Should The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Be Taught
To High School Students Around The World?
The novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is a masterpiece of American literature and should be taught to high school students around the world. However, schools should be conscientious of the racial controversies surrounding this book. Teachers should make sure that they approach these sensitive issues by providing their students with sufficient background to understand and appreciate this novel. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn has always received strong criticism from a variety of people. When it was first published, many denounced Twain’s portrayal of Huck as a “lying, thieving, urchin who makes a smelly hash out of god and religion” (Bucci 1). Currently, the book is the center of a heated debate concerning racism in the novel. As described by Schulten, “the book has been called ‘racist’ for both the pervasive use of the word ‘nigger’ and its portrayal of blacks that is considered stereotypical and demeaning” (Schulten 57). Although these complaints are justifiable, they are often a result of an incomplete understanding of the book.
One of the most common arguments for banning The Adventu

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of the greatest works of American literature and should be included in the high school curriculum around the world. It seems that “the impact of this book is in the discomfort the readers feel”(Schulten 58), however, “Huck Finn is perfect to read if it’s taught correctly” (Schulten 58). Teachers should provide sufficient background to give students an understanding of seemingly racist qualities found in the book. Although teachers should make sure these issues are discussed, they should not be the entire focus of the curriculum. Hengstebeck notes that “If Huck Finn is used solely as a part of a unit on slavery or racism, we sell the book short” (Hengstebeck 32). The main argument for teaching the book is because it is a great American novel, and if a course focuses on the portrayal of slaves and racism, it misses the significance of this piece of literature. In order to correctly teach this novel, a curriculum should include information on the subject of racism while at the same time, discussing the significant literary contributions of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

ventures of Huckleberry Finn is the repeated use of the word “nigger.” Many people consider this a derogatory term, which insults African Americans. Some African American students feel humiliated to hear the word w