Chapters 24-30

1. Suspense
     These few chapters are filled with suspense. Huck does not seem to be in direct danger the majority of the time. The one instance where he possibly could have been is in chapter 30 when the king strangles and threatens to drown him. Luckily, though, he is rescued once again by Jim. While Huck may not have been in a lot of danger, there were several occasions where readers could feel anxious for him. When he steals the large sack of money from the duke and king in attempts to return it to the Wilks girls, there is anxiety when he is trying to be sneaky and take it from their room, and also when he attempts to hide it. He places it in Peter Wilks's coffin, but is interrupted by one of Peter's weeping daughters, Mary Jane, entering the room. He has to hide, and intensity is built when readers wonder whether or not he will be caught, and what will happen to him if he is.

    There is also plenty of anxiety given to readers from the duke and the king. We wonder whether or not they will get away with this scheme, which is probably their biggest con in the novel, and wait as it unfolds. When Doctor Robinson accuses the men of being frauds, intensity builds because it seems as though they have in fact been caught. Fortunately for them, no one believed the doctor. When the two real Wilks brothers, Harvey and William, appear in town, this makes the situation even more suspenseful and exciting. Readers are on the edge of their seats, wanting to know if the crooks will be proven guilty or the Wilks' will be misjudged as fakes. Even more excitement builds when they go and begin to dig up the grave to identify the dead man's tattoo, or lack of, and we all want to know what is going to happen. So much anxiety surrounds the two con-men because readers want to know what will become of them, and the need to know results of the sticky situations they are constantly creating is apparent.

2. Foreshadowing
       The king pries the blabber-mouthed young man who takes a ride on the boat with him and Huck, and milks all of the details of Peter Wilks' story from him. Readers can easily infer that the king is beginning to grow a mischievous idea in his mind while conversing with the fellow. It foreshadows that he is going to most likely use this information as a part of his next con; the young man did nearly mistake him for Mr. Wilks, so it would be a believable role for him to play. Readers know that something is going to happen involving Peter Wilks, his family, and his fortune, and it cannot be anything good if it does by the not-so-royal king and duke.

3. Dramatic Irony
          As stated in the packet, dramatic irony occurs when a character in a text perceives something differently than what readers know to be true. An example of this is apparent in chapter 26 of Huck Finn when Huck steals the $6,000 of gold from the king and duke. Readers know that Huck is not a thief whatsoever. He, in fact, is trying to steal the riches back from the actual thieves and return them to the Wilks girls, the rightful owners, or at least hide them so the con-men cannot have them. However, if he were to get caught, the person spotting him would most definitely perceive the scene in a completely different way than what readers and Huck knows is actually happening. They would assume Huck is a crook, trying to take the money from his "masters" for himself, which is, obviously, not the case. It is ironic that Huck is really trying to be a hero, by committing a small crime, which happens to be almost exactly the same crime he is trying to stop.

4. Theme
         On pages 180-181 in chapter 27 of Huck Finn, a small black family is torn apart. The king lies once again and says he is going to take the Wilks girls back to England with him, so he sells their house, as well as all their property, including their slaves. These slaves were a mother and her two sons; she was shipped off to New Orleans, and they went to Memphis. According to Huck it was a "sight of them poor miserable girls and niggers hanging around each other's necks and crying..." (Twain, pg. 181) This was a terrible occurrence for both the slave family and the Wilks family. It was also a scandal in the town, and a lot of townsfolk said it was wrong to separate a family that way, but the king did not listen. This questions the morals of slavery because it shows how Twain felt it was wrong that families were ripped apart like this family's was and Jim's was. This would not happen to a white family, but he does write it so even the white townspeople disagree with this decision.

5. Bildungsroman
      Huck, in the beginning of the novel, is a rascally, mischievous young lad. He only cares about having fun and getting into trouble. However, later on in these chapters of the novel, we see Huck mature and be more selfless and concerned with doing what is right and good for other people. He steals the money back for the Wilks girls, which is a very risky act that could result in severe consequences for him if he were to be caught. He may use his prankster skills still, but for good now. He also cares for the other people and realizes wrong. The conning of the king and duke disgusts him, as does the separation of the slave family, but in a different way where he is deeply saddened.  Huck grows up a lot in his journey, and his morals change more than anything else.

6. Motif
        While the entire town is crowded in the cemetery, there is yet another thunderstorm. Huck describes it by saying "...and it got awful dark, and the rain started, and the wind swished and swushed along, and the lightning come brisker and brisker, and the thunder boomed..." (Twain, pg. 199) Cemeteries already have a gloomy vibe about them, and this weather emphasizes that. It also adds to the intensity and escalating tension and excitement of digging up the deceased Peter Wilks and discovering who is lying, and the fate of many people's lives.