About This Activity
The summer version of the Stratford on Odeon Literary Society explores how two authors—writing across a span of nearly 150 years—grapple with questions of race, language, freedom, morality, and narrative control through the character of Jim/James. Baylor TIP students will engage with Twain’s Huckleberry Finn, a canonical American novel, and Everett’s James, a bold contemporary reimagining told from Jame’s perspective. Reading / Discussion Schedule (Specific dates and times will be chosen by students.) Seminar 1: Huckleberry Finn (Chapters 1-16) Seminar 2: Huckleberry Finn (Chapters 17-28) Seminar 3: Huckleberry Finn (Chapters 29-The Last) Seminar 4: James (Part 1, Chapters 1-18) Seminar 5: James (Part 1, Chapters 19-32) Seminar 6: James (Part 2 & Part 3) Through reading and seminar discussions, students will analyze how authors use voice, structure, satire, and narrative authority to challenge (and reframe) dominant cultural narratives. Critical Questions: · How does voice shape power in literature, especially for marginalized characters? · In what ways do Twain and Everett comment on the social and moral landscapes of their respective times? · What responsibilities do modern authors have when reinterpreting classic literature? · How does satire operate differently in both texts, and to what effect? · How does Everett’s James deepen, complicate, or contradict Twain’s portrayal of Jim?
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