Question

Read the quotation from chapter 5 of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

“Well, I'll learn her how to meddle. And looky here—you drop that school, you hear? I'll learn people to bring up a boy to put on airs over his own father and let on to be better'n what HE is.”
What is Twain’s most likely intention for employing humor within this quotation?
to portray Huck’s father as educated and helpful
to portray Huck’s father as uneducated and ignorant
to convince the reader that Huck’s father truly wants to help Huck
to convince the reader that Huck’s father has the ability to be funny

Answer 1

to portray Huck’s father as uneducated and ignorant

Twain uses the comic dialect, incorrect grammar, and exaggerated bluster to satirize Pap’s ignorance and hypocrisy—showing him as uneducated, jealous, and hostile rather than helpful.