To put it simply - artists rarely use symmetrical balance in their work because it is boring. When something is perfect, it soon becomes boring to look at. This is why artists generally opt for something weird and unusual, and asymmetric, because it draws your attention to it more easily than symmetry. Other ways artists can create a visually appealing composition is by using complementary colors, for example, or shifting the center of a painting to the sides, or using negative space rather than positive, etc.
Answer and Explanation:
Twain avoided "literary offenses" by not mentioning these works throughout the narrative. This was significant because Twain keeps his attention on the narrative itself, specifically stimulating the themes that the narrative addresses.
In this case, instead of provoking criticism to other known works and authors, Twain highlights a narrative with themes that provoke reflections on regional differences and stereotypes, a sense of community and personal integrity.
