The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

By Mark Twain

The Author—Mark Twain

• His real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens

• He was born in 1835 • He lived in a port on the Mississippi

River in Hannibal, Missouri• While he was growing up, he was

fascinated by the steamboats on the Mississippi River

Mark Twain Continued…• He was one of six children and his father

passed away when he was twelve• His first job was as a printer• At 17, he left Hannibal behind for a

printer's job in St. Louis. While in St. Louis, Clemens became a steamboat pilot.

• Clemens' pseudonym, Mark Twain, comes from his days as a steamboat pilot. It is a river term which means two fathoms or 12-feet when the depth of water for a boat is being sounded. "Mark twain" means that is safe to navigate.

• Because the river trade was brought to a stand still by the Civil War in 1861, Clemens began working as a newspaper reporter for several newspapers all over the United States.

• He spent a brief amount of time as a soldier• In 1870, Clemens married Olivia Langdon, and

they had four children, one of whom died in infancy and two who died in their twenties. Their surviving child, Clara, lived to be 88, and had one daughter. Clara's daughter died without having any children, so there are no direct descendants of Samuel Clemens living.

• He and his wife had an elaborate house built in Hartford, Connecticut

• His sense of humor became his trademark.• Twain was the first professional writer to use

a typewriter• He only wore white clothes because they made

him feel clean in a “dirty world”

His Writings…

• Twain began to gain fame when his story, "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calavaras County" appeared in the New York Saturday Press on November 18, 1865.

• Twain's first book, "The Innocents Abroad," was published in 1869, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" in 1876, and "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" in 1885.

• He wrote 28 books and numerous short stories, letters and sketches.

• **Taken from his official website

Tom Sawyer

• The character of Tom is based upon a few individuals

• The character of Huck is based upon one of his childhood friends

• http://gtm-media.discoveryeducation.com/videos/imagelibrary/web/EF6C29BF-DCB2-FA9E-78F455B87ECA4AA5.jpg

The Cast of Characters

• Aunt Polly- Tom’s aunt who he lives with. She dishes out the discipline, but shows him affection. Her sister was Tom’s mother. She loves Tom

• Tom Sawyer- AKA the main character. He is considered the “wild child” of the family. He is very smart and uses his imagination constantly

• Sid- Tom’s half brother. He is the “good boy” in the family who likes to get Tom into trouble. He is a liar.

• Huck Finn- Tom’s friend. His father is the town drunk. He does not have to go to school and has all of the freedom in the world. Tom is a bit jealous of this

• Pap Finn- Huck’s Father. An abusive drunk who steals from his own son. He doesn’t want Huck to ever be more than what he is.

• Muffren "Muff" Potter is a drunk fisherman who loves children and is a close friend of Tom's. He often mends the children's kites and helps them fish

• Amy- is Tom’s first love. She hates Becky Thatcherinterest

• Becky Thatcher-Becky is Judge Thatcher's daughter, known for her love interest in Tom. Her long blonde hair is always worn in braids. She wins Tom's love from the first moment he sees her.

• Joe Harper- Tom’s friend