Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

100 Pages·2002·1.17 MB·English

by  James L. Roberts

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Twain’s
The Adventures
of Tom Sawyer
By James L. Roberts, Ph.D.
IN THIS BOOK
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Table of Contents
Life and Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Personal Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Early Career . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Writing Career . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Introduction to the Novel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Brief Synopsis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
List of Characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Character Map . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Critical Commentaries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Chapter I: Tom Plays, Fights, and Hides . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Commentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Chapter II: The Glorious Whitewasher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Commentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Chapter III: Busy at War and Love . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Commentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Chapters IV and V: Showing Off in Sunday-School;
The Pinch-Bug and His Prey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Commentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Chapters VI, VII, and VIII: Tom Meets Becky;
Tick-Running and a Heartbreak; The Pirate Crew Set Sail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Commentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Chapters IX, X, and XI: Tragedy in the Graveyard;
Dire Prophecy of the Howling Dog; Conscience Racks Tom . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Commentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
iv
CliffsNotes Twain’sThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Chapter XII: The Cat and the Pain Killer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Commentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Chapters XIII and XIV: The Pirate Crew Set Sail;
Happy Camp of the Freebooters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Commentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Chapters XV and XVI: Tom’s Stealthy Visit Home;
First Pipes—“I’ve Lost My Knife” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Commentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Chapters XVII and XVIII:Pirates at Their Own Funeral;
Tom Reveals His Dream Secret . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Commentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Chapters XIX and XX: The Cruelty of “I Don’t Think”;
Tom Takes Becky’s Punishment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Commentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Chapter XXI: Eloquence—The Master’s Gilded Dome . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Commentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Chapter XXII: Huck Finn Quotes Scriptures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Commentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Chapters XXIII and XXIV: The Salvation of Muff Potter; Splendid Days
and Fearful Nights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
Commentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .46
Chapters XXV and XXVI: Seeking the Buried Treasure;
Real Robbers Seize the Box of Gold . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .48
Commentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .50
Chapters XXVII and XXVIII: Trembling on the Trail;
In the Lair of Injun Joe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Commentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
v
Table of Contents
Chapters XXIX and XXX: Huck Saves the Widow;
Tom and Becky in the Cave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Commentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .54
Chapters XXXI and XXXII: Found and Lost Again;
“Turn Out! They’re Found!” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Commentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Chapters XXXIII and XXXIV: The Fate of Injun Joe; Floods of Gold . . . . . .59
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Commentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60
Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Chapter XXXV: Respectable Huck Joins the Gang; Conclusions . . . . . . . . . .62
Summary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
Commentary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Character Analyses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Tom Sawyer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Injun Joe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
Huck Finn . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67
Becky Thatcher . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Critical Essays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69
Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn: A Study in Contrasts . . . . . . . . . . . . .70
Tom Sawyer:The Movie, the Musical, and the Novel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .72
CliffsNotes Review . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .75
CliffsNotes Resource Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .78
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .83
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LIFE AND
BACKGROUND
OF THE AUTHOR
Personal Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Early Career . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Writing Career . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
2
CliffsNotes Twain’sThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Personal Background
Mark Twain (a.k.a., Samuel Langhorne Clemens) was born in the
little town of Florida, Missouri, on November 30, 1835, shortly after
his family had moved there from Tennessee. When Twain wasabout
four, his family moved again, this timeto Hannibal, Missouri, a small
town of about five hundred people.
Twain’s father was a lawyer by profession but was only mildly
successful. He was, however, highly intelligent and a stern disciplinar-
ian. Twain’s mother, a southern belle in her youth, had a natural sense
of humor, was emotional, and was known to be particularly fond of
animals and unfortunate human beings. Although the family was not
wealthy, Twain apparently had a happy and secure childhood.
Early Career
Twain’s father died when Twain was twelve years old and, for the
next tenyears, Twain was an apprentice printer and then a printer both
in Hannibal and in New York City. Hoping to find his fortune, he
conceived a wild scheme of making a fortune in South America. On a
riverboat to New Orleans, he met a famous riverboat pilot who prom-
ised to teach him the trade for five hundred dollars. After completing
his training, Twain piloted riverboats along the Mississippi for four years.
During this time, he became familiar with the towns along the mighty
River and became acquainted with the characters who would later
inhabit many of his novels, especially Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn.
When the Civil War began, Twain’s allegiance tended to be Southern
due to hisSouthern heritage, and he briefly served in the Confederate
militia. Twain’s brother Orion convinced him to go west on an expedi-
tion, a trip which became the subject matter of a later work, Roughing It.
Writing Career
Even though some of his letters and accounts of traveling had been
published, Twain actually launched his literary career with the short story
“The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County,” published in 1865.
This story brought him national attention, and Twain devoted the major
portion of the rest of his life to literary endeavors. In addition to
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, some of Twain’s mostpopularand widely
read works include novels such as The Prince and the Pauper (1881),