Unlike regionalists, naturalists had a scientific view on life while continuing to depict life truthfully. Naturalists believed that environment; heredity and chance determined a person's fate. Regionalism, however, was displayed most prominently in The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn due to setting, plot and dialect used throughout the novel. The setting, St. Petersberg, Missouri, is an actual locale, not a fantasy place created for the story. Realism also is demonstrated through the plot. By telling the story of Huck Finn's adventures after Huck had run away from home, Twain creates a true-to-life scenario. There is no use of supernatural forces saving Huck at the end of the novel; only life-like events occur. The dialects used by Twain further demonstrate realism. For each character, Twain uses language relative to the region and formality appropriate to social level. Twain denotes education and social status by employing formal or informal diction within the dialect of each character. For example, when Miss Watson speaks, she uses a formal educated diction. Jim, on the other hand, speaks using the typical slang of a slave, which is much less formal. An example of the contrasting dialects of Miss Watson and Jim can be seen as Miss Watson says to Huck, , "Don't scrunch up like that Huckleberry-set up straight"(2). Jim talks informally, which is demonstrated when Jim says, "Say, who is you? Whar is you? Dog my cats ef I didn' hear sumf'n. Well, I know what I's gwyne to do: I's gwyne to set down here and lisen tell I hears it ag'in"(5). By allowing his characters to speak in a historically accurate tone, Twain gives the novel a more realistic element. .
Twain continues the realism by injecting satire into the tale. Satire makes fun of, or ridicules the faults of individuals, groups or societies in an attempt to change the morals of these groups or individuals. "Satire is defined as literature in which vice and folly or certain human weaknesses are held up to ridicule, often with the purpose of instigating reform" (Johnson 223) Satire can take the tone of humor, sympathy, anger, or bitterness within a novel.