Mark Twain's use of picturesque diction, symbolic punctuation, composed sentence formation, and fluent organization in this particular passage are overflowing. He uses these literary techniques to help him create the movement of the raft and time as Huck is describing it. Twain's description makes the journey seem like a peaceful experience.

The colorful diction in this passage portrays the continuous, elegant motion of the raft while Huck and Jim travel down the river. "Two or three days and nights went by; I reckon I might say they swum by; they slid along so quiet and smooth and lovely." The metaphoric diction in this sentence combines the movement of the river with the element of time to create the feeling of a peaceful, undisturbed journey. Since Huck and Jim only travel at night for their protection, the river becomes all the more serene with...