck saves a black man, Huck’s lack of maturity, and Huck’s fraudulent schemes require a certain amount of maturity that is not possessed by middle school students. Therefore, the teaching of this novel should be restricted to ninth grade as the minimum age to read this novel in an English classroom.
One reason that The
Once upon a time, in a world not far from here, there are students who are forced to miss their annual train ride to Hogwarts, lock the wardrobe to the magical land of Narnia, and walk through the English countryside themselves instead of upon the back of Black Beauty. Why are these students deprived of those occurrences? They live in America, the land of the free- except when it comes to the books they can read. In fact, many schools across America exercise the practice of banning books. Since 1982, libraries, parents, and schools have attempted to ban 11,300 novels, according to the American Library Association. The essentially innoxious books are challenged for an assortment of reasons, including use of malapropos language, graphic or explicit
"Making kids read books they are not mature enough to understand makes them hate reading for the rest of their lives"(Mullen 1). People have argued that high-school students are not mature enough for Huckleberry Finn and will find the book offensive. However most teens are
Many of the eminent author Mark Twain’s books have been banned from school reading lists and libraries all over the country. These books, like The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn are iconic and give readers an insight into just what life was like in slavery. Although some people think The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should be banned, it should not because in the book readers get to experience a character grow in morality and the book shows the history of the country but in a fictional way that is interesting to young readers.
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is considered by many to be the greatest American novel ever written. Despite this praise, Mark Twain’s masterpiece has never been without criticism. Upon its inception it was blasted for being indecent literature for young readers because of its lack of morals and contempt for conformity. Modern indignation toward Huck Finn arises from its racist undertones, most notably Twain’s treatment of the character Jim. As is the case with many canonized yet controversial books, the biggest conflict revolves around the inclusion of Huck Finn on required reading lists of public schools throughout the country.
One of Mark Twain’s best selling novels, Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, has been disputed ever since the novel has been published in 1884. The novel was based on a young white boy who escaped his abusive alcoholic father and had so many crazy adventure with Jim, a runaway slave. The novel also included racial slurs such as using the word “nigger” over 200 times. Over the time that has gone by, the novel is still unwanted and so many schools are discussing to ban this famous American literature because of just one word, “nigger”. So many people found this word to be offensive so instead of banning the book, the word “nigger” was replaced with “slave”. Also other options were considered such as making a new edition of the novel or just replace
The book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has been causing controversy since the day the book was published. The book has been banned from multiple schools for several reasons. None the less I think it is a classic novel and should be taught in schools.
Many books around the world have been banned because they are offensive. One example is Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, a novel about the journey of a thirteen-year-old boy named Huck, who fabricates his own death to run away with an escaped slave named Jim. The two voyage in a raft along the Mississippi River to gain their individual freedom. In addition, Huck gains a new understanding about humanity. Huck Finn has been creating great controversy on both sides of the argument: to ban or to keep in the school curriculum. Currently “much debate has surrounded Mark Twain’s Huck Finn since its publication in 1885, but none has been more pervasive, explosive, and divisive than that surrounding the issue on race”
Alfred Jacoby stated, “A masterwork… a volume worth having.” All schools will have their own individual opinions about this book in its entirety. The people, who speak negatively about The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, strongly need to reconsider their opinions and motives. People today and children today need to learn the reality of racism, they cannot just think it is okay, Huck' s example and willingness could totally prove them wrong! If the book offends a child, or makes them feel uncomfortable, maybe they could just sit this one out. No school should ever totally ban this book. It should remain in all libraries until it is forgotten, which might take
Should Huckleberry Finn be taught in schools? This question has been a topic of discussion over the past years and is still being talked about today. A lot of people say that the book should be banned from schools because of the racial comments in the book. People claim that it could offend the youth, and teach them unfit words. It is understandable for people to be concerned about the books language, but in reality all the book does is enlighten the youth on the history of slavery and many more. In Joan DelFattores article she states. “The elimination of "nigger" is presented not as censorship but as a rescue mission to save Huckleberry Finn from oblivion, because many secondary schools will not teach material that makes students
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a significant book in the history of American literature that presents readers with the truth of our past American society in aspects such as speech, mannerisms, and tradition that we must embrace rather than dismiss by censorship. It is a novel that has been praised and proclaimed America’s “first indigenous literary masterpiece” (Walter Dean Howells) as well as one that has been criticized and declared obscene. It has undergone much scorn and condemnation as a novel and many feel that it should be censored. This, however, is not the way it should be. Huckleberry Finn is a masterpiece and, as a matter of fact, it is one on many levels. The story itself, though
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a novel based on the journey Huck, a young boy with an abusive father, and Jim, a runaway slave, have down the Mississippi River to Free states for an end goal of freedom. Freedom means different things to both of them, to Huck freedom means to be able to do what he wants and not be “sivilized”, while Jim’s definition of freedom is being able to live in peace with his wife and children. While on their journey to freedom they develop a caring unusual friendship. There is a great deal of controversy over whether or not The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should be taught in
It is odd to think that a high school student would pick up the word “nigger” and use it against another student because high school students have already been exposed to topics such as slavery and racism. Therefore, it would be unlikely for a student to use “nigger” against another student given the fact that race is still a “volatile and divisive subject” in this country and high school students is not ignorant infants that can’t distinguish the rights and wrongs about the word “nigger.” (Williams, Randle). At this point in time teenagers are exposed to excessive profanity through the media, music lyrics on TV and many times it is not censored. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should be kept in library shelves and schools in its original form because students can receive moral lessons and therefore, mature as human beings. A big part about how a student can react to the novel is how the book is being taught. Teachers should acknowledge the intention and purpose of Mark Twain, which was to appeal to the reader 's emotions through the use of specific diction. Along with teaching the literary elements of the novel the teachers should also imply the ideas and controversies that are being presented in the novel. Twain’s purpose was also to capture the moments that defined the 1800s such as slavery and racism. After all, the novel should be taught in its original
Ever since 1884, when “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” was published, there has been lots of controversy on whether or not the book should be banned. Due to the foul language, uneducated Huck Finn and racial slurs, people believe this book should not be taught in high school and some people think it should be banned altogether. “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” should stay taught in high schools. In the classroom I believe that the book should be read.
Huckleberry Finn should not be taught in school Huckleberry Finn, the novel that Samuel Clemens wrote who took a pen name called Mark Twain, ‘A month after its publication, a Concord, Massachusetts, library banned the book, calling its subject matter “tawdry” and its narrative voice “coarse” and “ignorant.”.’ (‘Twain publishes’) The book talks the time that during the Missouri Compromise. The main character Huck is a boy that do not study and know things. He has a friend called Jim who is black and wants freedom.
Did you know that several community members of the surrounding area have been appealing the banishment of ‘Huckleberry Finn’ by Mark Twain, in the freshman English curriculum? Twain reacted with, “Censorship is telling a man he can’t have a steak because a baby can’t chew it.” He obviously is not in favor in the banishment of his book in several library and reading lists. With his quote in mind, I understand what Twain is saying. I know that is it (banning ‘Huckleberry Finn’), makes it seem as though young adults, such as freshmen, are not mature enough to read literature that was accurate to the time of the setting the book took place.