Mark Twain

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Mark Twain

• Kat
• Caitlin
• Dakota

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Intro to Twain

• Born Samuel Langhorne Clemens
• Born in 1835 in Florida, MO, died 1910
• Tragic early life (first 30 years). This was the
  basis of many of his stories.
• Good at lecturing, had perfect timing.
• Honored by the queen
• At age 21, became apprentice on a steam boat, and
  changed his name to Mark Twain

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• Twain spent two weeks in a militia training unit
  in Missouri, where he learned nothing about
  fighting, but a lot about retreating.

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The Beginnings of Writing

• After leaving the militia unit, he began writing,
  using Mark Twain as his pen name.
• Early writings established his vernacular style.
• Incorporated humor into his writing, which
  although prevalent today, was new in his time.

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Vernacular

• Uses different styles of wording to develop
  character profiles.
• When introducing characters, he speaks in his
  own, dignified tone, but when the main character
  speaks, its nothing like Twains voice.

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Examples! From the Frog

• In compliance with the request of a friend of
  mine, who wrote me from the east, I called on
  good natured, garrolus Simon Wheeler (Twains
  voice)
• But anyway,he was the curiousest man about always
  betting on anything(Thish-yer) (Characterization)

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Mo Examples From the Blue Jay

• Animals talk to each other of course. There can
  be no question about that but I suppose there
  are very few people who can understand it.
• You may say a cat uses good grammarbut you let a
  cat get excited onceand youll hear grammar that
  will give you the lockjaw.

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Contributions

• Local color
• Humor (funny and to highlight flaws of humanity)
• Use of vernacular.w/local color
• Spirit of national youth

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Historical Significance of Writings(kind of
relates to themes)

• Wrote on local color, in the voice of the locals
  in the settings of his stories
• Emphasized an adventurous childhood (Huck Finn,
  Tom Sawyer)
• Changed societys idea of humor.
• Writings were influenced by past experiences
  (i.e. slavery)

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Stuff to Know (just so you know)

• These are the things that have occurred several
  times in this powerpoint
• Local Color
• Humor
• Vernacular
• Know them, for they are your very best friends
  for our section of the test.

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The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County
(Lit Analysis)

• The use of vernacular, or specific word choice,
  makes this story unique.
• Characterizes the main character
• Was the narrator tricked by his friend?

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Bakers Bluejay Yarn (Lit. Analysis)

• More use of vernacular
• The animals represent different types of people.
  Cats are the ones with anger management problems,
  jays are stubborn, and flock in large groups.
• Was the narrator insane? Or simply lonely?