Superstitions in Huckleberry Finn Essay Example For Students

Superstitions in Huckleberry Finn Essay In the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, there is a lot of superstition. Some examples of superstition in the novel are Huck killing a spider which is bad luck, the hair-ball used to tell fortunes, and the rattle-snake skin Huck touches that brings Huck and Jim good and bad luck. Superstition plays an important role in the novel Huck Finn. In Chapter one Huck sees a spider crawling up his shoulder, so he flipped it off and it went into the flame of the candle. Before he could get it out, it was already shriveled up. Huck didnt need anyone to tell him that it was an bad sign and would give him bad luck. Huck got scared and shook his clothes off, and turned in his tracks three times. He then tied a lock of his hair with a thread to keep the witches away. You do that when youve lost a horseshoe that youve found, instead of nailing it up over the door, but I hadnt ever heard anybody say it was any way to keep of bad luck when youd killed a spider.(Twain 5). We will write a custom essay on Superstitions in Huckleberry Finn specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now In chapter four Huck sees Paps footprints in the snow. So Huck goes to Jim to ask him why Pap is here. Jim gets a hair-ball that is the size of a fist that he took from an oxs stomach. Jim asks the hair-ball; Why is Pap here? But the hair-ball wont answer. Jim says it needs money, so Huck gives Jim a counterfeit quarter. Jim puts the quarter under the hair-ball. The hair-ball talks to Jim and Jim tells Huck that it says. Yoole father doan know yit what hes a-gwyne to do. Sometimes he spec hell go way, en den agin he spec hell stay. De bes way is tores easy en let de ole man take his own way. Deys two angles hoverin roun bout him. One uvem is white en shiny, en tother one is black. De white one gits him to go right a little while, den de black one sil in en gust it all up. A body cant tell yit which one gwyne to fetch him at de las. But you is all right. You gwyne to have considable trouble in yo life, en considable joy. Sometimes you gwyne to git hurt, en sometimes you gwyne to git s ick; but every time yous gwyne to git well agin. Deys two gals flyin bout yo in yo life. One uv ems light en tother one is dark. One is rich en tother is po. Yous gwyne to marry de po one fust en de rich one by en by. You wants to keep way fum de water as much as you kin, en dont run no resk, kase its down in de bills dat yous gwyne to git hung. (Twain 19). Huck goes home and goes up to his room that night and Pap is there. In Chapter ten, Huck and Jim run into good luck and bad luck. The good luck was Huck and Jim finds eight dollars in the pocket of an overcoat. After dinner on Friday, they are lying in the grass, then Huck ran out of tobacco, so he went to the craven to get some, and finds a rattlesnake. Huck kills it and curled it up and put it on the foot of Jims blanket. Night came and Jim flung himself on the blanket and the snakes mate was there, and it bit Jim on the heel. Jim tells Huck to chop off the snakes head, then skin the body of the snake and roast a peice of it. H e took the rattles off and tied them to Jim wrist. Jim said it would help him. Huck says I made up my mind I wouldnt ever take a-holt of a snake-skin again with my hands, now that I see what had come of it. (Twain 52). .u190a00b9778f80049c0236cbf286875c , .u190a00b9778f80049c0236cbf286875c .postImageUrl , .u190a00b9778f80049c0236cbf286875c .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u190a00b9778f80049c0236cbf286875c , .u190a00b9778f80049c0236cbf286875c:hover , .u190a00b9778f80049c0236cbf286875c:visited , .u190a00b9778f80049c0236cbf286875c:active { border:0!important; } .u190a00b9778f80049c0236cbf286875c .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u190a00b9778f80049c0236cbf286875c { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u190a00b9778f80049c0236cbf286875c:active , .u190a00b9778f80049c0236cbf286875c:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u190a00b9778f80049c0236cbf286875c .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u190a00b9778f80049c0236cbf286875c .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u190a00b9778f80049c0236cbf286875c .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u190a00b9778f80049c0236cbf286875c .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u190a00b9778f80049c0236cbf286875c:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u190a00b9778f80049c0236cbf286875c .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u190a00b9778f80049c0236cbf286875c .u190a00b9778f80049c0236cbf286875c-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u190a00b9778f80049c0236cbf286875c:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Role of the Emperor in Meiji Japan Essay ThesisAs one can see Superstition plays an important role in the novel Huck Finn. Huck killing the spider which is bad luck, the hair-ball that tells fortunes, and the rattle-snake skin that Huck touched are examples that brought bad luck to Huck and Jim in the novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

The ghosts speech in Hamlet Research Paper Example

The ghosts speech in Hamlet Research Paper Example The ghosts speech in Hamlet Paper The ghosts speech in Hamlet Paper The extract commences with the usage of a caesura which reinforces the lack of time that the ghost of Hamlet has to spare till day breaks. The ghost then begins to use an anecdote, where offstage action is brought on stage. The ghost speaks of his custom of sleeping in the orchard during the afternoon; the word custom highlights the manipulative and conniving nature of Claudius. This manipulative brother stole which refers to the sin of theft; this is also an attribution to the Ten Commandments listed in the bible, which quoted Thou shall not steal. Claudius stole Hamlets life with cursed hebenon, which was noted to be potent when it mixes with the blood stream, and causes the blood to curdle. The ghost of Hamlet then uses the metaphor of describing the ears as a porch which is the natural extrusion of the body. The leperous distilment refers to the cursed hebenon which curdles blood, and leperous is an apt adjective as it describes the effect of the poisonous liquid. The effect is described as enmity with the blood of man, as if personifying the liquid as abhorrent to human blood. Hebenons rapid action is compared to the swiftness of quicksilver or mercury as the metaphor of the natural gates and alleys of the body is used to makes the comparison effective as it effectively curdles blood. The theme of redundancy is brought out again, by using another example of curd. Hamlets ghost then uses a simile as curd curdles milk. Hamlets ghosts blood like the milk became curdled by the dropping of curd. There is use of contrast as the word thin is used to emphasize the thickness of anything curdled. Hamlets ghost soon was tainted by a skin ailment, he then specifies how the skin ailment if lazar-like or like leprosy. Shakespeare again uses contrast to reiterate the ill effects of this lecherous liquid, as the words of loathsome crust being the result of the transition from his smooth body. Hamlet again underlines the politic nature of Claudius by saying that he was sleeping. Shakespeare then makes clear to the audience of the nature of the murder. This murder didnt just rob King Hamlet of his life, but also two more esteemed possessions, his crown and wife. Hamlets ghost also uses the word dispatched which is a euphemism compared to the accusations of theft mentioned previously. The sacrosanct nature of King Hamlet is brought out as he mentions numerous Christian beliefs. It was believed that one must seek salvation and confess before ones death, but King Hamlet was unaware of the cruel slaughtering of his life, he was cut in the blossoms of his sin. Unhouseled refers to how the ghost was without sacrament and the Eucharist. Disappointed infers how Hamlet was unprepared for death, and he couldnt confess to sins and seek absolution. Unanointed refers to how King Hamlet has not received the holy oil from a priest. The theme of redundancy which is frequently used through the play, is seen in the lines oh horrible, oh horrible, most horrible to advocate the nefarious nature of the crime. Hamlet then uses a tall command by leaving him virtually with no choice by saying bear it not, what he shouldnt bear is noticed to be the same view point as his son. He cant see his wife and throne as the foundations of damned incest. This again alludes to the third intent of Claudius. But to startle the audience, King Hamlets undying love is once again brought out, telling him not to contrive against his mother, Leave her to Heaven. This yet again shows the religious nature of Hamlet, who will only let St. Peter at the gates of heaven judge his wife, as it is no mortals right. King Hamlet then uses the metaphor of the thorn that in her bosom lodge which refers to the guilt ridden state that the rosy queen will be subjugated to. The passage of time is again brought through the words of the ghost, he says Fare thee well since daylight must be soon approaching, by using an example of the glowworm and how its fire is soon being burnt out as the day light is soon approaching. King Hamlet then says Adieu, adieu, adieu to shows the speed at which he must soon depart. Remember me connects to the soliloquy made by Hamlet who is in desperation to lose the harsh memories asked Must I remember? Young Hamlet then in the state of desperation and shock beckons Heaven and earth, his state of desperation is highlighted by the numerous exclamation marks. He calls upon the host of heaven which is composed of the choir of angels He then ponders whether he should request help from even hell? He immediately repents by saying Oh fie. The theme of repetition is once again through hold, hold to show the emotional attachment and the grief that he has experienced through finding out the actual truth as to why his father is currently dead. Hamlet starts to speak to himself, by reassuring his sinews to stay strong and not grow instant old, but to make sure he doesnt faint. Remember thee? This is used twice in the next few lines, shows that Hamlet cant accept that his father even questions whether he will remember him. Hamlet speaks of a distracted globe, this globe could be his mind, in which memory will always hold a seat, and his distracted temperament due to realization to the truth. The globe could also be a reference to the globe theater which was going through turbulent times. Hamlet then speaks of the table which was a notebook used for recording, through this metaphor he compares his memory to the table. Trivial fond this statement is an oxymoron of a kind, since fond memories are those which usually hold the reins of ones memory, but he sees these happy memories as petty. Hamlet then uses pauses to shows his reflection so he can list all of which he will wipe away from his memory, so that the commandment can alone live. He refers to his fathers words as a commandment, giving his father an almost equal status to the divine, which shows the extent to which he will obey his fathers commands. He then personifies his mind as a library where books and volumes are housed, which will soon be forgotten. Hamlet then condemns women, by using the adjective pernicious, which is harsh to describe the dangerous and untrustworthy nature of his mother and women in general. Hamlet then repeats the word villain to reemphasize the nature of the current king; he also uses the verb smiling to describe Claudius. The smiling criminal is one that Shakespeare oft refers to most well noticed in Macbeth where he writes Theres daggers in mens smiles. This intensifies the dramatic impact, as the smiling which is associated to joy, is now being portrayed as villainous. Hamlet then uses the word may as to whether there is a smiling villain in Denmark; this again shows doubt as to whether the ghost is actually his father or a poltergeist trying to beguile him. This is why later on through the play, Hamlet the man of words, is slow to react. He then addresses his uncle as kin, he quotes his father Adieu, adieu, remember me. Except this is a more malicious way of vociferating the words of his father. Hamlet has sworn to avenge his inscrutable father. This extract enacts the major twist in the play, as Hamlet finds out the truth and all further actions by characters is partly dependent on this knowledge. The extract simultaneously develops the character of King Hamlet, Claudius, young Hamlet and Gertrude, by universally explaining the fallings of man. Show preview only The above preview is unformatted text This student written piece of work is one of many that can be found in our International Baccalaureate World Literature section.