The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

• By Mark Twain

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For Readers of all Ages

• Although my book is intended mainly for the
  entertainment of boys and girls part of my plan
  has been to pleasantly remind adults of what they
  once were themselves, and what they felt and
  thought.
• Mark Twain
• Wrote Tom Sawyer for both kids and adults
• Kids could connect it to current life
• Adults could remember what they were like as kids

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Basic Situation

• Tom Sawyer, the main character in the story, is a
  boy who has a knack for getting into trouble and
  lives with his aunt Polly and half brother Sid in
  the town of St. Petersburg, Missouri. The
  Adventures of Tom Sawyer tells about the many
  challenges Tom faces as he grows up and the
  lessons he learns.

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Conflict

• Tom must make it through the many obstacles he
  faces in everyday life. They include getting lost
  in a cave, escaping from trouble, and dealing
  with his murderous antagonist Injun Joe.

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Rising Action

• Tom convinces his friends to do the tedious job
  of white washing a fence by pretending he is
  enjoying himself and doesnt want to let them do
  it
• Tom and Huck see Injun Joe murder Dr. Robinson
  and then place the knife he used in the hand of
  Muff Potter who was passed out. When Potter wakes
  up, Joe tells him he was the murderer
• Felling underappreciated, Tom runs away to a
  nearby island with Joe and Huck and they return
  days later during their own funeral (the town
  thought they drowned)
• During the trial, Tom tells how Injun Joe was the
  real murderer and saves Muff Potter from being
  hanged
• Injun Joe escapes from the courthouse and runs
  away
• Tom and Huck see Injun Joe and another man find
  treasure in a haunted house
• Tom and Becky become lost in a cave

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Climax

• Tom and Becky are lost in the cave and it appears
  as though they will die. As Tom searches for a
  way out, Tom hears Injun Joe talking somewhere
  else in the cave. He knows that if he ever finds
  a way out Injun Joe will seek his revenge.

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Resolution

• Will Tom and Becky ever find a way out of the
  cave or will they die inside it?
• Will Injun Joe come after Tom with hopes for
  revenge or will Injun Joe be caught and hung?
• Will Tom and Huck ever find the gold Injun Joe
  hid?

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Satiremakes fun of human nature and society

• Teacher should be acting in best interest of
  children
• Instead hits them in order to have a good
  performance on examination day and then gets
  drunk before the event
• People should want something because they truly
  like or need it
• Tom tricks other boys into whitewashing the fence
  by pretending its a lot of fun and he doesnt
  want to let them do it
• in order to make a man or a boy covet a thing
  its only necessary to make it difficult to
  obtain (Twain 17)
• Sunday school should teach boys to be good
  people and have faith in religion
• Boys attempt to memorize verses of the bible in
  order to get glory and a prize

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Themes

• Theme Freedom leads to responsibility and can
  have negative consequences.
• Sub Theme People who are respected in society
  dont always deserve it. Its human nature to be
  drawn toward those who have money and power.

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• Grade for book B
• Bibliography
• Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. New
  York Harper Row, 1954.