In which John Green teaches you about Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. This week, we'll talk a little bit about Samuel Langhorne Clemens, who wrote under the name Mark Twain, and how he mined his early life for decades to produce his pretty well-loved body of work. By far the best of Twain's novels, Huckleberry Finn has a lot to say about life in America around the Civil War, and it resonates today with its messages on race, class, and what exactly freedom is.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXKgBIiP8IA
This week, we're continuing our discussion of Mark Twain's 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.' This is part two of our talk about Huck Finn, and this time we're looking at the metaphors in the book, a little bit about what the metaphors like the Island and the River and the Raft might mean, and why you should pay attention to said metaphors. We'll also look at the ending of the book, which a lot of people (including us) believe isn't up to the standards of the rest of the novel.
Source: https://youtu.be/ak8gydUl9gM
Seems like a simple enough storyline, considering it became one of the most significant, beloved, acclaimed, and studied novels ever written. This classic motion picture is the definitive adaptation of Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn—splendidly filmed, lovingly produced for PBS’s American Playhouse, with an acclaimed all-star cast, and presented in an unedited, full-length version. With this boy, on his raft, along this river flows the story of a country, a people, and a friendship. And in the wondrous adventures, one finds the joy, the lessons, and the spirit that is America itself. (213 minutes)
Source: Films on Demand
Few works in American literature address issues as timeless as those explored in Mark Twain’s controversial novel, Huckleberry Finn. In this program, three scholars, including noted Twain biographer Justin Kaplan, examine the work and its various themes—race, cruelty, consequences of greed, meaning of civilization, and the nature of freedom. The author’s life is traced from his days as a printer’s apprentice, riverboat pilot, and journalist, to renowned author. Twain scholars Shelley Fisher Fishkin and David Lionel Smith discuss African-American influences from Twain’s childhood that are reflected in the work, and suggest that these references, misinterpreted by readers, form the basis for charges that Twain was a racist. Incidents from his life, including his vehement antislavery and antiracist articles couched in irony, provide convincing counterpoint to the charges. (34 minutes)
Source: Films on Demand
The Twain Legacy offers students and teachers an insight into the life and writings of Mark Twain, a significant 19th century American literary icon. 'The Twain Legacy' is divided into five chapters intended for class and individual learning and discussion. Knowledgeable scholars explore themes, ideas and narrative style in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. By examining and exploring why his historical and moral concerns were important, the presenters weave Twain's themes of slavery, prejudice and class into a coherent awareness.
Source: Kanopy