1. Tom Sawyer

2. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
Published 1876
Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens, )
Hannibal, Missouri – Twain’s hometown
Novel’s setting – “St. Petersburg”

3. PLOT
plot—sequence of events in which each event results from a previous one and causes the next
What is the plot of Tom Sawyer?
Hmmm, is there a plot?
“episodic” – episodes, fragments, anecdotes
“a stringing together of remembrances”
List subplots

4. A Missouri Childhood Is it a memoir?
Did the author have a good childhood?
Is it a children’s book? Who is the audience?
Twain said written for adults

5. Adults in Tom Sawyer How are adults written about?
What does the author think of adults?
Adults in book - list
Satire
Scenes where human flaws are exposed – social critique – satire
Tom is the agent for exposing the shortcomings and shortsightedness of the adult population
Social criticism of Hannibal and the American rural life it represents

6. Tom – Good Boy or Bad Boy?
Fundamentally a “good boy” although acts out in “bad” ways
Gradually reveals Tom’s inner goodness
Conscience – testifies at Muff Potter’s trial
Compassion towards Becky in the cave
“Foils” – Sid, Willie (the Model Boy), St. Louis smarty

7. Tom and Community
Action never farther than a few miles from the community
Drawn back to community:
Pirate – returns
Appearance at funeral
Only character who negotiates the divide between children and adults
Only one who speaks to both sides

8. Moving Toward Adulthood?
Becky
Coming into wealth
Persuades Huck to go to the Widow’s