Huckleberry Finn Chapter 1 Summary

Samantha Rodriguez

Mr. Sorenson

AP English 11

22 August 2016

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Summary

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain tells the story of a young free-spirited boy who craves his independence. Huckleberry Finn’s story starts right after the events in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer which ended with the two boys discovering a lost stash of gold. After the money is divided between them it leaves both of the boys with a great deal of money. Huck is then temporarily adopted by the Widow Douglas and her sister Ms. Watson. He has a difficult time adjusting to his new life of rules, manners, and religion. Though as soon as Huck is slowly accepting this new life for himself, his alcoholic father appears back in his life.

The con-artists go into the town now pretending to be the Wilks brothers. Huck has become quite fond of the three nieces of Peter Wilks so he decides to stop the scam. Huck steals Peter Wilks money from the fake duke and French heir and hides it in the dead Wilks’ coffin. Huck tells the oldest niece about the scam that is unfolding just as the real Wilks brothers appear in town. The con-artists barely escape and the money is back with the Wilks girls. Though unfortunately for Huck and Jim the con-artists are waiting for them at the raft so Huck and Jim have no choice but to stay with the pair for more scams in more towns. The con-artists commit their worst scam when they sell Jim to a farmer by telling him about the reward out for Jim. Huck quickly discovers where Jim is being held as a slave and sets out to rescue him. At the farm Jim is being enslaved at a woman there mistakenly calls Huck, “Tom”. Huck realizes that the people who bought Jim are Silas and Sally Phelps: Tom Sawyer’s uncle and aunt. The Phelps believe that Huck is Tom because the real Tom Sawyer is supposed to be on his way for a visit. In his plan to get Jim back Huck decides to pretend to be Tom Sawyer. When the real Tom does finally