Chapter Summaries
Chapter 32:
In this chapter, Huck finds the house where Jim is being held. He visits the house and a woman comes out and is happy to see Huck, thinking she is her nephew. He plays along and says how he took a long time to visit her because his boat had an explosion. The lady's husband, Silas, comes homes, and also think that Huck is their nephew. Huck finds out that their nephew is actually Tom Sawyer. He then has to think of a way to warn the real Tom.
Chapter 33:
In chapter 33, Huck sees Tom coming, he tells him that he is actually alive, and that he needs help saving Jim. Tom agrees when he realizes Huck wasn't murdered by a bear back in his father's cabin. Tom meets Sally and Silas and says he is on a journey from Ohio, and they say he can stay for dinner. At dinner, Sally and Silas' son mentions a show in town, which is the duke and dauphin's. Tom and Huck hear that Silas mentions "the runaway slave", so they know Jim is being held there. When Tom and Huck sneak out at night, they see a town mob going after the duke and dauphin because of their con.
Chapter 34:
In this chapter, Tom says he saw a man delivering food to a shed, where they think Jim is being held. Huck makes up a plan to get him safe, but Tom doesn't like how simple it is. His plan is much more elaborate and dangerous. Huck and Jim sneak into the shed and find Jim. They start to make a good plan to get Jim safely out.
Discussion Questions:
How does Twain use irony in the discussion between Huck and Mrs. Phelps about the steamboat accident that Huck makes up?
It's ironic that Huck make up that he was on a steamboat accident. He actually came across one that began his whole journey with the duke and dauphin. Without for that, he wouldn't be where he was, making up the story he is.
What is ironic about Tom's agreeing to help Huck free Jim?
People's impression of Tom is that he has a golden halo around him, being the good boy that he is. His thoughts are that blacks are slaves and that should be captured. The fact that he would turn to criminal actions and rescue Jim is the opposite of what he had grown up learning.
How does Twain add complications to the plot by having the boys accept Tom's plan rather than Huck's?
Huck's plan was very simple and clean-cut. Tom's plan was way more dangerous and could easily get them injured or killed. It makes the plot more complicated that they would take the hard, dangerous plan instead of the easy, simple one. There are more variables and their safety comes into play.
Reflections
We can see hoe much Huck is starting to see Jim as a real person instead of a slave. He first decides that he'll save him from the Phelps' and thinks of a plan how. When he finds Tom, he tries to convince him to help. When Tom agrees, it shows that Huck is a persuasive person. He will try to help his friends, even if it's illegal, and people don't all agree that it is the right thing to do.