Grudzien1 Rachel Grudzien Ms. Cunningham American Dream Per.

1 10/21/11 Huckleberry Finn: Explain, dont Ban Mark Twains novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is a very controversial novel because of its content. Huckleberry Finn should be explained, and not banned just because people cannot stop focusing on the small details that might offend a couple people and take a second to try to see what the story is telling us. Huck Finn should continue to be taught throughout the United States in High Schools. Huckleberry Finn is considered great literature and is one of the most important pieces of literature in our libraries today. Great literature from Aerie Books Ltd experts say, They've set aside that word [classic] solely for books that have passed the test of time, that really are among the best works of their kind ever written. It pulls the reader into a time period where slavery was thought to be right and gives the reader a whole new point of view of that time period. The people that are trying to ban this book are only trying to block out a part of American history; and trying to shield students from any part of history is a crime within itself. People try to ban Huckleberry Finn because they say it uses inappropriate language, such as the use of the n word. Over the years dialects eventually change and what is considered politically correct, or socially acceptable, changes. David Bradley argues that if we'd eradicated the problem of racism in our society, Huckleberry Finn would be the easiest book in the world to teach (Zwick, Jim. Should Huckleberry Finn Be Banned?). If as a nation we make a point to rule out all books that might offend someone, then every hundred years our libraries would be entirely different. Even today, modern authors use vulgar language, sexual content, and racial slurs to get their points across. If The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is taken off of required reading lists that could create a cycle of books being taken off school shelves every time words or ideas ever became unacceptable. Grudzien2

What is "great" literature? Great literature is what has stood the test of time. This time frame can be as long as many thousands of years, and as short as twenty. What is important is that the piece of literature has been thoroughly analyzed, studied and talked about, and still survives. From the essay "What is a Classic?" from Aerie Books Ltd. an excerpt reads, They've set aside that word [classic] solely for books that have passed the test of time, that really are among the best works of their kind ever written (Aerie Books Ltd. 295). What helps make a writing great is its ability to touch your emotions and feelings long after you have read the book; and Huckleberry Finn has stood that test of time. In standing that test of time the book must have kept the media attention, and Huckleberry Finn has definitely kept the attention of many with all the controversies surrounding it. One of the number one reasons many people think that Mark Twains novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn should be banned is because of its racial contents. Yet the general value greatly overshadows any offensive language it may contain. This book is an accurate representation of how the American public behaved and what their morals were in that time period. That was simply the way they were brought up, it was not wrong in their minds. In Chapter 32 of Huckleberry Finn Aunt Sally asks if anyone was hurt in the steamboat accident, and Huck replies, Nom. Killed a nigger (Twain 213). That conversation was then closed because no people were harmed. The book immerses students in a time period where slavery is acceptable. Teachers taught it, mothers praised it, pastors preached it, and children saw absolutely nothing wrong with it. But Huck however was not raised proper so he had a clean slate about the subject The Widow Douglas took me as her son, and allowed she would sivilize me; but it was rough living in the house all the time (Twain 1). Students in High Schools should continue to read Huckleberry Finn because all students need to learn about that time period. The students do not have to agree with the novel, but it should be studied. No book could ever replace Huckleberry Finn. It is a great piece of literature and needs to be remembered always as just that. It is also one of the greatest windows into a dark period of time that we all must deal with at one point or another, so banning the book would be a great loss to our future generations. To study an idea is not the same as supporting the idea. This book described slavery in such a way that Huck knew it was bad, and yet he knew from the pressure from society that it was considered right and that was how he had to act. Teens in High School Grudzien3

will not completely understand the way of life when slavery was accepted until they read an entirely unbiased and uncensored book written during that time period dealing with the subject of slavery.

Works Cited (Complete, Charles Dickens, and Unabridged) (Paperback). "Aerie Books LTD - Publisher Contact Information." JacketFlap.com - Children's Books, Teen Books, Writers, Authors, Illustrators, Librarians, Agents, Editors, Publicists, Publishers, and Blogs. Web. 16 Oct. 2011. <http://www.jacketflap.com/aerie-books-ltd-publisher-25191>. "Huckleberry Finn in High Schools." 123HelpMe.com. 16 Oct 2011 <http://www.123HelpMe.com/view.asp?id=101153>. Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. New York: Penguin Group, 1997. Print. Zwick, Jim. Should Huckleberry Finn Be Banned?. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: A Banned Book. 2 February 2001. - Citations came from easybib.com