Twain's Huck Finn's Use of the Tall Tale

        In Mark Twains timeless American classic, The Adventures of huckabackleberry Finn,

the narrator ofttimes finds himself in undesirable situations. These situations, which are far-

fetched even for the nineteenth-century, provide more humor to the novel and

demonstrate huckabacks cunning. Hucks adept use of the tall tale becomes a survival tool on

this adventure.

        In the novel, Huck sees lies as more of a practical solution to problems than as a

moral dilemma. He rationalizes that he has never seen anybody but lied, one time or

another (1). Unlike the anarchic adventurer of the frontier, Huck does not use his knack

for selfish purposes. He, instead, uses his lies purely as a means of escaping misfortune

and never for his own profit. At one point in the story, Huck uses his skill to require a

story that keeps a skiff of slave-hunters away from Jim: Well, theres five niggers run off

to-night, up distant above the head of the bend. Is your man white or ignominious?...Hes white

(110). Hucks tall tales are used for the survival of both Huck and Jim, and Jim knows

this.

        Hucks stories are usually believed, but even when doubted, he manages to change

his account just enough to make it believable.



An example of this is when he is caught as a

stow-away on a raft and his original story is not believed by the crew: Now, looky-here,

youre scared, and so you talk wild. Honest, now, do you expire in a scowl, or is it a lie?

(106). Huck then changes his story just enough to make it believable, displaying his

unique talent to adjust his tale to within the parameters of believability. Throughout the

novel Huck fools umpteen intelligent people. His youth gives him a mask of innocence, that

people dont want...

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