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A comprehensive overview of the plot, themes, and characters of Mark Twain's classic novel. Follow Tom Sawyer's adventures with Huck Finn, Becky Thatcher, Injun Joe, and more in this coming-of-age story.
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Full title The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Author Samuel...
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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer characters include: Tom Sawyer,...
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A summary of Chapters 1–3 in Mark Twain's The Adventures of...
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Test your knowledge on all of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer....
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Summary & Analysis Chapters 1–3 Chapters 4–6 ... It’s not...
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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, novel by Mark Twain, published in 1876, that centres on a smart mischievous young boy living in a town along the Mississippi River. The satiric work is considered a classic of American literature, and it spawned the hugely successful sequel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884).
An orphan, Tom Sawyer lives with his Aunt Polly and half brother, Sid, in St. Petersburg, Missouri, on the Mississippi River; the fictional town is based on Hannibal, Missouri, where Twain grew up. The early chapters highlight Tom’s propensity for trouble. First he angers his aunt by eating jam, then he gets in a fight with another boy. As punishment for his various misdeeds, Aunt Polly orders him to whitewash the fence. However, Tom manages to convince other children that whitewashing is fun, and they end up giving him various items for a turn at the fence. Later in the book Tom goes to the cemetery with Huckleberry Finn, a vagabond whose father is a heavy drinker. The duo come across three grave robbers, including Injun Joe and Dr. Robinson. The two men get into a fight, and Injun Joe murders the doctor. Although Tom and Huckleberry promise never to tell anyone what they saw, Tom ultimately testifies against Injun Joe, who escapes.
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At one point, Tom, Huckleberry, and a third boy decide to run away from home and become pirates. While on an island in the Mississippi River, they discover that people think they have died. The three dramatically reappear during their funeral services. Tom and Huckleberry then decide to look for buried treasure in an abandoned house. The boys are forced to hide when Injun Joe and a partner arrive to bury their own treasure there. However, the two men then stumble upon a gold cache in the house and decide to hide it elsewhere. One night Huck follows them, hoping to find the gold. When he overhears their plan to attack the Widow Douglas, Huck gets help, and the crime is prevented.
Together with The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer changed the course of children’s literature in the United States as well as of American literature generally, presenting the first deeply felt portrayal of boyhood. While Tom Sawyer is sometimes overshadowed by the darker Huckleberry Finn, the former remains an enduring take on American childhood, known for its humour and morality. In addition, its main character is considered the epitome of the all-American boy, full of mischief but basically purehearted. Tom was also the focus of the sequels Tom Sawyer Abroad (1894) and Tom Sawyer, Detective (1896).
Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn have drawn criticism for their use of pejoratives to describe African Americans and Native Americans. In addition, the negative portrayal of Injun Joe in Tom Sawyer is also regarded as problematic by some. Bowdlerized versions of both works also proved controversial.
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Aug 18, 2019 · A plot summary of Mark Twain's classic novel, covering the adventures of Tom Sawyer, a young boy who gets into trouble and escapes with his friends Huckleberry Finn and Joe Harper. The novel explores themes of adventure, satire, love, and justice, and is a classic for children and adults.
Learn about the plot, characters, and themes of Mark Twain's classic novel, set in the fictional town of St. Petersburg, Missouri. Explore the full text, flashcards, test prep, and more with SparkNotes.
Follow the adventures of Tom Sawyer, a mischievous boy who loves to play hooky, whitewash fences, and explore caves. He witnesses a murder, becomes a pirate, and falls in love with Becky Thatcher in this classic American novel.
Learn about the main events and themes of Mark Twain's classic novel, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, through a concise and comprehensive summary. Follow Tom's adventures as he plays hooky, whitewashes a fence, runs away, finds treasure, and falls in love.
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by Mark Twain. Buy Study Guide. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Summary. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer revolves around the youthful adventures of the novel's schoolboy protagonist, Thomas Sawyer, whose reputation precedes him for causing mischief and strife.
