Introduction

For centuries, writers have tried to describe the American character with all its complexities and contradictions. American literature provides insights into defining the American character. The Declaration of Independence and the writings of transcendentalists such as Thoreau have provided a clear picture of the real American.
Additionally, fictional characters such as deCrevecouer’s farmer and Franklin’s Poor Richard have similar characteristics. Later writers such as Walt Whitman and Bret Harte celebrate an imperfect, yet laudable American. But of all fictional American literary characters, one stands alone as the personification of the real American...Mark Twain’s Huckleberry Finn.
A study of the character of Huckleberry Finn will provide insight into understanding the whole of American literature as well as American social and political views of the past and present. Is there a little Huck in all of us?

The Quest

How is the American character described in American literature, and how is the fictional Huckleberry Finn representative of the American character?

The Process and Resources

Your task is to create a documentary film/video presentation, similar to an episode of A&E’s Biography series, on the fictional character of Huckleberry Finn. Your focus should be on how Huckleberry Finn is representative of the American character. Your video should not only include your description of the American character, but also, through narrative/summary and character “testimony,” those details and incidents from the novel which provide evidence of these character traits in Huck.

1. Use the resources listed below to review what American writers have written about Americans as well as to explore websites about Huck Finn.

Phase 1 - Background: Something for Everyone

See 'First Stops on the All-American Quest' below.

Phase 2 - Looking Deeper from Different Perspectives

See 'American Writers on Americans' and 'The Novel in Cyberspace' below.

First Stops on the 'All American' Quest

Read the essays located at the sites linked below to begin thinking about the American character as it has been defined in literature.

• The American Hero in Literature - This site contains an essay that will get you thinking about the American character.
• Turner's Frontier in American History - This site contains an essay on how the frontier helped to mold the American character.
• The American Character in Southwest Humor - This site provides insight into the American character as it is represented in humorous Southwestern literature such as Twain's and Harte's.

American Writers on Americans

Use the links below to visit sites where you can review what other American writers have had to say about Americans.

• Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass - This site contains the text of Whitman's work.
• Harte's The Outcasts of Poker Flat - This site contains the text of Harte's short story.
• Thoreau's Walden - This site contains the text of Thoreau's Walden.
• Excerpts from deCrevecouer - This site contains some of the writings of deCrevecouer
• The Declaration of Independence - Go here for the full text of the document.
• Poor Richard Excerpts - This site contains quips from Franklin's Poor Richard.

The Novel in Cyberspace

Use the information provided at the sites whose links appear below to explore the novel itself.

• The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - This site contains a virtual, Cliffs Notes-style study guide on the novel.
• Mark Twain and Huckleberry Finn - This site, created by an award-winning teacher, provides links to many more sites on the novel and its author. It includes pictures and insights into the controversial issues of the novel.
• Student Cyber Guide Activity - This site takes you through an activity which will ask you to create a playbill (program) for the novel. Samples are shown.
• Huck Finn's Character Traits - Use this site for some insight into Huck's character traits.
• Twain's Satire Site - This site contains insight into the satire in Twain's works.
• Mark Twain's Biography Site - Go here for information about the author.

Phase 3 - Debating, Discussing, and Reaching Consensus

2. As a group, formulate a description of the American character that you believe is true and that is supported by the available resources.

3. As a group, choose excerpts and/or incidents from the novel which reveal Huck as typical of the American character as you have described it. (Remember: An author reveals character through a character’s inner thoughts, through dialogue, through action, through other characters and through descriptions of all of the above.

4. Divide your group into the following task roles for the planning and filming of your video:

Script Writers (to make a sequential outline of the presentation and to write and provide narration)
Graphic Artists (to organize still photos and illustrations and to prepare identifying graphics)
Support Crew (to provide costumes, background music, and sound and lighting effects)
Film Directors (to plan camera shots and to do the taping) and
Performers (to portray the characters providing testimony.)

5. Meet first as a whole group to decide on the major contents of your video and to specify each task role’s contribution. Then divide into smaller task-oriented groups to work on your individual roles and contributions defined above. Communicate often with other group members as you continue to refine your contributions to the video. Meet again as a whole group to go over the finished outline/script and to clarify each person’s role during filming.

6. Film your documentary.

7. Finally, share your finished video with the class and evaluate your group’s effort.

Phase 4 - Real World Feedback

In addition to the websites listed above, you should also use the following resources:

'Real people' surveys
'Real world' interviews with 'experts' such as the school's social studies teachers
Queries to the online expert (link provided)
School and public library resources including print and audio collections

Your Contact is: Expert Historical Novelist

Conclusion

Defining the American character is not as difficult as it seems. Historically, Americans, both real and fictional, have had many traits in common. As the twenty-first century progresses, will Americans continue to be related by common values? Or will our diversity make defining the American character an exercise in futility? Will we even recognize the “All-American” character, or will we have to go in search of it? Will we, like Huck, keep journeying down the river in “pursuit of happiness” and a national identity?