HUCK FINN EXAM
This test will contain multiple choice and short essay questions. This page is designed to help you study Huck Finn but also prepare for these types of questions on any exam.
What You Need to Know
Your first priority should be comprehension of the novel. Know what happened and who the main characters are. It will be helpful to look over the synopses on the "Huck Finn" page, as well as your previous quizzes and assignments. Here are the main characters you should recognize:
Know who they are, what they did, and why they are important to the novel.
Look on the "Huck Finn" page for important themes and ideas as well. These include satire, conflict, Huck's character growth, truth vs. lies, and nature vs. civilization. These are likely to appear in the essay section. There will be several essay options; you will get to choose which you want to answer.
- Huck
- Jim
- Tom Sawyer
- Pap, the Judge, Miss Watson, and Widow Douglas
- The Grangerfords and Shepherdsons
- The King and The Duke
- The Phelps family
Know who they are, what they did, and why they are important to the novel.
Look on the "Huck Finn" page for important themes and ideas as well. These include satire, conflict, Huck's character growth, truth vs. lies, and nature vs. civilization. These are likely to appear in the essay section. There will be several essay options; you will get to choose which you want to answer.
How to Answer An Essay Question
Step one: don't panic.
Essay questions can seem daunting, but they will be over topics we have discussed in class. Begin by jotting down notes. What are your main ideas? What evidence from the text supports those ideas?
Although these are partially graded on accuracy, the more important aspect is your analysis. Make sure that everything you say can be backed up with an example from the book. Cite an event, quote, or characterization that appeared in the text. If a question asks about Huck and Jim, begin by listing every time they interacted. What were the important events in their relationship? Then, move on to how these events affected each of them. Finally, come up with your thesis statement: your main idea or argument, stated in one to two sentences. What is your opinion of Huck and Jim's relationship? Why was it important to the novel? The overarching theme in your thesis statement will guide the rest of your writing and help you organize.
Essay questions do not have to be flawlessly written. What you are trying to say must be clear, but you are not expected to write a polished final draft. Instead, focus on making your answer as complete as possible. Include all relevant information and tell how it is related.
Since you know essay questions are going to appear, it's a good idea to consider what they might be. Essay questions typically ask about broader topics and themes of the book. You will find it helpful to try to come up with a thesis and potential evidence ahead of time.
Essay questions can seem daunting, but they will be over topics we have discussed in class. Begin by jotting down notes. What are your main ideas? What evidence from the text supports those ideas?
Although these are partially graded on accuracy, the more important aspect is your analysis. Make sure that everything you say can be backed up with an example from the book. Cite an event, quote, or characterization that appeared in the text. If a question asks about Huck and Jim, begin by listing every time they interacted. What were the important events in their relationship? Then, move on to how these events affected each of them. Finally, come up with your thesis statement: your main idea or argument, stated in one to two sentences. What is your opinion of Huck and Jim's relationship? Why was it important to the novel? The overarching theme in your thesis statement will guide the rest of your writing and help you organize.
Essay questions do not have to be flawlessly written. What you are trying to say must be clear, but you are not expected to write a polished final draft. Instead, focus on making your answer as complete as possible. Include all relevant information and tell how it is related.
Since you know essay questions are going to appear, it's a good idea to consider what they might be. Essay questions typically ask about broader topics and themes of the book. You will find it helpful to try to come up with a thesis and potential evidence ahead of time.
Rubric for Essay Questions | |
File Size: | 16 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Example Test Questions
Examples of multiple choice questions:
1. What do we learn about Pap at the end of the book?
-He has stopped drinking and reformed.
-He is dead.
-He won custody of Huck.
-He moved east to escape his debts.
2. Who is killed in the fight between the Shepherdsons and Grangerfords?
-Buck Grangerford
-Colonel Grangerford
-Sophie Grangerford
-Harney Shepherdson
Examples of essay questions:
1. What is the purpose of the section concerning the Shepherdsons and Grangerfords? What does Mark Twain want to satirize, or want the reader to know? How does this section change Huck, or illuminate his character?
2. Compare the characterizations of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. What are the main personality traits of each? How do they interact with and treat other people? What is the point of including them both--what point is Mark Twain trying to make by comparing them? What are their motivations? Who do you like more, and why?
3. How does Huckleberry Finn grow as a character throughout the novel? What events cause this growth? What does this growth mean to the overall message of the novel?
1. What do we learn about Pap at the end of the book?
-He has stopped drinking and reformed.
-He is dead.
-He won custody of Huck.
-He moved east to escape his debts.
2. Who is killed in the fight between the Shepherdsons and Grangerfords?
-Buck Grangerford
-Colonel Grangerford
-Sophie Grangerford
-Harney Shepherdson
Examples of essay questions:
1. What is the purpose of the section concerning the Shepherdsons and Grangerfords? What does Mark Twain want to satirize, or want the reader to know? How does this section change Huck, or illuminate his character?
2. Compare the characterizations of Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer. What are the main personality traits of each? How do they interact with and treat other people? What is the point of including them both--what point is Mark Twain trying to make by comparing them? What are their motivations? Who do you like more, and why?
3. How does Huckleberry Finn grow as a character throughout the novel? What events cause this growth? What does this growth mean to the overall message of the novel?
Test-Taking Tips
- Do not try to reread the entire book--you'll get overwhelmed and miss the big picture. Rereading key passages that we've discussed is a better option.
- Look over your reader's logs again. It is likely that you will see similar questions.
- If you're not sure of an answer, move on. You'll waste less time and the rest of the exam may jog your memory.
- Use your multiple choice answers to inform your essay answers--they will likely include some information that would help you.