The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Trigger Warning List

My apologies for this being so long; there are a lot of triggers in Huck Finn. Also, I had a problem with the format of the original post I made, for some reason if I paste the list in, save it, and then come back to edit it again, to messes the format up. Weird, but I suppose I can work around that issue.

Huck Finn Trigger Warning List

[Important: Please note that trigger warnings are not necessarily to make it so that you can just avoid the content. There is a fairly popular mistaken belief that trigger warnings are censorship. That is not true. Trigger warnings exist so that, if you are sensitive to the content, you are made aware of it before it occurs and surprises you. This gives you a chance to prepare yourself mentally before reading it so that it does not affect you as negatively as it might if you didn’t know that it was going to happen. Also, please note that if you rely on triggers for the shock-value or plot twists (aka, “Well I can’t use trigger warnings because they’re spoilers!”), you aren’t a very good writer and you definitely aren’t taking into consideration the potential sensitivity of your audience.]

Triggers, listed in order of the number of occurrences: death, racism, alcohol, child abuse, ableist language, and violence against women.

The paragraph numbers and a general summary of each are listed on the following pages. For reference, the italicized numbers in the parenthesis are the page numbers in my book, and the total number of paragraphs in each chapter are listed below:

Chapter 1: 9 Chapter 2: 42 Chapter 3: 16 Chapter 4: 24 Chapter 5: 35 Chapter 6: 18 Chapter 7: 28 Chapter 8: 86 Chapter 9: 21 Chapter 10: 13 Chapter 11: 69 Chapter 12: 46 Chapter 13: 52 Chapter 14: 58 Chapter 15: 49 Chapter 16: 74 Chapter 17: 64 Chapter 18: 83 Chapter 19: 54 Chapter 20: 46 Chapter 21: 53 Chapter 22: 17

Chapter 23: 39 Chapter 24: 48 Chapter 25: 46 Chapter 26: 100 Chapter 27: 48 Chapter 28: 95 Chapter 29: 90 Chapter 30: 44 Chapter 31: 55 Chapter 32: 53 Chapter 33: 73 Chapter 34: 72 Chapter 35: 71 Chapter 36: 35 Chapter 37: 50 Chapter 38: 62 Chapter 39: 27 Chapter 40: 50 Chapter 41: 48 Chapter 42: 73 Chapter 43: 13

Death

There’s a lot of death in Huck Finn. It ranges from mentioning in passing to more graphic scenes. The instances that I noted are as follows:

• In chapter 1, paragraph 4 (2), Huck says that he “don’t take no stock in dead people.”
• In paragraphs 6 (2) and 7 (3) of chapter 1, there is a mention of heaven and hell.
• In paragraph 8 (3) of chapter 1, Huck mentions being so lonely he almost wished he were dead. There is also an owl hooting about someone who is dead, a ghost making noise, and a spider that gets burnt by a candle.
• In paragraph 9 (4) of chapter 1, death is used as a simile.
• In paragraphs 11 (7) and 17 (8) of chapter 2, there is a fairly graphic mention of death being used as revenge by Tom Sawyer’s gang.
• In paragraphs 21 (8), 23, 24, and 25 of chapter 2, there are brief mentions of murder by Tom Sawyer’s gang.
• Paragraphs 31 (9), 32, 34, 35, 36, and 37 of chapter 2.
• Paragraph 40 (10) of chapter 2.
• In paragraph 3 (12) of chapter 3, there is a mention of drowning.
• Paragraph 4 (12) of chapter 2.
• In paragraph 35 (22) of chapter 5, the judge mentions shooting someone.
• In paragraph 17 (29) of chapter 6, there are mentions of killing someone with a knife.
• In paragraphs 18 (33),19, and 20 of chapter 7, Huck fairly graphically kills a pig.
• In paragraph 21 (34) of chapter 7, there is a mention of murder and a dead body.
• In paragraphs 2 (37) and 3 of chapter 8, there is a mention of a dead body.
• In paragraph 6 (38), 7, and 8 of chapter 8, there are mentions of murder and a dead body.
• Paragraphs 30 (42), 37, 38, and 42 of chapter 8.
• Paragraph 55 (44) of chapter 8.
• Paragraph 64 (45) and 65 of chapter 8.
• In paragraph 67 (46) of chapter 8 there is a brief mention of suicide.
• In paragraphs 16 (50) and 18 of chapter 9, there is a dead man who was shot in the back.
• In paragraphs 1 (51) and 2 (52) of chapter 10, Huck tries to talk about the dead man with Jim.
• In paragraphs 5 (52), 6, and 7 of chapter 10, a snake is killed.
• In paragraph 9 (53) of chapter 10, there is a mention of someone dying after falling from a height.
• In paragraph 10 (54) of chapter 10, there is a brief mention of drowning.
• Paragraphs 11 (56), 12, 13, 14, and 18 of chapter 11 have mentions of murder.
• In paragraphs 27 (68), 29, 30, and 34 of chapter 12, there are mentions of murder.
• In paragraph 40 (69) of chapter 12, there are mentions of drowning and murder.
• In paragraphs 43 (74), 50 (75), and 51 of chapter 13, there are mentions of drowning and dead bodies.
• In paragraph 1 (76) of chapter 14, there is a brief mention of death.
• In paragraphs 10 (77), 17, 19, 21 (78), 23, and 24 of chapter 14, there are mentions of killing children and decapitation.
• In paragraphs 19 (83) and 33 (84) of chapter 15, there are brief mentions of drowning,
• In paragraph 5 (87) of chapter 16, a character briefly wishes that he were dead.
• Paragraph 6 (88) of chapter 16.
• In paragraph 34 (97) of chapter 17, there is a brief mention of scalping.
• Paragraph 47 (98) of chapter 17.
• Paragraphs 58 (100) and 59 of chapter 17.
• In paragraph 61 (102) of chapter 17, there is a brief mention of drowning.
• Paragraph 62 (103) of chapter 17.
• In paragraphs 17 (107), 21, and 26, killing is mentioned.
• In paragraphs 35-38 (108) and 40 (109), there are mentions of killing.
• Paragraph 67 (113) of chapter 18.
• In paragraphs 73 (114) and 74 of chapter 18, there is murder and mentions of killing.
• In paragraph 76 (115) of chapter 18, there is a mention of dead bodies.
• Paragraphs 80 (115) and 82 (116) of chapter 18.
• Paragraph 33 (122) of chapter 19.
• Paragraph 51 (124) of chapter 19.
• In paragraph 26 (140) of chapter 21, there is a mention of severe animal abuse.
• Paragraphs 32 (141), 35, and 37 of chapter 21.
• In paragraphs 48 (143) and 50 of chapter 21, there is murder.
• In paragraphs 53 (145) of chapter 21 and paragraphs 6-9 (145) of chapter 22, there are mentions of lynching.
• Paragraph 14 (148) of chapter 22.
• In paragraph 8 (152) of chapter 23, there is a mention of a dead cat.
• In paragraph 23 (153) of chapter 23, there are mentions of decapitation and drowning.
• Paragraph 3 (157) of chapter 24.
• Paragraphs 13 (158) and 15 (159) of chapter 24.
• Paragraphs 29 (160) and 31 of chapter 24 mention death and a funeral.
• Paragraph 48 (162) of chapter 24.
• In paragraph 6 (163) of chapter 25, there are mentions of a coffin.
• Paragraph 10 (164) of chapter 25.
• Paragraph 15 (165) of chapter 25.
• In paragraphs 30 (168), 32, 33, and 34 of chapter 25, there are mentions of a funeral.
• In paragraphs 1 (178) through 9 (181) of chapter 27, there is a funeral scene and mentions of a dead body.
• In paragraphs 46 (192) and 49 of chapter 28, there are mentions of a coffin and a dead body.
• In paragraph 77 (192) of chapter 28, there is a graphic depiction of death.
• Paragraph 38 (199) of chapter 29.
• In paragraphs 68 (202) and 72 of chapter 29, there are mentions of a dead body and lynching.
• Paragraph 79 (203) of chapter 29.
• Paragraph 6 (205) of chapter 30.
• In paragraph 7 (206) of chapter 30, there is a mention of drowning.
• Paragraph 35 (207) of chapter 30.
• In paragraph 40 (207) of chapter 30, there is a mention of drowning.
• In paragraphs 19 (212) and 25 (214) of chapter 31, there are mentions of hell.
• Paragraphs 1 (218) and 3 (219) of chapter 32 mention death and wishing you were dead.
• In paragraph 21 (221) of chapter 32, there is a fairly graphic depiction of death.
• Paragraphs 2-9 (224) of chapter 33 mention murder and death.
• Paragraph 71 (230) of chapter 33.
• In paragraph 36 (235) of chapter 34, there is a graphic description of an almost-death.
• In paragraph 68 (236) of chapter 34, a character mentions wishing that they were dead and death.
• In paragraph 70 (237) of chapter 34, there is a mention of hanging.
• Paragraph 41 (244) of chapter 35.
• In paragraph 7 (246) of chapter 36, there is a mention of a dead rat.
• In paragraph 28 (249) of chapter 36, a character briefly mentions wishing he were dead.
• In paragraph 44 (255) of chapter 37, there is a mention of skinning.
• Paragraph 22 (259) of chapter 38.
• In paragraph 27 (269) of chapter 39, there is a mention of killing.
• In paragraph 32 (273) of chapter 40, there is a mention of killing.
• In paragraph 26 (279) of chapter 41, there is a mention of skinning.
• In paragraph 44 (282) of chapter 41, there are mentions of different kinds of deaths.
• Paragraph 10 (283) of chapter 42.
• In paragraph 13 (284) of chapter 42, there are mentions of death and hanging.
• Paragraph 15 (285) of chapter 42.
• In paragraph 12 (292) of chapter 43, there is a mention of a dead man.

Racism

For the purposes of this list, I mainly noted the uses of the n-word, not the casual racism that also exists throughout the novel, such as the belief that white people are better and that black people are white people’s property. However, that does still exist in the novel, so be aware that you will encounter it while reading.

Here are the uses of the n-word in each chapter:

• In chapter 1: paragraph 8 (3).
• In chapter 2: paragraphs 1 (4) and 7 (6).
• In chapter 4: paragraph 21 (17).
• In chapter 6: paragraphs 11 (27) and 12 (28).
• In chapter 8: paragraphs 39 (42), 54 (43), 79 (46), 80, and 82 (47).
• In chapter 9: paragraph 21 (51).
• In chapter 11: paragraphs 15 (56), 18, 19 (57), 20, 22, and 27 (58).
• In chapter 13: paragraph 43 (73).
• In chapter 14: paragraph 1 (76), paragraph 24 (78), paragraph 35 (79), and paragraph 58 (80).
• In chapter 15: paragraph 49 (86).
• In chapter 16: paragraphs 5 (87), 8 (88), 24 (89), 41 (91), 42, and 61 (92).
• In chapter 17: paragraphs 28 (97) and 62 (103).
• In chapter 18: paragraphs 6 (106), 44 (110), 52 (111), and 60 (112).
• In chapter 19: paragraph 15 (120).
• In chapter 20: paragraphs 1 (125), 2, 4, 12 (128), 26 (129), 27 (130), and 38 (133).
• In chapter 21: paragraph 23 (139).
• In chapter 22: paragraph 1 (145).
• In chapter 23: paragraph 31 (155).
• In chapter 24: paragraphs 1 (156) and 48 (162).
• In chapter 26: paragraphs 3 (171), 4, 53 (173), 56, 97 (177), and 98.
• In chapter 27: paragraphs 13 (182), 27, 36 (184), and 48 (185).
• In chapter 28: paragraphs 3 (185), 10 (186), and 30 (189).
• In chapter 29: paragraphs 28 (198) and 29.
• In chapter 30: paragraphs 12 (206) and 40 (208).
• In chapter 31: paragraphs 6 (210), 9 (211), 19 (212), 20 (213), 22, 34 (215), 36 (216), 37, 39, 42, 43, 45, 47, and 54 (217).
• In chapter 32: paragraphs 2 (218), 6 (219), 7, and 20 (221).
• In chapter 33: paragraphs 13 (225), 20, 23, 67 (230), and 69.
• In chapter 34: paragraphs 4 (231), 12 (232), 21 (233), 24, 37 (235), 38, 40, 48 (236), 52, 66, 70 (237), and 72.
• In chapter 35: paragraphs 2 (238), 14 (239), 41 (242), and 48.
• In chapter 36: paragraphs 7 (245), 17, (246), 24 (248), 26, 27 (249), 30, and 34 (250).
• In chapter 37: paragraph 13 (252).
• In chapter 38: paragraphs 9 (258) and 62 (263).
• In chapter 39: paragraphs 4 (266), 22 (268), 26 (269), and 27.
• In chapter 41: paragraphs 17 (277), 23 (278), 26 (279), 27, 30, and 31 (280).
• In chapter 42: paragraphs 12 (284), 13, 14, 15, 19 (286), 32 (287), 41 (288), 44, and 58 (290).
• In chapter 43: paragraph 1 (291).

There are also multiple uses of the word “Injun,” which is a slur against Native Americans. The instances that I noted were:

• Paragraph 16 (14) of chapter 3.
• Paragraph 33 (141) of chapter 21.
• Paragraph 1 (144) of chapter 22.
• Paragraph 61 (173) of chapter 26.
• Paragraphs 6 (224) and 7 of chapter 33.
• Paragraph 33 (273) of chapter 40.
• Paragraph 31 (280) of chapter 41.
• Paragraph 4 (292) of chapter 43.

Alcohol

Alcohol or being drunk are mentioned in the following paragraphs:

• Paragraph 16 (8) of chapter 2.
• Paragraphs 28 (21), 29, 31, and 34 (22) of chapter 5.
• Paragraphs 8 (25), 9 (26), 11 (27), and 13 (28) of chapter 6.
• Paragraph 16 (32) of chapter 7.
• Paragraphs 6 (52), 8 (53), and 9 of chapter 10.
• Paragraphs 50 (60) and 51 of chapter 11.
• Paragraphs 20 (83), 21, and 34 (84) of chapter 15.
• Paragraphs 28 (141), 29, 35, and 39 of chapter 21.
• Paragraph 14 (148) of chapter 22.
• Paragraph 27 (154) of chapter 23.
• Paragraph 44 (208) of chapter 30.
• Paragraphs 2 (209), 34 (215), and 35 of chapter 31.
• Paragraph 4 (292) of chapter 43.

Child Abuse

There is child abuse of varying degrees in the following paragraphs:

• Paragraph 3 (11) of chapter 3.
• Paragraphs 1 (18), 6 (19), 12 (20), 19, 28 (21),and 31 of chapter 5.
• Paragraphs 1 (23), 3 (24), 5, and 17 (29) of chapter 6.
• Paragraph 11 (31) of chapter 7.
• Paragraph 39 (155) of chapter 23.
• Paragraph 3 (265) of chapter 39.
• Paragraph 21 (271) of chapter 40.
• Paragraph 21 (278) of chapter 41.
• Paragraphs 37 (288) and 71 (291) of chapter 42.

Ableist Language

Uses of ableist language, including the words dumb, stupid, and idiot, are on the following paragraphs:

• In paragraphs 1 (151) and 39 (156) of chapter 23, the words idiot and dumb are used.
• In paragraphs 13 (159), 38 (161), 39, and 47 (162) of chapter 24, the words dumb and idiotic are used.
• In paragraphs 27 (167) and 41 (169) of chapter 25, the words stupid and idiotic are used.
• In paragraph 54 (217) of chapter 31, the word idiot is used.
• In paragraph 47 (228) of chapter 22, the word lunatic is used.
• In paragraph 48 (242) of chapter 35, the word crippled is used.
• In paragraph 23 (278) of chapter 41, the word crazy is used.

Violence Against Women

There are mentions of killing women in paragraphs 36 (9) and 37 of chapter 2 and paragraph 23 (153) of chapter 23. Additionally, there is a mention of Stockholm Syndrome in paragraph 37 (9) of chapter 2.

Up next: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. It should be out in the next few days, so watch out for that.

A Note for Teachers or Librarians: If you want to distribute these lists to your students or have them available to patrons, I can format the text into a singular sheet of paper--either as a flyer or a tri-fold brochure. Let me know if you want that, my rates are variable and low, as I don't want to create a paywall to accessibility.

Love Always,

Sam

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