Huckleberry Finn Chapters 22-24

Questions and Answers

What were they whooping like as they swarmed up towards Sherburn's house?

Whooping like injuns (correct)

Whooping like cats

Whooping like wolves

Whooping like birds

What were the windows full of?

Women's heads

Who was there in every tree?

N-word boys

Who was looking over every fence?

Bucks and wenches Signup and view all the answers

What were lots of women and girls doing?

Crying and taking on, scared to death Signup and view all the answers

Where did they swarm up to?

In front of Sherburn's palings Signup and view all the answers

How big was Sherburn's yard?

20-foot yard Signup and view all the answers

What was the mob screaming?

Tear down the fence Signup and view all the answers

Where did Sherburn step out from?

Sherburn steps out onto the roof of his little front porch Signup and view all the answers

What was Sherburn holding in his hand?

A double barrel gun Signup and view all the answers

Did Sherburn say anything at first?

False Signup and view all the answers

What did Sherburn do?

He looked at the mob, laughed, and asked them if they thought they could lynch a MAN. Signup and view all the answers

What did Sherburn say about the mob?

He says that just because newspapers call them brave, they think that they're braver than everyone else, but they're not. Signup and view all the answers

What did Sherburn's laugh make you feel like?

Feel as if you'd been eating bread that had sand in it Signup and view all the answers

Where was Sherburn born and raised and where does he live?

Born and raised in the south, lives in the north Signup and view all the answers

What does Sherburn say about men in the south?

One man alone has stopped a stagecoach full of men in broad daylight and robbed all the passengers. Signup and view all the answers

What does Sherburn say about men in the north?

He lets anyone who wants to walk all over him, and then he goes home and prays for the strength to take it. Signup and view all the answers

Why don't southern juries hang murderers according to Sherburn?

Because the jury members are afraid the murderer's friends will shoot them in the back in the dark. Signup and view all the answers

What do the juries do instead with the murderers?

They acquit (free someone from a criminal charge by a verdict of not guilty). Signup and view all the answers

How is the murderer dealt with after the jury acquits?

Some man goes out into the night with a hundred masked cowards behind him and lynches the murderer. Signup and view all the answers

What are the mistakes of the mob?

The first mistake is that they didn't bring a MAN with them. The second is that they didn't come in the dark and bring their masks to hide behind. Signup and view all the answers

Who did Sherburn call a part-man?

Buck Harkness Signup and view all the answers

What is the most pitiful thing in the world according to Sherburn and why?

A mob because they don't fight with the courage they're born with but with courage borrowed from their numbers and from the leaders. Signup and view all the answers

What did Sherburn say was beneath pitifulness?

A mob without any MAN in charge. Signup and view all the answers

What did Sherburn tell the mob to do?

Tuck their tails between their legs and go home and crawl in a hole. Signup and view all the answers

What did Sherburn say actual lynching should be like?

It's going to be done in the dark, Southern style. And when they come, they'll bring their masks and bring a MAN with them. Signup and view all the answers

How did Huck get in the circus?

Loafed around the back side till the watchman went by, and then dived in under the tent. Signup and view all the answers

How did Huck describe the circus?

It was a real bully circus. Signup and view all the answers

What were the men wearing in the circus and where did they put their hands?

Wore only their underwear and undershirts (no shoes or stirrups) & rested their hands on their thighs. Signup and view all the answers

How many men were there in the circus?

20 Signup and view all the answers

What did the women look like?

They had a lovely complexion, were perfectly beautiful, and looking just like a gang of real sure-enough queens. Signup and view all the answers

What did every lady's rose-leafy dress flapping soft and silky around her hips make them look like?

Most loveliest parasol. Signup and view all the answers

What did the men look like?

Tall and airy and straight. Signup and view all the answers

What were these men and women doing in the circus?

They were dancing. Signup and view all the answers

What was the clown doing?

The clown performed and nearly killed the audience with laughter. Signup and view all the answers

What couldn't Huck understand about the clown?

How he could come up with so many funny things to say and deliver them so perfectly. Signup and view all the answers

What did the drunk man do?

A drunk man tried to get into the ring—said he wanted to ride. Signup and view all the answers

How did the audience react to the drunk man?

People began to holler at him and make fun of him, which made him mad and violent. Signup and view all the answers

How many women began to scream when the drunk man intruded and became violent?

One or two women. Signup and view all the answers

How did the ringmaster react to the drunk man?

He made a little speech saying that he hoped there wouldn't be any disturbance. Signup and view all the answers

What happened when the drunk man first went on the horse?

He hung on to the horse's neck and his heels flew into the air every time the horse jumped. Signup and view all the answers

What did the horse do after a while?

He broke loose and went running round and round the ring with that drunk lying on him. Signup and view all the answers

All of a sudden, what did the drunk man do on the horse?

He jumped up, dropped the bridle, and stood up on the back of the horse. Signup and view all the answers

How many suits did the drunk man take off?

17 suits. Signup and view all the answers

What was the drunk man wearing at the end?

He was slim and handsome, and dressed the gaudiest and prettiest you ever saw. Signup and view all the answers

The drunk man was not funny to Huck because?

He was scared because the drunk man was in so much danger. Signup and view all the answers

How did the ringmaster react to the drunk man's performance?

He looked sick as he realized that he has been fooled by his own men. Signup and view all the answers

Did Huck like this circus?

True Signup and view all the answers

How many people were at the king and the duke's show?

12 people, just enough to pay expenses. Signup and view all the answers

What happened during the show?

Everyone laughed throughout the whole show, and the entire crowd left before the show was even over. Signup and view all the answers

How did the duke react?

He was mad and said that these Arkansas lunkheads weren't good enough for Shakespeare. Signup and view all the answers

What did the duke do the next morning after the show?

The next morning he got some big sheets of wrapping paper and some black paint, and drew off some handbills. Signup and view all the answers

Where was the performance at according to the bill?

At the court house for 3 nights. Signup and view all the answers

Who were the world renowned tragedians?

David Garrick the younger and Edmund Kean the elder of the London and Continental Theatres. Signup and view all the answers

What were they performing according to the bill?

The King's Camelopard or The Royal Nonesuch. Signup and view all the answers

How much is admission?

$0.50. Signup and view all the answers

What did the biggest line on the bill say?

Ladies and children are not admitted. Signup and view all the answers

What were the duke and the king doing all day?

They worked hard all day, setting up a stage and curtain and a row of candles for footlights. Signup and view all the answers

How many men came that night?

The house was jam-full of men in no time. Signup and view all the answers

When did the duke stop tending the door?

When the place couldn't hold any more men. Signup and view all the answers

How did the show begin?

The duke made a little speech bragging about this tragedy show until everyone had high expectations. Signup and view all the answers

What happened after the king performed?

The duke said the show's over, and that they should come back for two more nights. Signup and view all the answers

How many people yelled out, 'What, Is it over, Is that ALL?'?

20 people. Signup and view all the answers

What was the only thing the townspeople were talking about the next day?

How great that show was. Signup and view all the answers

What happened on the 2nd night?

The king and the duke cheated them the same way. Signup and view all the answers

Where did the king, duke, and Huck have supper the 2nd night?

On the raft. Signup and view all the answers

What did the king and the duke make Jim and Huck do at midnight?

Back the raft out and float it down the middle of the river. Signup and view all the answers

What happened on the 3rd night?

The house was crammed again but this time with all the same people; they had rotten eggs and cabbages shoved in their pockets. Signup and view all the answers

How many people were in the house the 3rd night?

64 people. Signup and view all the answers

What did the duke do on the 3rd night?

Gave a guy a quarter and told him to take his post selling tickets at the door. Signup and view all the answers

How long did it take for them to start gliding down the stream after escaping from the house?

Less than 2 seconds. Signup and view all the answers

Where was the king the 3rd night?

He was on the raft in the wigwam. Signup and view all the answers

How far from the village before they lit the light?

Ten miles below the village. Signup and view all the answers

How much money did they earn total from these 3 nights?

$465. Signup and view all the answers

Why doesn't it surprise Huck that the king and dukes are rapscallions?

Because he believes all kings are scoundrels. Signup and view all the answers

What are some examples that Huck gives about the kings being scoundrels?

Henry VIII, Charles II, Louis XIV, Louis XV, James II, Edward II, Richard III. Signup and view all the answers

What does Huck say about Henry VIII?

He used to marry a new wife every day and chop off her head the next morning. Signup and view all the answers

Who were Henry VIII's wives names according to Huck?

Nell Gwynn, Jane Shore, and Fair Rosamond. Signup and view all the answers

How did Henry stir up trouble in his country according to Huck?

He threw all the tea in Boston Harbor overboard and hammered out the Declaration of Independence. Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Cavort' mean?

Jump or dance around excitedly. Signup and view all the answers

The minute he was on, the horse begun to rip and tear and jump and _____ around, with two circus men hanging on to his bridle trying to hold him.

cavort Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Gaudiest' mean?

Extravagantly bright or showy, typically so as to be tasteless. Signup and view all the answers

And, then, there he was, slim and handsome, and dressed the _____ and prettiest you ever saw.

Gaudiest Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Rapscallion' mean?

A mischievous person. Signup and view all the answers

But, Huck, dese kings o' ourn is reglar__; dat's jist what dey is; dey's reglar _

Rapscallion Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Indifferent' mean?

Having no particular interest or sympathy; unconcerned. Signup and view all the answers

And he would do it just as ______ as if he was ordering up eggs.

indifferent Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Lath' mean?

A thin flat strip of wood, especially one of a series forming a foundation for the plaster of a wall. Signup and view all the answers

And he nailed that shingle to a , and stood the up four or five foot in front of the wigwam.

Lath Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Pious' mean?

Devoutly religious. Signup and view all the answers

He looked that grand and good and ____ that you'd say he had walked right out of the ark.

Pious Signup and view all the answers

What does 'Yawl' mean?

A two-masted fore-and-aft-rigged sailboat with the mizzenmast stepped far aft. Signup and view all the answers

She sent out her ___, and we went aboard.

Yawl Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sherburn and the Mob

A mob, described as whooping like "injuns," gathers at Sherburn's house, displaying chaotic energy.
Sherburn's yard is notably small, measuring just 20 feet.
The mob shouts demands like "tear down the fence," but Sherburn maintains calmness, appearing on his porch roof with a double-barrel gun.
He confronts the mob with disdain, questioning their courage to lynch a "MAN," asserting that their bravado is borrowed, and they fear being revealed as cowards.
Sherburn, while laughing, compares the bravery of the mob to that of fictional portrayals in newspapers, calling them out on their fear and hypocrisy.
He reflects on regional differences, claiming southern men are fearlessly bold, while northern men allow others to walk over them without resistance.
Sherburn argues that southern juries acquit murderers out of fear for their safety instead of delivering justice.

The Circus Experience

Huck finds his way into a lively circus, describing it as a "real bully circus," filled with excitement and playful chaos.
Performers, including men dressed in only underwear and painted in vibrant colors, captivate the audience while dancing.
Huck is particularly impressed by the beautiful women presenting themselves as queens adorned in extravagant attire, contrasting with the clumsiness of a drunk man attempting to join the show.
The drunk's chaotic performance, culminating in him shedding 17 suits, confuses and amuses Huck, highlighting the unpredictability of live performances.

Duke and King’s Scheme

The duke and king, after failing to engage an audience with their play, resort to deception, promoting their next shows with inflated expectations.
They cleverly draw in a full crowd by manipulating social dynamics, as one handsome man convinces others not to admit they were swindled, but to encourage attendance instead.
Each performance results in disappointment for the audience, leading to their rebellion with rotten produce, showcasing the theme of deception throughout the novel.
Funds from the performances total around $465, demonstrating the profitable yet dishonest nature of their schemes.

Huck's Perception of Kings

Huck expresses a skeptical view of kings, associating all monarchs with deceit and villainy, citing historical figures to illustrate his perspective.
His commentary on historical figures, especially Henry VIII, emphasizes the absurdity and moral corruption inherent in the concept of royalty.
Huck's witty observations serve both to reflect his innocence and critique societal norms concerning power and authority.

Vocabulary Insights

Several words are defined to enrich understanding, such as "cavort" (to jump excitedly), "gaudiest" (extravagantly bright), and "pious" (devoutly religious).
Such vocabulary adds depth to the narrative and enhances the reader's grasp of character attitudes and thematic elements within the chapters.

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Test your knowledge of Chapters 22 to 24 of 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn' with this quiz. It features key phrases and events that capture the essence of these chapters, enhancing your understanding of the text.