HUMN 303 Week 4 Discussion

HUMN 303 Week 4 Discussion

Student Name

Chamberlain University

HUMN-303: Introduction to the Humanities

Prof. Name:

Date

Week 4 Discussion: Literary Movements

For this week’s discussion, I have chosen the literary movement of realism. Realism emerged in France during the 1850s, following the 1848 Revolution. A significant influence on the development of this movement was the decline of the British Empire. Realists rejected the principles of Romanticism, opposing its exotic subject matter and exaggerated emotionalism (Jacobus & Martin, 2019). An example of realism in literature is The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, published in 1888.

The plot of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn centers around Huck Finn, a friend of Tom Sawyer. Huck, who endures poverty and abuse at the hands of his alcoholic father, escapes by fleeing down the river with Jim, a runaway slave seeking freedom and fearing separation from his family. Huck grapples with the moral dilemma of slavery and Jim’s freedom throughout the narrative. The story portrays Huck and Jim finding fleeting freedom while floating on a raft along the river. However, their peace is disrupted when the duke and king, conmen, take over the raft and exploit Huck and Jim in their scams. Eventually, they sell Jim back into slavery. Huck attempts to rescue Jim but is mistaken for Tom Sawyer. When Tom arrives, he pretends to be his brother, Sid, and aids Huck in freeing Jim. During the escape, Tom is shot, and Jim refuses to leave him, resulting in his recapture. In the end, Jim learns he had been freed in his deceased owner’s will all along, and Tom knew about it (History.com Editors, 2009).

Realism as a literary movement is characterized by its commitment to depicting mundane, everyday experiences as they exist in real life, employing simple and transparent language. The style avoids embellishment, focusing instead on realistic details. For instance, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is written in Huck’s Missourian dialect, enhancing its authenticity. Realism often highlights the lives of middle and lower-class individuals, as seen in the portrayal of Huck, who grows up impoverished and abused, and Jim, a slave. The political and historical context of slavery, racism, and societal attitudes permeates the story. Jim, a strong, loyal, and brave character, contrasts with many of the white characters, who are depicted as violent and selfish.

References

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

HUMN 303 Week 4 Discussion

History.com Editors. (2009). Mark Twain publishes The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. History. Retrieved from https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/twain-publishes-theadventures-of-huckleberry-finn.