Question

Read the excerpt below and answer the question.

Excerpt in picture..

When Huck and the group arrive in Arkansas, they come to a one-horse town inhabited by a lot of lazy young men loitering in the streets. Huck goes in to great depth to describe this town. Why do you think he does this? In at least two hundred words, discuss what you think is Twain’s opinion of laziness. How is this expressed in his description of the houses?

Answer 1

Mark Twain, through Huck's observations in 'The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn', uses detailed descriptions of a lazy town to satirize society's shortcomings and the negative impact of human traits like laziness on the natural environment. Twain's critical stance on laziness is conveyed through the imagery of idle inhabitants and decayed buildings.

Step-by-step explanation:

When Huck and the group arrive in Arkansas and encounter the scenes of the lethargic town, Mark Twain takes the opportunity through Huck's detailed descriptions to express his opinions on laziness and the social fabric of American towns. Twain conveys a critical perspective of laziness by meticulously depicting the idle young men and the dilapidated state of the town's houses, suggesting a neglect that stems from a lack of industriousness.

The extensive descriptions provided by Huck serve multiple purposes: they establish the setting vividly, allow readers to become immersed in the ambiance of the town, and provide social commentary through satire and implication. The reference to the “one-horse town” and its lazy inhabitants could be Twain's critique of a society that is not living up to the potential that American ideals suggest, contrasting sharply with the bustling, productive society that could exist.

Moreover, Huck's narration includes negative associations with human-made objects against the natural beauty of the river, which can be seen as a commentary on how society's negative traits, such as laziness and corruption, tarnish the purity of the river's natural beauty. These depictions are tools that Twain uses to communicate the complex relationship between human society and nature, along with a didactic message about the importance of diligence and honesty in societal development.

Answer 2

We can infer an author's attitude toward a subject through his or her use of imagery. The author's attitude toward a subject is also known as tone. The word choices Twain made when writing this passage make his attitude about laziness clear.

Step-by-step explanation:

Consider the connotation (the feeling) of the words used in the passage. The houses were "old" and "shackly" (like shacks). These words do not have a positive connotation. T make the reader think of old and rundown things.The gardens raise nothing but weeds and ash. Ashes are the remains of a fire -- something dead. The gardens are also litte old shoes, ken glass, rags, and other trash. Pigs oen enter the garden because the people have not erected a fence good enough to keep them out. When the reader imagines this scene, the effect is sad and pathetic, for there is no reason not to pick up one's trash.The fences likely hadn't been fixed since the time of Columbus, a few hund years earlier. While this is likely exaggeration, the point is the same. These people are truly lazy and live in filth as a result.From Twain's imagery and word choices, it is clear that Twain's opinion of laziness is a negative one. He sees laziness as a sign of moral decay, as evidenced by words like "ash," "played out" and ken glass.