1. Adventures of Tom Sawyer Overview
1. Children’s story
Nostalgic look at childhood
in pre-Civil War days
3. Record of superstitions

2. Adventures of Tom Sawyer Overview (cont.)
Satire of social institutions
(church and school)
Tom’s process of maturing and
growing up

3. Themes
Adolescence: conflicts of growing up, infatuation with Becky, pranks and games
Religion: important element in society, religious values of towns-people
Small Town America: typical 19th century town, different types of people, people help each other

4. Themes (cont.)
Superstitions: Tom and Huck’s deep beliefs, references to ghosts and haunted houses
Education: Descries/pokes fun of formal education, learning is a maturing process