"You don't know about me without you have read a book by the name of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; but that ain't no matter...."

And so begins one of the greatest American stories of all time; the one piece of literature from which, according to Ernest Hemingway, all American literature thereafter sprung. In Huckleberry Finn, American literature found its voice. But that voice hasn't always been a voice of praise. Come along on your own adventure into the world of Mark Twain and his friend Huck..... http://www.janaedwards.com/huckfinn.html

ADVENTURE 1
Who was Mark Twain?

http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/huckfinn/context.html

Click the link and answer the following questions:

1. What was Mark Twain's real name?
2. Where was he born?
3. Where did he grow up?
4. What work did he do on the Mississippi River?
5. What does "Mark Twain" mean?
6. When was Huck Finn published?
7. At the time of publication, why was the book attacked by critics?
8. After the 1950's, why was the book once again attacked?

 ADVENTURE 2
  Mark Twain and Halley's Comet

Go to www.google.com  and type in "mark twain halleys comet" (in quotation marks). Follow an appropriate link to discover what the connection is between the two. Write it on your paper. Include the web address of the site on which you found your information.

ADVENTURE 3
  Mark Twain on Film

http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0878494/

 
Using the Internet Movie Database, look through all the films that have been made based on Mark Twain's novels and stories.
1. How many films are listed?
Choose TWO of the Huck Finn films listed and write the following information on your paper:
2. Film title
3. Year made
4. Director
5. Plot outline
6. User comments (summary or direct quotes)
7. User rating

ADVENTURE FOUR

Is Huck Finn a racist book?

http://www.salwen.com/mtrace.html
Using a dictionary look up the definition of "satire,"  because that is the purpose of much of the language in Mark Twain's novel.
1. Write a definition of "satire" that you understand on your paper.
2. Summarize why the critics feel the novel is racist.
3. What are the main points the author of this article makes to refute those charges?
4. What was Mark Twain's view of other races? Defend your answer with an example.
5. How does Huck Finn use satire to make a point?

ADVENTURE FIVE

Mark Twain Virtual Postcards

http://www.boondocksnet.com/postcard/index_mt01.html

 
Send your teacher a postcard, and tell him/her the most interesting thing you learned about Mark Twain or Huckleberry Finn from this webquest. On your paper, write down the quote from the card you chose and describe the picture.