Activity Overview
The novel is seen through the eyes of Huck Finn, who has contradicting views about slavery. For example, Huck struggles between assisting his friend Jim, a runaway slave, and breaking the law. Later on, Huck risks his own freedom to find Jim; Huck goes into town to rescue Jim after the Duke sells him for a small reward. When Tom Sawyer arrives, Huck confides in him, telling him about the adventure he and Jim have experienced down the river. Huck is pleasantly surprised when Tom agrees to help free Jim.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that examines Huck's view on slavery using at least three examples from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Click on "Add / Delete Cells" to change the number of examples.
- Think about examples from the text that show Huck's (changing) view on slavery.
- Type text evidence in the description boxes. Paraphrase or quote directly from the text.
- Illustrate each example using scenes, characters, items, etc.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support from Text | Examples chosen fully support the answer to the question. | Some of the examples answer the question correctly, but not all. | Most of the examples do not support the answer to the question. |
| Quote / Text | Evidence provided from the text is properly quoted or paraphrased. | There are some minor mistakes in the quote / description from text. | Quote or paraphrase is incomplete or confusing. |
| Illustration of Examples | Ideas are well organized. Images clearly illustrate the examples from the text. | Ideas are organized. Most images help to show the examples from the text. | Ideas are not well organized. Images are difficult to understand. |
Activity Overview
The novel is seen through the eyes of Huck Finn, who has contradicting views about slavery. For example, Huck struggles between assisting his friend Jim, a runaway slave, and breaking the law. Later on, Huck risks his own freedom to find Jim; Huck goes into town to rescue Jim after the Duke sells him for a small reward. When Tom Sawyer arrives, Huck confides in him, telling him about the adventure he and Jim have experienced down the river. Huck is pleasantly surprised when Tom agrees to help free Jim.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard that examines Huck's view on slavery using at least three examples from The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Click on "Add / Delete Cells" to change the number of examples.
- Think about examples from the text that show Huck's (changing) view on slavery.
- Type text evidence in the description boxes. Paraphrase or quote directly from the text.
- Illustrate each example using scenes, characters, items, etc.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Proficient | Emerging | Beginning | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Support from Text | Examples chosen fully support the answer to the question. | Some of the examples answer the question correctly, but not all. | Most of the examples do not support the answer to the question. |
| Quote / Text | Evidence provided from the text is properly quoted or paraphrased. | There are some minor mistakes in the quote / description from text. | Quote or paraphrase is incomplete or confusing. |
| Illustration of Examples | Ideas are well organized. Images clearly illustrate the examples from the text. | Ideas are organized. Most images help to show the examples from the text. | Ideas are not well organized. Images are difficult to understand. |
How Tos about Huckleberry Finn\'s Views on Slavery
How to Facilitate Meaningful Class Discussions on Huck Finn’s Moral Dilemmas
Encourage critical thinking by guiding students to analyze Huck’s internal conflicts about slavery. Ask open-ended questions and invite students to share personal reflections for deeper engagement.
Prepare open-ended questions before class
List 3–5 thought-provoking questions that focus on Huck’s changing views and actions. Questions should prompt analysis, such as “Why does Huck help Jim, even when he believes it’s wrong?”
Set discussion norms with your students
Establish a respectful classroom environment by reviewing expectations for listening and speaking. Encourage students to support their ideas with text evidence and respect differing opinions.
Use text evidence to support ideas
Remind students to reference examples from the novel when sharing their thoughts. Model this by citing a passage yourself to show how opinions are grounded in the text.
Summarize and reflect as a class
Wrap up the discussion by highlighting key insights and inviting students to reflect in writing or out loud. This reinforces learning and makes the discussion meaningful for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions about Huckleberry Finn\'s Views on Slavery
What are Huck Finn's views on slavery in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?
Huck Finn's views on slavery are complex and evolve throughout the novel. While he initially accepts society's racist norms, his friendship with Jim leads him to question the morality of slavery and ultimately risk his own safety to help Jim gain freedom.
How does Huck's perspective on slavery change during his journey with Jim?
As Huck travels down the river with Jim, he begins to see Jim as a friend and equal, rather than property. This shift causes Huck to challenge his upbringing and choose personal loyalty over society's unjust laws.
Can you give examples from the book that show Huck struggling with the issue of slavery?
Huck grapples with slavery when he debates whether to turn Jim in, ultimately decides to rescue him after the Duke sells him, and confides in Tom Sawyer about their journey. Each moment highlights Huck's internal conflict and growth.
What's the best way to create a storyboard showing Huck's changing view on slavery?
The best way is to select at least three key scenes from the novel that illustrate Huck's evolving perspective, paraphrase or quote the text for evidence, and use illustrations to depict each example visually.
Why is Huck's decision to help Jim significant in the context of the novel?
Huck's decision to help Jim is significant because it represents his moral growth and willingness to defy societal norms for what he believes is right, highlighting the novel's critique of slavery and racism.
More Storyboard That Activities
Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The
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