HUCK FINN RESPONSE #2- SUPERSTITION

As you've seen in the early chapters of "Huck Finn," many of the characters (Huck and Jim especially) believe in a large number of superstitions.
Comment on at least 2-3 of the superstitions shown so far. What are they? What do the characters believe about them?
Most importantly, what is Mark Twain saying about the characters who believe these superstitions? About American society during this time period?

One of the superstions that i have found out was when he burned the spider he said that he would have bad luck for a long time. Another one is he spilled the salt container and the widow made him not throw it over his shoulder so he would ward off the bad luck. And in jims case he said that the witcheds had carried him around the county, the the state, then eventually the entire country.

The first superstition that really happened was when he accidentally burned that spider he thought he was going to have bad luck and he was freaking out. And then I think another one is the whole blood oath thing. All those boys had to sign a "contract" to their little "gang". I think Mark Twain is saying that the characters could possibly believe then anything.

When the first "superstition" happened, is when he burned the spider, the children believed that it was bad luck, and they were going to have the bad luck for the rest of their lives, so they were making a big deal out of it. Also, another one was the salt incident, he accidently spilt the salt container infront of the window seal, the girl made told him not to throw it over his shoulder so he would ward off te bad luck. Mark Twains basic message was that the kids were gullible, and fell for a bunch of things.

One superstition is when Huck accidentally burned a spider and he got scared and turned around in circles. Another superstition is when Jim had the hairball and said it would tell the future but sometimes you had to give it money. Well in Huck's case he could be showing that young children easily are scared by the things they believe. He is also showing that age doesn't matter when believing in superstitions because Jim is much older than Huck but still believes in them.

Jim is quick to blame witches for the distrubence of his hat and believed that a spirit was in a hairball its easy to see the humor in these occurences. Twain likes to highlight some of the superstious behavior prevelant in American society in the 1800's since many of the thoughts people had on the supernatural were ridiculous. These ideas are out place in modern times due to the change of thought throughout the world. Nowdays most Americans look for a logical or scientific explanation to solve a mysterious phenomena. Back in the 1800's the populaces widely accepted belief in the supernatrual was the reason it was so intergrated into culture at that point.

One superstition was when Huck accidentally killed a spider and he just flipped out he turned around three times and tied his hair in a knot to keep witches away from him, however he "knows" that it wont do any good. Also Jim assumes that witches abducted him and flew him around the country just because his hat was on a branch, because that's what witches do apparently fly people around and move hats. Mark Twain makes it seem like superstitions are a normal part of daily life and the characters seem very sure of their beliefs.

the first superstition would him burning the spider in the candle and saying je was gunna have bad luck so he spins around 3 times and tied a piece of his hair so the witches wouldnt get him. The other thing would jim thinking he was abducted by the witch since his hat was in the tree. i think mark twain was making it seem like they had a big imagionation and really would belive anything that they would hear.

When all the boys were creating a "pact" or group, they cut their hands and signed a contract with their blood. They called this a "blood oath". I think this means that they believe a blood oath is stronger than anything and it can't be broken. Which is ironic because they end up breaking apart anyway.
Another example would be when Huck was going to throw salt over his shoulder to keep away bad luck and the widow stopped him and told him not to do that.

When Huck burned the spider he did all these things to keep bad luck from comming.
When Jim was asleep and found his hat hung above him, he said that the witches carried him around the state, then around the country, then around the world.
When Tom and Huck made the gang, all the boys in it had to sign there name with their blood.
I think Mark Twain is saying that people had a lot of religous views and the children had a lot of imagination.

One thing they believe/do is they have to cut each other to be in their club. They only do it because they a boys, young, and stupid. Mark was trying to show us that they trying to be young adults, or showing us that they are being very stupid. Another thing is if someone does something bad, he has to burn a spider so bad luck stop coming. This says that they believe a lot of things so things don’t happen to them. It so us that America society was very strange by believing in weird things.

1. When Huck kills the spider. He believes that killing spiders is a sign of bad luck. So he ties up some of his hair to keep the witches off. He also starts jumping and twirling all around to keep to demons and witches away.
2. Tom puts Jim's hat on a branch above his head and Jim thinks that the witches took him all around the world and put his hat up there. They think that witches and demons carry their souls around and trick them.
Twain is basically showing that it is all in their head. Witches and demons aren't going to come after you because you killed a spider. He is using these examples to show that a lot of society in this time had many different superstitions about many different things.

one superstition is when huck killed the spider and thought he would have bad luck. and another when Jim thought their was a spirit in his hair ball. and they are superstitions about bad or good luck...that unexplainable forces can change your life for good or bad. and that the characters are simply minded and they follow things blindedly without asking why. He is also calling society stupid well implying that they are. But society today has some like believe dreams are a gateway to the unkown. there are superstitions all around us.

One superstition was when Huck accidentally killed the spider and thought he would have bad luck. Another is when Huck takes Jim's hat and JIm thinks that he has been abducted by witches. Mark Twain is showing how superstitions played a big role in society in the 1800. He is also trying to show us that in that society there were many beliefs and superstitions that were believed to be true.

Mr. Hunt I feel bad that you have to read all of these, talk about a broken record lol. Anyway, the first superstition that was used was when Huckleberry accidentally killed the spider and he would have bad luck. Another superstition was when all of the boys had to take a blood oath to be a part of their little club. I think by doing this, Twain is implying that the children/people in society at this time were very naive and would believe whatever you told them.

The first superstition was when Huck killed the spider, he thought that it would be bad luck. So to protect himself he did all this weird stuff. The second was when Huck spilled the salt container so he threw salt over his shoulder so he wouldn't get any bad luck. Another superstition was when Tom put Jim's hat on the branch and Jim thought that he had been bewitched by witches. Mark Twain is trying to say that at that time people would believe anything they heard.

Mark Twain, I think, is saying that people back then were more ignorant and simple, but in a good, innocent way. They believe in superstitions and things like that, but their not stupid. One superstition I noticed was when Huck spilled salt and hurried to throw it over is back so he wouldn't get bad luck for the day and when the widow wouldn't let him he was mad. The second superstition I noticed was when Jim thinks that a hairball he got out of an ox's stomach had special powers and he could do magic with it.

Well the first superstition out of the book was when Huck burnt a spider and started to panic, he thought he was going to have bad luck for a long time. I think most the superstition has come from the widows slave jim tho. Im not sure if this counts as superstition much but since he believed it was witches that carriend him across the country i feel like it is. He also got a "hairball" and he was asking it questions and telling huck his fortunes for money.

So far a few superstitions have been shown in the book. One would be when Huck ties a piece of his hair to keep the witches away and talks about how your supposed to do that if you lose a horseshoe you've found. Another superstition brought out could be that drowned men float on their belly not their back. Also, Jim waking up and thinking the witches took him and his hairball oracle that can predict the future. I think that Twain is showing that the characters in this book have big imaginations and maybe they're so superstitious because it gives them something to think about and imagine. Many people in society at this time believed in witches and evil spirits that went against their religious beliefs.

The first superstition was when Huck accidentally burned the spider. He believed that this would give him bad luck. After that happened he made a cross over his chest in order to get rid of the bad luck. The second one was the hair ball from an ox's stomach. Jim believed that it would tell the future if you gave it something in return like money. The last one was when the boys played that trick on Jim and put his hat on a tree branch while he was sleeping. Jim thought that it was the work of witches. He siad that they brought him around the world and put him back, but left his hat in the tree. Mark Twain is probably trying to show how alot of these people thought back then. alot of these people were uneducated and didn't really know what they believed in.

One superstition is when Jim thought he was abducted by witches then brought around the country because his hat was taken and placed on the branch above him when he was sleeping. Another superstition is when Huck burnt the spider then tied his hair and moved in circles to keep witches away. These superstitions show that people during this time period thought witches and other evil spirits were out to get them. I think Mark Twain is showing what people believed in during this time period and he was introducing the personalities of the characters through their thoughts.

In Chapter one Huck sees a spider crawling up his shoulder, so he flipped it off and it land into the flame of the candle. Before he could get it out, it was already shriveled up. Another superstition was when he tied a lock of his hair with a thread to keep the witches away.

One superstition is when Huck kills a spider and thinks its bad luck; so he does all these rituals. Another superstition is the hair ball from the ox's stomach that Huck believes can tell the future and even ends up paying the hair ball. I think Mark Twain is making humor out of people that live in the south and is suggesting they believe in stupid things and come up with ridiculous ideas.

When Huck is in his room, he accidentally kills a spider. When Huck realizes what he has done, he jumps up and does a lot of rituals. These include crossing his heart and spinning around. Another example is when he twists his hair and comments about "keeping the witches away." Huck believes that witches will come for him, and that he has bad luck, sort of like the superstition of breaking a mirror.

Now Huck is a younger boy. I believe that Twain is hinting at that people who believe these superstitions are not yet fully developed and are as small minded as children. And I believe that Mark Twain is saying that society at this time believed in superstitions so much and so commonly that even children knew of them and practiced them.

Jim has a weird superstition that I find interesting. The way he believes in witched and how they took him around the world. what i find funny is that the only thing that makes him think that witches take them is that his hat is hanging above him on the tree. Another superstition is when Huck turns three times and ties his hair up after killing a spider. If someone was cursed after killing a spider, i would be cursed like crazy because i hate spiders.

The first superstition that I came upon was when Jim thinks that he was abducted by witches. the only thing that really happened to Jim was that Tom Sawyer played a little trick on him. The second superstition that I found was when Huck accidentally burned the spider in the candle. Huck thought that he was going to receive bad luck for the rest of his life because of it.

There have been many superstitions shown so far in this book. For example, Mark Twain explains how Finn turns around a few times before tying a lock of his hair, because he accidently killed a spider. Also, he tries throwing salt over his left shoulder to keep off the bad luck, due to the fact that he turned over the saltcellar at breakfast. I think that Twain is trying to express how the characters have huge imaginations. The children are so naïve, and believe everything they are told.

1. the spider- Huck is freaked out after he kills the spider. He spins in circles and croses his chest hoping he won't get bad luck.
2. witches- Jim believes that the witches took him and carried him around all over. He believed in the witches, but he was actually just getting messed around with by Tom and Huck
Twain is saying that each of the characters believes in those mystical and crazy superstitions. Everybody believes in superstitions of their own. Also, Twain was saying how most of the people of this time believe in superstitions and that is how the time period really is.

Superstition #1: The burning of the spider
I thought this was kind of strange because I've never heard of this before. I mean, I've heard of black cats, broken glass, and even ladders, but not starting a spider on fire.

Superstition #2: The Witches
I have always thought that the superstions having to do with witches was always pretty dumb. For example, does a crazy lady flying around on a broomstick, cooking strange brews in a giant black kettle and casting magical spells sound real to you?.....I didn't think so.

I believe that Mark Twain is suggesting that the people who believe in these superstitions arn't exactly "the sharpest tool in the shed".

One of these silly superstitions is when Huck kills the spider and worries he is going to have bad luck for a long time. Also thinking that the cross over his chest with his fingers would stop this bad luck from happening. I also thought that when he tied his hair together to keep the witches away was a very interesting one.

1. the spider, Huckelberry Finn kills a spider and he fears that he will get bad luck to prevent that he turns around in circles and crosses his chest.
2. also Huckelberry Finn ties his hair in a knot to keep the witches away and to give himself good luck.

The first one would be killing a spider. Huck accidentally killed a spider and is freaking out about it. He crosses his heart to try to cancel the bad luck out. The other one would be him spilling salt, and he had to counteract it by throwing it over his other shoulder. That they believe in witches, and bad luck. They had many stories that they told and superstition back then was kind of like a religion. Everyone belived in it.

The first superstition I saw was the spider. Huck accidentally kills a spider and gets scared he will have bad luck, so he does the sign of the cross several times to cleanse him from the bad luck. Huck also twists locks of his hair, he thinks this will keep the witches away and prevent bad luck. I think Twain uses these to show the readers the imagination these kids had. It shows how superstitious society was in that time period because kids usually learn from adults.

There are many different superstitions in the book. The first one was the whole killing of the spider thing. Huck then does many things to keep off the bad luck, such as doing the sign of the cross, and twists locks of his hair. There is also Jim's superstition or belief that witches kidnapped him and flew him around the country. They also have all of the weird rituals in their gang, and how Huck would throw salt over his shoulder to keep away bad luck. Many of the characters were very superstitious. They even talk about more rituals warding off bad luck then there are signs of good luck. I think Mark Twain is showing the stupidity of these younger kids, and some of the adults. Maybe also showing some people will believe anything. He also may want to display that many people during this time period where very superstitious, since he is a realist. Any of these could be contributing factors in the superstitions of the characters.

The first superstition is when Huck burns and kills the spider which he counters by tying a not in a lock of his hair. Another superstition is when he spills the salt and then throws it over his shoulder. Both of these superstitions have to do with bad luck and then countering it. I think they believe in these superstitions because none of them are really all that smart and perhaps once a body did have good or bad luck after one of these occurances happened. And now it is heavily believed upon.

The first superstition that I noticed was when Huck accidentally burned a spider and he thought he was going to have bad luck so he got very worried. The next was when Huck spills the salt and has to throw it over his shoulder to prevent bad luck. Huck probably grew up around a lot of those superstition, I would guess that he caught on to a lot of them from his friends, mainly Tom.

One of the superstitions was the one where Huck accidentally burned a spider and he though he was going to have back luck and he kind of freaked out over it. The other one was where he spilled salt and after that he threw the salt over his shoulder to prevent the back luck from occuring. I think Mark Twain was making it so the characters had an open mind and a big imagination.

The first superstition is when Huck burns the spider and he begins to panick and mumble a bunch of words to try and make the bad luck not happen. Then second superstition is when he spills the salt and he throws salt over his back to fix it. Maybe people believed in more superstitions back then, or Huck possilby grew up around a lot of people believing in that stuff. Mark Twain is probably hinting that these people believed in many things; they had big imaginations.

The superstition that really stuck out to me was the one where Huck burned a spider. This shows that Huck is sorft of childish in my opinion. It also shows that he is young so it is okay for him to be childish. Also when Huck throws the salt over his shoulder because it is said to get rid of the bad luck forced upon you. Twain tells us this to kinda set an understanding in the story that Huck is a little boy and sometimes what he hears he thinks is 100% true.

the time period was way back in the day, which gave the people so many beliefs and things to be curious about. twain basically tells us in the book that huck mostly takes what he hears and moves on with those opinions.

A first superstition would be when Huck accidentally flicked the spider and watched in horror as it curled up in pain, burning in the candle. I think the more he thought of this, the greater his anxiety became over his bad luck that he believed was to come. I believe it did come though, in a way, when multiple things happened (such as when his father came back) -even after he did the practice to counter it when he threw the salt over his shoulder.

A second one would be when Jim showed Huck his nasty Oxen-stomach hairball. First of all, he made Huck pay for what was certainly a load of crap. And he didn't even care that he knew it wasn't even a real pence piece, or whatever they had called their money. Still, Huck believed without a doubt what Jim said was true, though some of it was very random. I believe that maybe he could of told him his future based on intuition and MAYBE he has some weird psychic ability(?), but I really don't believe that it was the hairy, mucus- and stomach acid-covered ball (remember how he put it in his mouth?) that was actually "talking" to Jim. Maybe it was the voices in his head... :)

I think that Twain is hinting towards how uneducated and gullible a majority of the population was back then, especially when it came to the spiritual side of things. Like the Widow always preaching to Huck with how fear- and guilt-ridden her faith is, over all the wrongs he's done previously and is currently doing, and how he'll most-definitely go to Hell if he doesn't straighten up soon. Like... she's scaring him into being a good Christian child. (Not saying that Christianity is a superstition!).

The first one that i noticed is when Huck burned the spider and he said that it would bring bad luck upon him. i think his beliefs are the only thing that made him worry so much about it. I don't think that it actually does though.

The second ones is when he drops the salt and in order to fix it, he throws it over his back. I think that superstitions are less common now than they were then. people believed everything they saw or heard back then because they didn't have proof to prove it wrong. Twain is hinting towards how big people thought back then.

A superstition that I saw was when Huck accidentally burned the spider. Huck made a really big deal out of it so he wouldn't have bad luck. Another superstition is Jim's hairball. He believes that it can tell the future. Huck paid money so apparently their superstitions were pretty important to them. There are a few superstitions that people think are true now, such as a black cat crossing in front of you.. or opening an umbrella inside. In Huck's time they believed a lot more that superstitions were true.

One superstition is when Huck sees "pap" but he knows it isnt his dad because he said that men float on there bellys and not on their back.

Tom at one point knocks over a container of salt on the table. He then picks it up and puts as much salt back into the conatiner as fast as he can and he also throws a bunch over his left shoulder to make sure that there wont be any bad luck for him. There is another time where Huck sneaks out to be with Tom and they saw jim so the had to hide. They waited until he fell asleep in front of a tree and hung his hat on a tree branch just over his head. When jim wakes up, he thinks that he has been taken by some kind of group of ghosts and they dragged him all over the world and broght him back to where he was and hung his hat there to show that he has been taken. He tells everyone about what he thought had happened and exggaterates it the more he tells it. I think that Mark Twain is showing that suerstiton was a big part of the people during this time frame. I dont think that he is saying that everyone necessarily believes it, but that they like to joke about it and make stories of it;however, I do think there are certain people, like jim, that truly believed in this superstition.

One of the superstitions that has been showed many times is the superstition that african americans are infernal and are dumb and weaker than americans. Pap thinks they are not smart and they shouldn't be able to have the same privileges as whites. Such as voting and wearing nice clothing. However, Huck just seems to see Jim as any other person. I think Twain is trying to show the stupidity of some people back in the days when slavery was allowed.

I think that most of the superstitions if performed today would be seen as a sign of mental instability. The one's I am referring to would be the hairball being used as a gypsy-like device, the use of cannons to make an object rise to the surface of water, and the burning of the spider being seen as bad luck.

Mark Twain was in a way mocking the supersticious home-town society people.