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Post by Mr. Thomas on Jan 27, 2014 18:10:37 GMT -5
Fooling Uncle Silas and Aunt Sally
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Post by johnmarano on Jan 27, 2014 19:47:47 GMT -5
John Marano
Mr. Thomas
English 11
27 January 2014
B. I think the significance of this reading was when Huck and Tom actually convince Nat, Jim’s owner, to let them concoct a “pie” in order to cure Jim. I think Nat enabling them to grow in contact with Jim was so important because it allowed for the boys to “achieve” their plan, or at least try. This gives them an opportunity to help Jim escape and that was the whole plan all along. If Nat was actually aware of what was going on and knew not to let strangers near his property, the boys would have no way of reaching out and saving Jim.
C. I really am like confused. Is Nat actually clueless? How does he believe that this random person (Tom) can tell that witches are taunting Jim? Nat lets them in contact with Jim, not knowing who they are, like its nothing. Makes no sense to me. Another thing, is every person in this story oblivious to life? I mean not only Nat, but also Aunt Sally. She clearly sees that she is missing items but she refuses to believe that it was Huck and Tom. Why does she question all those around her, but not them?
F. I want to talk a little about the relationship amongst the Tom, Huck, and Jim. I want to compare it from the early story to this point. In the beginning of the story, Huck and Tom used Jim and didn’t really have any concern for him at all, as he was just a slave and property of the family’s. Now, Huck and Tom are devising schemes to save Jim and free him from Nat. This is important because it distinguishes who Huck and Tom were and who Huck and Tom are. Tom and Huck have a “special” kind of relationship. As of this point in the story, I feel that Tom and Huck really do care about each other, but just completely differ as people. I think both characters missed each other along their journeys but they know they are not similar people. Huck has developed and became a realistic person, while Tom still thinks of plans that could eventually get them killed.
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Post by frankclarke on Jan 27, 2014 20:15:38 GMT -5
Frank Clarke
Mr. Thomas
English 11
January 27, 2014
A. “It ain’t no use Huck, it ain’t a-going to work. If we was prisoners it would because then we’d have as many years as we wanted, and no hurry.” The immediate thought that popped into my head was that… yes you are imprisoned… in a way. There are two types of imprisonment, Number one: physical imprisonment, and number two: mental imprisonment. They’re all imprisoned in this mindset that blacks are inferior to whites, that blacks shouldn’t be free, that the white man is a “god” in a sense. To me, mental imprisonment is worth than anything else.
E. A recurring theme in these past few chapters is that they decide not to use picks, but instead items like a case-knife. Is this yet again apart of Tom’s convolution in trying to elongate the plan to save Jim. Or is he just messing around to have some fun with it. I don’t think he can be serious and have actions like this going on. It doesn’t make much sense
D. In class today we were talking about how the book was picturesque and some of the characters are just there for comic relief and most are all dumb. At first we see the Aunt as just like this, but now she seems to be playing a heavy, deep rooted roll. “ Then she grabbed up the basket and slammed it across the house and knocked the cat galleywest.” What we see here is her acting in an irrational way, she is no longer “dim”, even though these actions might express that. Mark twain has given her a type of emotional background.
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Post by scanley73 on Jan 27, 2014 20:35:06 GMT -5
C. Once again Tom has to complicate thing beyond what they need to be. He is going to all this trouble to make the escape more like something out of a book but they could have been long gone by now. I just don’t understand why Huck hasn’t put his foot down and told Tom that they are going to help Jim the easy way. It just would have made sense for Huck to have the sense to end this madness and do the right thing.
A. When Sally is getting angry about the missing items and Huck and Tom, the two who stole those items, aren’t on the receiving end of her anger it reminds me of how my own parents often get angry at me when my brother is the one to blame. My brother often does something wrong or he instigates a fight and somehow my parents end up blaming me for it. It reminds me of how so often the guilty party isn’t even considered to be responsible for something that they did. It bothers me when it happens to me so I can imagine that it is frustrating for others as well.
I. In response to John’s question about Nat, we have to understand that there are people who are very superstitious. Keeping that in mind we have to realize that those types of people may do whatever they can to avoid curses or things of that manner. Therefore it makes sense that Nat will do whatever he can to avoid witchcraft.
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Post by Sgarlato on Jan 27, 2014 20:37:41 GMT -5
Stephen Sgarlato
Mr. Thomas
English 11
1/27/14
A. In chapters 36-38, I enjoyed how Tom and Huck tricked Aunt Sally. Huck and Tom plug up the ratholes in the house, confounding Uncle Silas when he goes to do the same job. When they remove and replace the sheets and spoons, Aunt Sally gets confused that she forgets the amount she started with. She is extremely clueless and gullible.
C. I don’t understand what the coat of arms thing was for in chapter 29. Like what was Tom trying to make Huck do. This confused me because one I don’t know what a coat of arms is and two they didn’t really explain what the reason was or what it was. Maybe I missed it but I just didn’t understand it.
I. To expand on John Marano’s question, I would say that Nat is clueless because they actually say in the book that she is extremely gullible and clueless. She literally cannot take a hint. She will believe anything. Aunt Sally is also extremely clueless. She forgets how many knives and spoons she has and then gets dooped by Huck and Tom when they replace them and plug up the rat holes.
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Post by matthewchan on Jan 27, 2014 20:44:49 GMT -5
Matthew Chan
Mr. Thomas
English 11
27 January 2014
A. In these chapters, Huck and Tom mess around with Aunt Sally and Silas by taking their things to give to Jim. They take and give Jim a sheet, a shirt, candles, and a candlestick. Chapter 37 is especially funny because they are really messing around with Aunt Sally and Silas. Aunt Sally catches Silas with a spoon in his pocket, Huck hides one of the spoons while Aunt Sally counts them and puts it back when she counts again, and they take a sheet a put it on the clothesline but take it down the next day. This reminds me of many movies and shows that have the same concept and idea. They try to mess around with other people while trying to do their own thing without letting anyone know.
C. Is Jim tired of staying in his “prison cell” for this long amount of time? I think he has had enough with Tom’s adventurous ideas. Tom is trying to prolong everything and I think he is somewhat making Jim worried. Jim might not be able to get out in time if Huck and Tom are caught. I can picture Jim wanting to yell at Tom for his slow rescue. I think Huck might also agree with Jim as well. They are taking too long and using up too much valuable time.
E. Tom is crazy! That’s all I have to say. He is using up and wasting too much time and he is prolonging everything. They finished digging the hole for Jim to escape and now Tom wants Jim to inscribe things on the wall and to do other things. I was worried throughout these chapters that Jim wasn’t going to get out because Huck and Tom were going to get caught. I think Mark Twain might be prolonging this to make people more worried about this and to show the adventurous ideas Tom has in store for Huck, Jim, and to the audience.
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Post by danokeefe15 on Jan 27, 2014 21:15:26 GMT -5
Danny O'Keefe
Mr. Thomas
English 11
1/27/14
C. After reading chapters 36-38 I was very confused. The whole idea is to Jim out, so they make a whole to the room using a case knife, axe, and other things and then when they get to him they tell Nat to make a witch pie because he believes in witches and tom is going to a rope inside of it which is also very difficult because that pie is going to be extremely large. And then they also mention how they need a millstone so that he can write on it. and then Tom says that they need jims help to carry the millstone so they are going to help Jim sneak out. isn't that what they are trying to do?
B. I don't understand the significance of Tom coming back into the story. I understand that it is his family, but up until this point they didn't even know what Tom looked like so he must not be that important to them since they don't really know him I think that there is more to it than just him randomly coming out of no where to help them. I think that isn't there for all the right reasons, after all he is making this escape allot harder than it needs to be.
E. These chapters show the influence that Tom has on Huck, the reason why I say this is because Huck sort of doubts the plans and strategies that Tom is making but he gives in to them and goes along with it. Huck trusts Tom since he was his first friend and has a strong relationship with him still. And since he is helping him with something that most other people wouldn't he believes that he actually cares and wants to help.
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Post by bourdonm15 on Jan 27, 2014 21:29:28 GMT -5
Matthew Bourdon
Mr. Thomas
English 11
1/27/14
B. We finally see Huck disagreeing and actually getting Tom to switch from these case-knives to pick axes. “your head gets leveler and leveler all the time, Tom Sawyer. Picks is the thing, moral or no moral;” (Page 245). As we spoke in class about today, Huck was somewhat reluctant to combat at most of Tom’s ideas regarding the whole scheme even if he disagreed with them in the previous chapter. Now we actually see Huck convince Tom to go against his firm dogma of these “authorities” in the book, and do something Huck’s way. I think that Huck has jumped a big step by getting Tom to actually go along with one of his ideas, considering Tom is very stubborn.
F. The assumption that Sally gets after not being able to find her stolen items is hilarious. This is easily the best part of the reading. “Ther’s six candles gone that’s what. The rats could ‘a’ got the candles, and I reckon they did;” (Page 252). This was pretty hilarious how Sally blames rats instead of two suspicious people that came out of nowhere and claim to be related to you. This really shows the level of thought that these people have. It was a pretty funny scene and a great use of dramatic irony, as we know something the character (in this case Sally) does not.
I. I agree with Matt Chan on the comment on how Tom is crazy. He wants Jim to now water a flower with his tears?! That is pretty self-explanatory in itself how crazy he is.
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Post by 1adams12 on Jan 27, 2014 22:25:18 GMT -5
1/27/13
D. I thought it was quite funny that eventually Tom comes around and says " "It ain't no use, Huck, it ain't a-going to work" (Page 327). What I was thinking to myself was not shit Sherlock. It took a real dummy to think up that plan in the first place. I thought it was also funny that Huck says "'Now you're talking!' I says; 'your head gets leveler and leveler all the time, Tom Sawyer,' I says. 'Picks is the thing, moral or no moral; and as for me, I don't care shucks for the morality of it, nohow'" (Page 328). Reason why I thought this was hilarious was because that is what Huck was thinking about all along and he finally said that Tom has been coming around. It seems that Huck and Tom are always wanting to encourage each other, no matter how wrong they are. The reason why I thought this was funny was because of the fact that they act like brothers and they actually aren't.
E. I thought Huck was being really cruel when he kept putting the spoon back with the others and taking it out from among the others. He did this about nine times and she "counted and counted till she got that addled she'd start to count in the basket for a spoon sometimes; and so, three times they come out right, and three times they come out wrong" (Page 339). I thought it Huck wanted to take a spoon from among the others, he should have done it twice and then away with it. I don't understand why he did it nice times. What was the point of getting Aunt Sally upset? What was the point of doing it nine times instead of let's say three?
C. While I was reading Chapter 38 I had some questions about some of the things that made no sense to me. Tom was telling Jim that he needed music and Jim answered back with "I ain' got nuffn but a coase comb en a piece o' paper, en a juice-harp; but I reck'n dey wouldn' take no stock in a juice-harp" (Page 349). What is wrong with a Jewish harp? Is the sound that comes out of it bad? The reason why I have the last question about the harp is simply because of the fact that Tom said that the rats would not mind the harp. The other thing that I had a question about is why does Jim need to "plant it in the corner over there, and raise it. And don't call it mullen, call it Pitchiola -- that's its right name when it's in a prison. And you want to water it with your tears" (Page 350). The thing that makes no sense about this is why can't Jim use a different type of water besides his tears? What is so special about his tears?
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Post by georgebaroudos on Jan 27, 2014 23:09:32 GMT -5
George Baroudos
Mr. Thomas
English 11
27 January 2013
A – I enjoy seeing both Huck and Tom come to their senses. Huck knows from the beginning that this butter knife will do them no justice. It takes Tom a while to figure that out. Tom is that kid who has to see something to believe it. This reminds me of myself. I should have taken so much advice in my life, but I chose to test it out myself. This trait does come back to haunt you. But it also brings about maturity. Maturity comes with experience and experience only. It is both good and bad.
D – “Ther’s six candles gone-that’s what. The rats could a got the candles and I reckon they did.” (219). Considering how absurd it would even be to think that this is true, I think this points to Twain’s attempts to throw in that comic relief. Considering this is realism everybody knows that rats taking candles is ridiculous. I did find this quote funny how ever. I do believe it is used as comic relief. I think that as we continue reading I will keep an eye out for this. I really don’t understand the humor but I suppose it can still be considered humor.
I - Tom’s ability to coordinate plans speaks directly to the person he is. Tom does what he says he will do. This corresponds well with his ability to coordinate plans. Tom took the reigns of the whole operation and this is an occurring theme. Huck allowed the King and Duke to take the reigns just as he is letting Tom. One of Huck’s weaknesses is his inability to create his own situations. Huck will never be the general; he will always be the gifted soldier. Huck is incapable of leading because in part he is scared.
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Post by eointunney on Jan 27, 2014 23:47:44 GMT -5
Eoin Tunney
Mr. Thomas
English 11
27 January 2014
E. While reading the chapters last night for the discussion in class earlier today, I realized how stupid Tom’s plan was and how much of it was unnecessary. Many people in class also said that Tom’s idiotic ideas created a lot more unnecessary work. While reading last night I knew that Tom wouldn’t go through with all of his plans because he would eventually realize how difficult his ideas were. In chapter 36, this exact thing happened when Tom and Huck stop using the knives to dig and start using the pick-axes. I feel like this is only the first of Tom’s plans that he will give up on after realizing how hard it is to accomplish.
D. In tonight’s reading, Aunt Sally was the one character that really caught my eye. On page 219 she says, “Ther’s six candles gone-that’s what. The rats could a got the candles and I reckon they did.” The quote actually amazed me because something like this happening is probably close to impossible and I really wonder why someone would think rats stoke their candles. Aunt Sally is a perfect character that fights into the this picturesque novel. I feel this scene is extremely irrelevant to the whole book and it is only used to lengthen the book as well as having comical scenes.
C. The one thing in these chapters that really confused me was the pie that Tom and Huck bake for Jim. The reason why this confuses me is because I don’t see any possible way a person could hide a rope ladder inside of a pie. I would think you would need a pretty large pie if you were to do something so idiotic.
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Post by michaelannunziata on Jan 28, 2014 12:14:39 GMT -5
Michael Annunziata
Mr. Thomas
English 11
1,28,14
A. One thing that caught my eye during this reading was when Sally got two things stolen from her and although Huck and Tom are the ones who stole it she still doesn’t take the anger out on them. I can relate to this because whenever my friends come over, there are so many fragile things in my house that something always winds up being broken. Although I’m not the one who breaks it I still wind up having to take the blame for it. And my parents wind up getting mad at me rather then my friend.
C. One thing that confused me while reading this was why Tom and Huck baked a pie for Jim. It just makes no sense because how could you possibly hide a rope inside of a pie. And plus when you take out the rope its going to be all gooyie and slippery and there is not possible way that this could work out correctly for them. That is why this part was most confusing to me while I was reading this part of the book
B. I think that the main significance in this reading is when Jim and Tom finally convince Jim’s owner to let them bring him the pie. This has the most significance because it shows that their plan might actually work and that the first step is done to help Jim. That’s why I feel that this part is most significant.
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Post by joeroperti on Jan 28, 2014 16:46:35 GMT -5
Joseph Roperti
Mr. Thomas
English 11
27 january 2014
A. A small connection I have with this reading is almost with huck and Tom almost realizing whats real. Kind of showing" seeing is believing" . I can relate this to all of the college talk i have been hearing lately and how it its very relatable because i would just here all of this and let it go in one ear and not the other. But with a recent realization it has shown me what it is to have Have to see proof for myself to follow what is going on
B. One thing i really don't understand is still Tom's resurrection in the book. I don't understand what his significance is in the book. I feel that he was just thrown in for a petty reason and no underlying or fulfilling reason. When a character like time is seeded out of a book or even movie it almost makes the main character better in such a way that it helps you put there past behind them, But with the uprising of Tom it brings back the past of Huck and makes it harder to respect how far he has come
I. Adding more about Tom bringing him back reveals more of the person he is. Before his "disappearance" he was just the "bad" one. But now it is show of what he is capable of in taking full advantage of someone even his friend. Even though huck is somewhat of a vulnerable person. Tom shows that he is almost heartless with all the things he does and his ability to manipulate people.
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