Pudd’nhead Wilson images傻瓜威尔逊图像.pcmac.pptVIP

Pudd’nhead Wilson by Mark Twain Don’t write this down, but… “His writings – whether humorous and witty, or, as in his later years, pessimistic and cynical – are admired as social commentaries on human nature.” Sums up Twain in the eyes of most critics Note… Pudd’nhead Wilson first published in 1894 One of the 1st American works to seriously deal w/ slavery Dialogue and dialect are huge parts of the story…do you know the difference? Dialogue is conversation between two characters Dialect is the manner of speaking for a particular area A Whisper to the Reader Mark Twain’s offhand humor He addresses us directly He did this in Huck Finn, too. Remember? He informs us of his research methods which are…questionable at best Other works by Twain The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (10th) “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County” (11th) Two Views of the River (11th) A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court Maybe you saw a spoof… Chapter 1 Setting: Dawson’s Landing, Missouri (on the Mississippi River) in 1830 What else figures in to setting? Social climate...a slaveholding town Characters: Its “chief citizen,” York Driscoll – a judge, childless, member of the FFV Percy Driscoll, judge’s brother, wife dies after giving birth Ch. 1 cont’d David Wilson gets his nickname by making a joke no one understands Looking back at the calendar entry …. What might it have to do with Pudd’nhead’s nickname? Chapter 2 Wilson doesn’t get much business after that, so he has hobbies “palmistry” – reading palms, telling fortunes Taking fingerprints Characters Roxana – “Roxy,” who is 1/16 black Chambers – Roxy’s son, who is 1/32 black Check this out… Ch. 2 cont’d PW takes the fingerprints of Roxy, Chambers, and Tom when the boys are 5, 7 and 8 months old Judge Driscoll has some stolen Roxy is the only innocent slave because she recently got saved Roxy realizes that her son could be sold from her Are both blacks and whites doing the best they can given their situation