The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a classic book by Mark Twain that follows the adventures of a boy living on the Mississippi River. The story takes place during the 1840s in the town of St. Petersburg, which is based on Hannibal, Missouri. The author's witty writing and vivid descriptions make the novel a classic, despite its juvenile subject matter.
Mark Twain
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain is a classic novel about a young boy growing up in the 1840s along the Mississippi River. Based on the real city of Hannibal, Missouri, it is an ideal read for children. It will make you laugh, cry, and think.
Social Criticism in the Novel
While the novel is a children's story, it is also a novel of social criticism. It exposes the hypocrisy, credulity, and class consciousness of rural American society.
Mark Twain's influence on Tom Sawyer
One way to understand the influence Mark Twain had on Tom Sawyer is to examine his life. Twain grew up in a small Missouri town where he worked as a typesetter and contributed articles to a newspaper run by his brother Orion. He eventually moved to Nevada to join his brother and begin a career in journalism. Then, in 1865, he published a humorous story called "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County." Twain worked as a miner and also worked in an old mine.
Twain's Childhood and Career
Twain's father died when he was only 11 years old. This event caused the family's financial situation to fall into disarray. His father was a lawyer and storekeeper and he dabbled in land speculation. When he was older, Mark Twain followed in his father's footsteps and worked for his brother's newspaper, along with other publishers in the Midwest. In addition to writing, he fulfilled his childhood dream of being a boat pilot.
Huck Finn
In the book Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer, we learn about two boys who are completely different from one another. Both hate church and Sunday school, and both hate washing and chores. Tom even plays hooky from regular school to avoid his chores. Tom is very jealous of Huck, who doesn't have to do any of these things.
Differences Between Huck and Tom
Huck is more practical and logical than Tom, and he doesn't have the same aspirations for a romantic life. Tom, on the other hand, wants adventure. Tom's ambitions are driven by the fantasy novels he read as a boy, and he's willing to follow them.
The Widow Douglas
Tom Sawyer and The Widow Douglas are a childhood favorite. Both characters have their flaws and quirks, and they are very different from each other. For instance, Tom is very mean, while his half-brother Sid is a shallow, model-like character. His cousin Mary is warm and acts in the character's best interest, while Injun Joe, who is half Native American and half Caucasian, is the most violent villain in the story.
Religious Beliefs and Practices
Tom Sawyer and The Widow Douglas are both very different in their religious beliefs and practices. Widow Douglas's belief is much more lenient than that of Miss Watson's. But in spite of their differences, the characters still show a common connection.
The Murder of Dr. Robinson
The murder of Dr. Robinson is a tragic event in Tom Sawyer's life. It is an act of revenge by Injun Joe, who kills the doctor and blames Tom. After the murder, Tom and Huck run away, but Tom is haunted by his guilt. He starts to have bad dreams and talks in his sleep.
Graveyard and Grave Robbers
The murder takes place in a graveyard where Tom and Huck are trying to make a wart cure. While they are there, they find grave robbers. One of the grave robbers, Injun Joe, kills Dr. Robinson, and then blames it on Muff Potter. Muff Potter blames the murder on Joe, but he doesn't know that Dr. Robinson was innocent and was killed because of his cruelty towards Joe.
