The adventures of Tom Sawyer

1. The adventures of Tom Sawyer By Mark Twain

2. Introduction • Tom just wants to have fun…. • He isn’t interested in what he’s supposed to do – • go to school, study the bible, do chores

3. Introduction • He is interested in – • tricking his friends into doing his chores • pretending he is a pirate • sneaking into the cemetery to perform secret spells • exploring caves

4. Introduction • Tom is often joined on his adventures by Huckleberry Finn, the son of the town’s drunkard, and by Joe Harper, Tom’s best friend. • Tom also spends a lot of time trying to win the affections of Becky Thatcher, the new girl in town. • Sometimes he accidently involves her in his adventures.

5. Introduction • And sometimes Tom’s fun turns dangerous, • such as when he and Huck • witness a murder.

6. Introduction • Do you think Tom will find a way to do the right thing while still having his fun and games?

7. Background • The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was written by Mark Twain, whose real name was Samuel Clemens. • Clemens grew up in Hannibal, MO, • which he later used as the inspiration • for St. Petersburg, • where Tom and his friends live.

8. background • The real town of Hannibal and the fictional town of • St. Petersburg are located on the banks of the Mississippi. • Both are near islands and caves, with provide adventurous children with lots of places to play.

9. Background • The action of the book takes place in the 1840s. • In some ways the United States was growing and prospering during this time, but in other ways it was still old-fashioned and impoverished.

10. Background • On top of that, slavery still existed in America. • In the book, Jim, who • occasionally crosses paths • with Tom and his friends, • is a slave.

11. Background 1806 – gas lighting first used in homes 1827 – the camera is invented 1830s – 1st indoor shower installed 1874 – the Remington typewriter is manufactured 1876 – Alexander Graham Bell invents the telephone 1893 – the 1st automobile is built 1896 – 1st movie is shown in the United States 1900 – electricity appears in private homes 1920 – the 1st radio station is founded 1927 – television is demonstrated for the 1st time

12. Background • The characters in the book speak very differently from the way most Americans do today. • Although Twain’s characters speak English, they speak in distinctive dialect. They shorten some words to one syllable and sometimes combine several words into one. • Examples: • warn’t = were not quicker’n = quicker than • yaller = yellow thish-yer = this here

13. background • Tom and his friends also hold many beliefs • that seem superstitious to modern readers. • For example, Tom and Huck discuss the best ways to cure warts – none of which involve medicine or doctors!

14. background • In the 1840s, medicine was primitive in comparison with techniques used today. • Doctors and medial students had a hard time learning about human anatomy because there were legal restrictions on the use of bodies to dissect for study.

15. background • …so some people became “body snatchers”, stealing freshly buried bodies and selling them to doctors and medical establishments. • When Tom and Huck sneak into the cemetery, they come across some body snatchers.

16. Response Questions • From the title, you know that the book is about a boy’s adventures. • What kinds of adventures did you have as a child? How do you think they will compare to Tom’s? • Do you think American children have more or fewer chances for adventures than they did in the 1840s? Why? • Would you liked to have lived during the 1840s? Why or why not?

17. Response Questions • Tom is often able to persuade his friends to do things for him. Are you more like Tom, or like the friends he tricks? How so? Give specific details. • Tom and his friends are very superstitious. What are you or someone you know superstitious about? Why?