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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

 

 

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

by Mark Twain

Rationale by Jeremy Carter

 

Plot Summary

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is an adventure story written by the talented author Mark Twain. In this tale, the protagonist is the young and rambunctious Tom Sawyer. The story takes place in the village of St. Petersburg, Missouri during the 1800s. Young Tom, who lives with his Aunt Polly, half brother Sidney (Sid), and cousin Mary, gets into trouble for staying out late and fighting with another boy. Polly, wanting to correct her nephew's behavior, decides to punish him by making Tom whitewash a long fence on a Saturday. However, the crafty young boy manages to escape a day of hard work by tricking several boys into doing the work for him.

Later in the day, proud of Tom's presumed accomplishment, Aunt Polly allows him to go play with his friends. On his way home, Tom sees the Thatcher family who had recently moved to St. Petersburg. Mr. Thatcher's young daughter soon captures Sawyer's heart.
The following day, the young girl and her family arrive at Tom's church. Mr. Walters, the children's Sunday school teacher, introduces the new family to the children and immediately Tom begins showing off.

The next day, on his way to school, Tom stops to talk with the town's juvenile delinquent, Huckleberry Finn. Arriving late to school, Tom receives a lashing and is forced to sit with the girls. To his excitement, the only open seat is next to Becky Thatcher. After sharing their feelings, the two young children decide that they will become engaged. Tom then makes a terrible blunder by mentioning a former girl that he used to love. Crushed by this statement, Becky promptly ends the engagement.

Temporarily forgetting his trouble with Becky, Tom begins spending more time with the son of the town drunk, none other than Huckleberry Finn. One night close to midnight, the two boys sneak out to the graveyard in a superstitious attempt to cure warts. While in the graveyard, they witness Dr. Robinson, Muff Potter, and Injun Joe grave robbing. Dr. Robinson and Injun Joe get into an argument, which escalates into a shoving match. In the scuffle, Muff Potter is knocked unconscious and loses his knife. During the fight, Injun Joe kills the Doctor with Potter's knife, and then drags the Doctor's body over Muff Potter and drops the bloody knife next to its owner.

Huck and Tom leave their hiding place and run back into the town. Afraid that Injun Joe might come after them, they swear to keep what they had seen a secret. The next day the citizens of the town discover the dead body and bloody knife. Several townspeople recognize that the knife belonged to Muff Potter and a witness says that he had seen the drunkard suspiciously washing up. Because Potter was unconscious during the time of the murder and Injun Joe told him that he had killed the man in a drunken rage, Potter turns himself in and is placed in jail to await his trial.

Tom, Huck, and another boy named Joe Harper soon decide that they want to run away and become pirates. They steal food, provisions, and a small wooden raft before leaving. The three boys then float down the Mississippi River and ride the captured raft to Jackson Island where they spend several days playing and exploring. One night when Huck and Joe fall asleep, Tom sneaks back to his house where he observes his grief-ridden family. After eavesdropping, he soon discovers that the town believes that the boys had drowned and were planning their funeral. Tom sneaks back to their island camp and tells his friends about what he heard. Feeling homesick, the pirates decide to return home during their funerals. The three boys return to the shock and bewilderment of their families and neighbors who were sure that they had died. The townspeople are so overjoyed they celebrated the boys' return. Because of their adventures, Tom, Huck, and Joe become the envy of all the other boys in St. Petersburg.

Back in school, Tom has a difficult time regaining Becky Thatcher's affection. However, when Becky accidentally tears the master's schoolbook, Tom takes the blame. This act of nobility once again wins Becky over.

The glory from his river adventure and rekindled love with Becky is soon overshadowed by the gloom of Muff Potter's trial. Not wanting to see the innocent man hang, Tom testifies in court. Before he can say that Injun Joe was the real murderer, Injun Joe crashes through a window of the courthouse and escapes.

After several days pass, Tom and Huck's fear of Injun Joe fades. The two boys decide that they will become treasure hunters. They go to an abandoned house, where they think they will find hidden treasure. While in the house, the two boys hear someone approaching and quickly hide upstairs. Looking through knotholes in the wood, they see two rough men enter the house. To their horror, they soon discover that one of the men is Injun Joe. The two boys overhear the men planning criminal acts and learn that they have stolen six hundred and fifty dollars in silver. While digging a hole in the abandoned house in which to hide the silver, the two men discover a box of gold coins that had been long since forgotten. Not wanting their treasure to be found, Injun Joe decides to hide the treasure in a secret hiding place which he calls number two under the cross. When the two men finally leave the house, the boys escape, determined to find the gold's hiding place.

After trying to figure out where number two under the cross is, the boys stumble across Injun Joe who had passed out under the influence of alcohol. The two boys agree that Huck should wait for Injun Joe to leave the tavern before looking for the gold.
With Huck staking out the tavern, Tom goes to a picnic with Becky and many other friends. The children and chaperones decide to go into a cave on the outskirts of town. Tom and Becky wander off and get lost deep in an unexplored part of the cavern. While they are in the cave, Huck follows Injun Joe and his accomplice. He overhears Joe's plan to take revenge on Widow Douglas because her late husband had judged Injun Joe a vagrant and had him horsewhipped. Huck gets help and the villain's plans are spoiled. However, in the escape, Injun Joe's partner drowns, and Injun Joe makes it to the cave where Tom and Becky are lost. In a desperate attempt to find a way out of the cave, Tom comes across Injun Joe's lair. He then finds a secret way out of the cavern. Not wanting anyone to ever get lost in the cave again, Judge Thatcher has the cave sealed with a large door.

When Tom learns that the cave has been sealed, he tells the Judge about seeing Injun Joe in the cavern. A group of men go into the cave to apprehend the murderer, but find that he had died of starvation.

Knowing that Injun Joe will never bother them again, Tom and Huck go back into the cave through the newly discovered entrance and find the chest of gold. The two boys return to the town extremely wealthy and become heroes.

Literary Qualities and Summary of Reviews

Mark Twain's classic novel The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (Twain, 1876) has become one of the best known and best loved books for young adults. This novel gives readers a glimpse into the life of a young rambunctious boy living in the 1800s. This work has received praise from both young adults and experts in the field of literature.

Marks, (1959, November), a reviewer for English Journal, praised Twain's work and said, "The book is a song of praise and adoration—not only of the Mississippi Valley in the mid-nineteenth century but of life itself" (p. 443).

Messent (1983), a reviewer for The Review of English Studies, also gave the novel high marks. In his review he stated, "the imaginative power of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer . . . remains striking" (p. 354).

William Dean Howells (1876), one of America's most respected literary critics, in Critical Essays on The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, also speaks highly of Twain's novel. In Howells's review of the book he says,  "The tale is very dramatically wrought, and the subordinate characters are treated with the same graphic force that sets Tom alive before us" (p. 22).

Warner (1876), also gives a review for the novel in Critical Essays on The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Warner praises The Adventures of Tom Sawyer as one of Twain's greatest works. Warner suggests that, "Tom Sawyerisin some respects an advance on anything that Mr. Clemens has before done—an advance we mean as a piece of literary work, careful in finish, and thought out more maturely" (p. 6).

Theoretical Support and Redeeming Values

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer contains many themes which are relevant to young readers' lives. One common theme contained in great literature is the presence of moral development. According to the theorist Robert J. Havighurst (1953), adolescents go through a process of developing conscience, morality, and a scale of values. According to Havighurst, young children first develop a conscience based on punishing acts by parents or guardians. It is not until adolescence that they begin identifying with parents or taking on the role of their parents. Once this occurs, they develop a conscience and begin choosing their own values (p. 36). The Adventures of Tom Sawyer shows young readers the moral development of the protagonist Tom Sawyer. In the novel, Sawyer completely alters his values and beliefs by the end of the novel. His early actions in the story are influenced on how he might be punished. In the middle of the book his actions take a dramatic shift after he witnesses the murder of Dr. Robinson. With his conscience overwhelming him, Tom ignores his own personal safety and testifies against Injun Joe. Sawyer's changing scale of values serves as an important lesson for young adolescent readers.

Further evidence of the novel's theme of moral development can be seen by comparing the book to Kohlberg's Stages of Moral Development (1969). In the beginning of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Tom fits Kohlberg's Preconventional Stage One: Avoid Punishment (p. 19). He selects his actions based on whether or not he will get caught and punished. After Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn witness the murder of Dr. Robinson, they decide to watch each other's backs. This results in Tom's transition into Kohlberg's Preconventional Stage Two: Self Benefit (p. 19). Towards the end of the book, Sawyer follows his conscience and testifies that Muff Potter did not murder the doctor. This action propels Tom to Kohlberg's Postconventional Stage Six: Ethical Principles (p. 19).

The theorist Rosenblatt (1983) also gives support for the value of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Rosenblatt believes that literature can become a means of escape from everyday life in the real world. She states, "There are useful and harmful forms of escape. Anything that offers refreshment and a lessening of tension may have its value in helping us to resume our practical lives with renewed vigor" (p. 39). The Adventures of Tom Sawyer allows young readers to escape into a simpler world full of adventure. Through rich language and a twisting plot, readers are transported back in time and experience 1840s Mississippi river life.

Christenson (1988) describes several attitudes and values that need to be fostered in public schools. These values should be contained in literature that students are exposed to in the classroom. One of the values expressed by Christenson is being helpful to those less fortunate than ourselves. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer clearly addresses this value. For example, Tom and Huck visit Muff Potter, the wrongly accused murderer. Despite the danger to Sawyer's own life, he chooses to help Potter by testifying that Injun Joe is the real murderer.

Another value that Christenson believes should be fostered is conducting oneself calmly and responsibly in times of adversity. This value is apparent towards the end of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer when Tom and Becky wander off and get lost in a cavern. Even though they run out of light and food, Tom is able to keep his cool. Not only is he able to comfort the distraught Becky, but he also manages to find a secret passage leading out of the cave. By reading The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, young readers realize the importance of acting calm during times of distress.

Literature should contain examples of life skills that young readers will need to develop in order to excel in life. A. Ross & K. Olsen (1993) created a list of life skills that students should learn. Together, the characters in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer demonstrate all of these skills. For example, the protagonist Tom Sawyer alone demonstrates friendship, patience, cooperation, and caring. Throughout the novel, Tom develops a close friendship with Huck. As a result of their friendship, they work together and patiently wait for Injun Joe to appear before following him. Because of the boys' friendship, cooperation, and patience, they are able to find the murderer's hidden treasure. Tom's actions of befriending Muff Potter and taking Becky Thatcher's punishment shows adolescent readers what it means to care for others. The other eleven life skills listed by A. Ross & K. Olsen include integrity, initiative, flexibility, perseverance, organization, sense of humor, effort, common sense, problem-solving, responsibility, and curiosity (p. 256). Through the actions of either Tom or the other characters in the novel, each of these life skills is demonstrated.

Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) has sometimes been charged with being a racist. Jocelyn Chadwick (1999) refutes this claim in the following way. Chadwick believes that literature should raise human rights issues. In Making Twain Work in the Classroom, she points out that House Bill, 154, in the Texas legislature, sponsored by representative Ron Wilson, would require that all curricula include "human rights issues, with particular attention to the study of the inhumanity of genocide, slavery, and the Holocaust" (p. 169). Chadwick argues that great literature raises discourse about "human rights issues". Chadwick is a proponent of using Mark Twain's work in the classroom. She believes that Twain's work raises discourse of "not only the issue of slavery, but also about child abuse, greed, illiteracy, pride, honor, religious hypocrisy, loyalty, ethics, and morality" (p. 169). From Chadwick's argument, one can see that The Adventures of Tom Sawyer was not written to degrade African Americans, but to point out the evils of slavery and racism.

According to Beacham's Guide to Literature For Young Adults (1990), The Adventures of Tom Sawyer contains literary quality as an adventure story. "The novel contains many qualities of the adventure story: villains menace the innocent, hide treasures in caves, and inhabit haunted houses; heroes rescue helpless victims, discover buried treasure, and gain recognition from the women they love and from their community" (p. 1388). The adventure story qualities that are contained in The Adventures of Tom Sawyer make the novel suitable for young adolescent readers.

Possible Objections

Potential objections to The Adventures of Tom Sawyer include:

   l Racial comments
   l Disrespectful attitudes towards adults in authority
   l Suggesting vulgar language
   l Drug and alcohol use and abuse
   l Death and homicide
   l Violence

Alternative Works

Conscience

Cormier, Robert. (1974). The Chocolate War. Pantheon.
Jerry Renault must follow his conscience by challenging a secret school society and by refusing to sell chocolates. His defiant act quickly escalates into an all-out war.

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds. (1989). The Year of the Gopher. Bantam.
In this coming-of-age novel, George follows his conscience and refuses to go to an Ivy League school and become a lawyer like his dad and grandfather. He listens to his heart and instead becomes a courier to earn money to attend a public university.

Taylor, Milfred. (1976). Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. Dial.
In this touching story, a young black girl follows her conscience and struggles for dignity and respect in the dismal poverty and discrimination of the 1930s.

Courage

Cormier, Robert. (1979). After The First Death. Pantheon.
A group of terrorists take over a school bus loaded with children. The children must keep their wits and remain brave despite their terrifying life-and-death situation.

Lipsyte, Robert. (1967). The Contender. Harper & Row.
In this captivating story, a young black teen picks up the sport of boxing. He then attempts to use the sport as a ticket out of the slums. The young boxer finds that he must be strong when he is faced with numerous opponents.

Sebestyn, Ouida. (1979). Words by Heart. Little, Brown.
Lena Sills uses love and forgiveness to conquer all of her fears and prejudice in this powerful novel.

Friendship

Bridgers, Sue Ellen. (1979). All Together Now. Knopf.
Young Casey Flanagan meets and develops a friendship with a retarded man. Her life is quickly changed for the good as a result of her friendship with the man.

Brooks, Bruce. (1987). The Moves Make the Man. Harper & Row.
A black basketball player by the name of Jerome Foxworthy befriends Bix Rivers, an excellent white athlete, and teaches him the fine points about playing ball. Foxworthy soon realizes that he cannot teach Bix what moves to make in his real life.

Greene, Bette. (1973). Summer of My German Soldier. Dial.
A young abused Jewish girl faces many hardships during World War II. Despite her many troubles, she meets a German POW and the two develop a binding friendship.

References

Beetz, Kirk H., and Suzanne Nieemeyer (eds.) Beacham's guide to literature for young adults. (1990). (3rd). WA: N.W. Beacham Publishing, Inc.

Chadwick-Joshua, J. (1999). "Blame de pint! I reck'n I knows what I knows." Ebonics, Jim, and New Approaches to Understanding Adventures of Huckeleberry Finn. In J. Leonard (Ed.), Making Mark Twain work in the classroom. (pp. 164–181). Durham, IL: Duke University Press.

Christenson, R. (1988). Values and attitudes to be fostered by the public schools. Unpublished Manuscript. Oxford, OH: Miami University, Department of Political Science.

Havighurst, R.J. (1953). Human development of moral thought and action. NY: Longman, Green and Co.

Kohlberg, L. (1969). Stages in the development of moral thought and action. NY: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston.

Marks, B. (1959). Mark Twain's hymn of praise. English Journal. 48. pp. 443–448.

Messent, P. (1983). The Adventures of Tom Sawyer; Tom Sawyer Abroad; Tom Sawyer, detective. The Review of English Studies. 34. pp. 354–356.

Rosenblatt, L.M. (1983). Literature as exploration (3rd edition). NY: Modern Language Association.

Ross, A. and Olsen K., (1993). The way we were—The way we can be: A vision for the middle school, integrated thematic instruction (2nd). Village of Oak Creek, AZ: Susan Kovalik Associates.

Scharnhorst, Gary. (1993). Critical essays on The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. NY: Macmillan Publishing Company.

Twain, Mark. (1876). The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. NY: Grosset & Dunlap Publishers.

_________

From rationales prepared and donated by students of Margaret T. Sacco, Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Used with permission.

Source: http://www.marktwainmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Rationales-for-The-Adventures-of-Tom-Sawyer.doc

Web site to visit: http://www.marktwainmuseum.org

Author of the text: indicated on the source document of the above text

Twain Trivia

Don’t think you know a lot about Mark Twain?  Think again!  Twain is everywhere, from literature to popular culture.  See how many questions your group can get right!  Who knows, you might even learn something on the way to the museum!!

Q.  What comet was in the sky the day Samuel Clemens was born and died?
A.  Halley’s Comet
When Mark Twain was born on November 30, 1835, Halley's Comet was visible in the sky over Florida, Missouri.  Aware throughout his life that he was born when Halley's Comet was visible, Mark Twain predicted in 1909 that he would die when it returned: "I came in with Halley's Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year, and I expect to go out with it.... The Almighty has said, no doubt: 'Now here are these two unaccountable freaks; they came in together, they must go out together.'" He was right. When Mark Twain died on April 21, 1910, Halley's Comet was once again visible in the sky.

 

Q.  Mark Twain was among the very first American authors to use what writing invention?
A.  Typewriter
Twain once remarked "I was the first person in the world that ever had a telephone in his house...and I was the first person in the world to apply the typemachine to literature." Indeed, Twain did purchase a typewriter in 1874 and when he turned in his typewritten manuscript for LIFE ON THE MISSISSIPPI in 1882, it was thought to be the first in American publishing history. Twain mentioned his experiences with the machine in an autobiographical essay in 1901. Typewriter manufacturer Remington, lost no time in claiming the association on advertisements.

 

Q.  This actor, who won 2 Oscars and is perhaps best known for his roles in the 1952 movie “Death of a Salesman”, portrayed Samuel Langhorne Clemens (Mark Twain) in the 1944 movie The Adventures of Mark Twain.  Name the actor (Hint: his Oscars were for The Best Years of Our Lives (1946) and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931)
A.  Fredric March
The movie, The Adventures of Mark Twain, was a dramatized life of Samuel Langhorn Clemens, or Mark Twain.  The movie was nominated for the following Oscars:  Best Art Direction-Interior Decoration, Black-and-White,  Best Effects & Special Effects,  and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture.

 

Q.  Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of this famous anti-slavery book, was Twain’s neighbor in Hartford, Connecticut – what was the book?
A.  Uncle Tom’s Cabin
Twain built his dream house in Hartford, Connecticut in 1873 and 1874.  The neighborhood, known as Nook Farm, was a thriving intellectual settlement. Across the lawn lived author Harriet Beecher Stowe and her large family. Stowe had published UNCLE TOM'S CABIN in 1851 and was one of the most famous women in America.  Twain and his family lived in their Hartford home until 1891, when near bankruptcy compelled Twain to move to Europe. The house, which holds many of the family's original furnishings, is now a museum.

Q. True or False: Mark Twain was the inventor of the self-pasting scrapbook.
A.  True
Mark Twain was an inventor as well as a writer and humorist.  Three of Twain’s inventions were even patented: an automatically self-adjusting vest strap, a history game meant for improving memory, and a self-pasting scrapbook.

 

Q.  Laura Hawkins Frazer was the inspiration for what character in Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.
A.  Becky Thatcher
Laura Hawkins Frazer, the inspiration for Becky Thatcher in Mark Twain's The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.  She and Samuel Clemens (Twain's real name) were childhood sweethearts in Hannibal (pop. 17,757).  You’ll be visiting the home of Laura Hawkins during your self-guided tour of the museum.

 

Q.  This popular island singer is also an avid Twain fan!  In fact, he’s written several songs mentioning Twain and/or his works.  I guess he must enjoy reading in Margaritaville…..
A. Jimmy Buffett
Buffett has written three songs based on Twain's book, Following the Equator (That's What Livin' is to Me, Take Another Road, Remittance Man) and has paraphrased Twain in other songs. He also gives Twain a nod in his own literature, most notably by naming a main character's horse Mr. Twain.

Q. When his books first became published, Mark Twain did not sell his books in book stores, like elite Eastern literary critics would want from ‘respectable’ authors.  He chose this method instead.  What was this method?  Hint: remember those encyclopedia salesman?
A: Mark Twain sold his books door-to-door by subscription. 
Few, if any of us have had the experience of reading one of Mark Twain's books for the first time as it was originally published for the subscription book trade. Instead of selling his books through book stores, as the elite Eastern literary culture demanded of "respectable" authors, Mark Twain chose the more lucrative option of having them sold door-to-door by subscription.  Subscription sales would begin before publication. Book agents were recruited, given a specific territory to cover, and provided with a book agent's kit that suggested ways to sell the book. 

 

Q.   From which prestigious English University did Twain receive an honorary doctorate?
A.  Oxford University
Twain received an honorary doctorate from Oxford University in 1907.  He was so proud of the robe he received with the degree, he wore it to his daughter’s wedding!  You will see Twain’s Oxford robe in the Museum Gallery, which is part of your tour.

 

Q.Which of Mark Twain's books begins with the following preface?
"PERSONS attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot."
A. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

 

Q. This “Odd Couple” star took on the odd role of ‘The King’ in the 1960 movie adaptation of Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn
A. Tony Randall

 

Q.  What book describes Twain’s journey out West with his brother Orion?
A.  Roughing It
Twain traveled with his brother to Nevada, working in newspaper offices and even prospecting for silver. These experiences would later provide the basis for his volume Roughing It.

 

Q.  How many books did Mark Twain publish through his career?
A.  30
Bonus points if you can name them all!  Just kidding……

 

Source: http://www.marktwainmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Twain-Trivia-for-the-tour-bus-ride.doc

Web site to visit: http://www.marktwainmuseum.org/

Author of the text: indicated on the source document of the above text

THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER
MARK TWAIN

 

1. 'Look Behind You!'
‘Tom!'
There was no reply.
‘Tom!'
There was no reply.
'Where is he?' said Aunt Polly.
She went to the door of the kitchen and looked into the garden. 'TOM!' she shouted again.
There was no reply from the garden.
Then Aunt Polly heard a noise in the kitchen. She turned round and she saw Tom. He came out of the food cupboard. He ran towards the door. Aunt Polly grabbed his jacket and he stopped.
'Why were you in the food cupboard?' she asked.
Then she saw Tom's mouth. It was bright red. 'I know!' she said. 'You were eating my fruit! Tom, you are a bad boy!'
The old lady lifted her hand. She was going to hit Tom.
'Look behind you, Aunt Polly!' said Tom.
Aunt Polly let go of Tom's jacket and turned round quickly. Tom ran away. He ran into the garden and climbed over the fence.
'Tom Sawyer!' said Aunt Polly. Then she laughed. 'He always plays tricks on me,' she said to herself. 'I never learn.'
It was 1844 – Tom was eleven years old. He lived in St. Petersburg, Missouri. St Petersburg was a town on the Mississippi River, in North America.
Tom's parents were dead. He lived with his father's sister, Aunt Polly. Tom was not clean and tidy. He did not help Aunt Polly with the housework. He often behaved badly. But Aunt Polly loved him very much.
Aunt Polly loved Tom but she worried about him too. 'Tom must behave better,' she said to herself. 'He must obey me. He must be a good boy. He stole my fruit and I will punish him. He must do some work. Tomorrow is Saturday. There's no school on Saturday. Tomorrow, Tom will paint the fence.
Answer the questions:
1. Where does Tom Sawyer live?
2. How old is the boy?
3. Who does Tom live with?
4. Is Tom an obedient boy?
5. Why does he live with his aunt?
2. The Fence
It was Saturday morning. There was no school today. But Tom had to work. He had to paint the fence. It was a long fence around the garden of Aunt Polly's house.
Tom had a big bucket of paint and a brush with a long handle. He looked at the fence.
'I want to go swimming. I want to go fishing. I want to play with my friends,' said Tom to himself. 'I don't want to paint the fence. My friends will all see me. They'll laugh at me.'
Tom started to paint.
After an hour, Tom was tired. He looked sadly at the big bucket of paint and the brush with the long handle. Then Tom had an idea. He smiled.
He started to paint the fence again.
Soon he saw one of his friends, Ben Rogers. Ben was walking towards him. He was making strange noises. Ben was a steamboat on the Mississippi River!
'Ting-a-ling!' he said. He was making the noise of the bell on the steamboat. 'Sssh! Sssh!' he said. He was making the noise of the steam in the engine of the steamboat.
Ben was holding a big red apple.
Tm going swimming,' Ben said. 'You have to work!'
'I'm not working,' said Tom. 'This isn't workl'
'Do you like painting the fence?' asked Ben. He was surprised.
'Yes,' said Tom.
Tom started to paint again. Sometimes he stopped and looked at the fence. Then he painted again. There was a happy smile on his face.
Ben watched him. 'Let me paint the fence,' he said.
'No,' said Tom. 'It's very difficult to paint a fence.'
Ben was not happy. Tom liked painting the fence. So Ben wanted to paint the fence.
'Please let me paint it,' he said. 'I'll give you some of my apple.'
Tom thought for a minute. 'No,' he replied. And he smiled and started to paint again.
'I'll give you all of my apple,' said Ben.
Tom thought for another minute. 'All right,' he said.
So Tom sat down and started to eat Ben's apple. And Ben started to paint the fence.
True or false:
1. It was Sunday morning and Tom was free.
2. Tom had a big bucket of paint and a brush with a long handle.
3. Tom wants to paint the fence.
4. Soon Tom saw his aunt.
5. Ben Rogers didn’t want to paint the fence and he ate his apple.
3. The Beetle
It was Sunday morning. It was half past ten. Everybody in St Petersburg was in the church.
The church was a small, wooden building. Inside the church, there were rows of seats. There were rows of seats on the left-hand side of the church. There were rows of seats on the right-hand side. There was a space - the aisle - in the middle of the church. People walked along the aisle and sat in their seats.
The minister stood in front of the rows of seats. He was a very serious man. Every Sunday, the minister said very serious prayers. Every Sunday, the people sang hymns. Then every Sunday, the minister talked to the people. The minister's talk - his sermon - was always long and very serious.
The minister enjoyed his sermons. But many people did not enjoy them. Tom did not enjoy the sermons!
Today, Tom was sitting next to Aunt Polly. They were listening to the sermon. Tom was bored. He wanted to go swimming or fishing. He wanted to play with his friends. He was not enjoying the sermon.
Suddenly, Tom remembered his beetle. He had a small box in his pocket. In the box, there was a very large black beetle. Tom took the box out of his pocket and opened it. Then he took the beetle out of the box. The beetle was very strong. It opened its mouth and it
bit one of Tom's fingers. Tom threw the beetle into the aisle.
The beetle lay on the floor. It was on its back and its legs were moving. The beetle was interesting. The minister's sermon was not interesting. So, many people looked at the beetle.
It was a very hot morning. But it was cool inside the church. A dog had come into the church. The dog wanted to be cool. It was lying at the back of the church.
The dog saw the beetle too. It walked along the aisle and looked closely at the beetle. The beetle bit the dog's nose.
YELP! The dog howled loudly. It ran round and round the church with the beetle on its nose. Somebody started to laugh. Another person started to laugh. Soon, everybody in the church was laughing. But the minister did not laugh. He talked seriously, but nobody was listening. He finished his sermon quickly.
Tom walked home from church happily. Church was interesting sometimes! He smiled. 'I'll get another big beetle,' he said to himself.
Tom passed Jeff Thatcher's house. Jeff was the same age as Tom. But he was not Tom's friend. Jeff's father was a lawyer in St Petersburg.
Tom saw a girl in the garden of Jeff's house. He did not know her. She had yellow hair and blue eyes. She was beautiful!
Suddenly, Tom was in love! Last week, Tom had loved Amy Lawrence. Now, Tom forgot about Amy Lawrence. He loved the girl with yellow hair and blue eyes.
Tom looked at the girl. She looked at him. Tom did some clever tricks. He put his head and hands on the ground and lifted his into the air. Then he got up and put a wooden stick on his nose. He walked carefully in a circle and a stick did not fall from his nose.
The girl did not speak but she smiled at Tom. Then she went into the house. Tom was very happy. He ran home and he thought about the girl with yellow hair all day.
That night, Tom went back to Jeff Thatcher's house. He looked at the house for an hour but he did not see the girl.
Then Tom had an idea. He climbed over the fence and stood near a window. Tom wanted to shout to the girl but he did not know her name. So he made the noise of a cat. MI-AOW! MLAOW!
Suddenly, somebody opened a window and threw some water over Tom's head. Then they closed the window again.
Tom quickly climbed back over the fence. He picked up a stone. Then he turned round and threw it in the window. CRASH! The glass broke. He ran home.
Comprehension test
1. Everybody in St Petersburg was in the
A. cinema B. theatre C. church D. café
2. Tom did not enjoy the
A. sermons B. singing C. going to school D. dancing
3. There was a ………………….. in Tom’s box.
A. bee B. ant C. fly D. beetle
4. What was the name of Tom’s friend
A. Robert B. Jeff C. John D. Tom
5. Why did Tom throw a stone at the window? Because ……………
A. somebody shouted at him B. somebody laughed at him C. somebody threw some water over Tom

4 Huckleberry Finn
Tom had two special friends in St Petersburg. Their names were Joe Harper and Huckleberry Finn. Huckle¬berry is a long name. Everybody called the boy 'Huck'.
Aunt Polly said to Tom, 'You must be a good boy, Tom.' And Joe's mother said to Joe, 'You must be a good boy, Joe.' They wanted the boys to behave well.
Huck Finn did not live with anybody. He had no mother or brothers or sisters. And he had no uncles or aunts. His father lived far away from St Petersburg. He was a bad man and he did not like Huck.
In good weather, Huck slept outside by the river. In bad weather, he slept inside a barn. He never went to church and he never went to school. Huck wore very old clothes and he did not wear any shoes. He never
washed.
The other boys in St Petersburg liked Huck. They wanted to be Huck. They did not want to go to church. They did not want to go to school.
The mothers of the other boys in St Petersburg did not like Huck. Their sons had to go to church. And they had to go to school.
On Monday morning, Tom walked to school. Near the school, he met Huck. Tom was not happy. He did not like Monday mornings. Huck was very happy. He was carrying a dead cat.
'Hello, Huck,' said Tom.
'Hello, Tom,' said Huck.
'What have you got?' asked Tom.
'A dead cat,' said Huck.
'Why?' asked Tom.
'A dead cat cures warts,' said Huck.
Tom looked at his hands and he looked at Huck's hands. 'We've both got warts,' he said. He pointed to the little hard bumps on Huck's fingers. He looked at his own fingers.
'How does a dead cat cure warts?' asked Tom.
'A bad man dies,' Huck replied. 'People take him to the graveyard. They bury him in the ground. That night, you take the dead cat to the graveyard. At mid¬night, ghosts come. They take away the dead man. The dead man has to follow the ghosts. The cat follows the dead man. And the warts follow the cat. So the cat cures your warts. It's easy!'
'Let's go to the graveyard tonight,' said Tom. 'The minister is going to bury Hoss Williams today. Hoss was a bad man. The ghosts will come. Hoss will follow them.'
'Where shall we meet?'
'Come to my house at eleven o'clock,' said Tom. 'Make the noise of a cat and I'll come to the graveyard
with you.'
'All right,' said Huck.
Answer the questions:
1. How many friends did Tom have in St Petersburg?
2. What is the short name for Huckleberry Finn?
3. Who did Huckleberry Finn live with?
4. What cures warts?
5. What did Tom offer?

5. Becky Thatcher
Tom went into the school. He was very late. The teacher was angry. The girl with yellow hair and blue eyes was in the room. Tom sat down next to her.
'I'm Tom Sawyer. What's your name?' he said.
'Becky Thatcher,' she replied. 'I'm Jeff Thatcher's cousin. My father is a judge. We have come to live in St Petersburg.'
Tom knew about Judge Thatcher. He was a very important man. Tom wanted Becky to like him. He drew a picture of a house on a piece of paper.

'That's good,' said Becky. 'Now, draw a man.
Tom drew a picture of a man in front of the house.
The man was bigger than the house.
'That's very good, Tom,' said Becky. 'Now, draw me.'
Tom drew a picture of Becky. It was not very good.
'That's very good, Tom,' said Becky. 'I want to draw. Please, will you teach me?'
'I'll teach you at lunchtime,' said Tom. Then he wrote 'I love you' on the picture.
'You're a bad boy, Tom,' said Becky. And she smiled at him.
At lunchtime, Tom and Becky sat together. Tom was Becky's teacher. He drew a house. Then she drew a house. It was not a very good picture.
Soon, Tom was bored with drawing.
'Becky,' said Tom, 'let's get engaged. I say, "I love you", to you. Then you say, "I love you", to me. Then we kiss - and we're engaged. Then, one day, we will get married. Please, Becky! It's wonderful to get engaged.'
Tom smiled at Becky. 'I love you,' he said.
Becky did not speak for a minute. Then she spoke very quietly.
'I love you,' she said. She stood up quickly, 'But don't tell anybody, Tom.'
Tom stood up too. Then he kissed Becky.
'Now,' he said. 'We're engaged. And I can't marry anybody else. And you can't ever marry anybody else. And we must walk to school together always.'
'That's good,' said Becky.
'Yes, it is,' said Tom. 'Amy Lawrence and I—'
Tom stopped speaking. But it was too late!
'Oh, Tom,' said Becky. 'Were you engaged to Amy Lawrence?' And she started to cry.
'Becky! Becky!' said Tom. 'I'm not engaged to her now. I don't like her now.'
Becky did not reply. She cried and cried.
'Becky, I'll give you my metal door-handle!' said Tom. He gave it to her. But Becky cried and cried.
Tom did not know what to do. At last, he ran out of the school.
Becky cried for a few minutes longer. Then she stopped. Where was Tom? She ran to the door.
'Tom! Tom!' she shouted.
But Tom did not reply. Becky started to cry again.

Answer the questions:
1. Who was the girl with yellow hair and blue eyes?
2. What was Becky’s father?
3. What did Tom say to Becky?

Use the following adjectives to describe Tom’s character:
Kind sly mean rude friendly polite obedient naughty clever generous risky lazy interesting talkative moody hard-working stubborn brave impatient lovely handsome

6 The Graveyard
Tom went to bed at half past nine that night. He lay in bed quietly but he did not sleep. The house was very dark and Tom heard noises. Aunt Polly was asleep. She was snoring loudly. A dog was howling outside. Where was Huck? Tom waited and waited.
At eleven o'clock, Tom heard the noise of a cat out¬side his window. MI-AOW! MI-AOW! Huck had come!
Tom got dressed quickly. He climbed out of the win¬dow. He jumped to the ground. Huck was there. He was carrying his dead cat. Huck and Tom walked very quietly away from the house.
At half past eleven, Tom and Huck were at the graveyard. There was a wooden fence around the graveyard. A piece of wood stood next to each grave. There was a person's name on each piece of wood.
Tom and Huck found Hoss Williams' grave and sat down near it. They were behind three big trees. It was very quiet. And it was very dark. They heard the noise of an owl. WHO-OOO! WHO-OOO!
'Huck,' said Tom. 'Are you frightened?'
'Yes,' said Huck.
They heard another noise.
'What's that noise?' asked Tom. He grabbed Huck's arm.
'Oh, Tom!' said Huck. 'They're coming! The ghosts are coming!'
'Don't be frightened,' said Tom. 'Don't move and they won't see us. Look, Huck! There's a light.'
'It's a ghost with a lamp,' said Huck. 'Oh, Tom, let's go-'
There were three ghosts. And two of the ghosts were carrying lamps.
'Come on, Tom,' said Huck.
'Be quiet!' said Tom. 'They're not ghosts. They're people. I can hear Muff Potter's voice. He's drunk. Muff Potter drinks whisky. He's always drunk. And I can hear another voice. I can hear Injun Joe.'
'Injun Joe! He's bad!' said Huck. 'What are Muff Potter and Injun Joe doing here, Tom?'
THE three men walked towards Tom and Huck. The first man was carrying a lamp. Behind him was Injun Joe. Injun Joe was holding another lamp. And he was carrying two shovels and a rope. The third man was Muff Potter. He was pushing a barrow.
'Here it is,' said the first man with the lamp.
He stopped next to Hoss Williams' grave. He held up his lamp. Huck and Tom saw a young man's face.
'It's Doctor Robinson,' said Tom quietly.
'Dig quickly,' said the doctor.
Injun Joe and Muff Potter picked up the shovels. They took away the earth from Hoss Williams' grave with the shovels. Then they lifted the wooden coffin out of the ground. They opened Hoss Williams' coffin.
'Huck, they're going to take Hoss Williams' body,' said Tom. 'The doctor wants it. He's going to cut it up. He's going to study it!'
Injun Joe and Muff Potter lifted the body out of the coffin. They wrapped the body in a piece of cloth and they put it on the barrow. Then they tied the rope around the body and the barrow. Muff Potter took a knife out of his pocket. He cut the end of the rope.
'Now, Doctor,' said Injun Joe. 'Give me five more dollars and we'll go.'
'I won't give you five more dollars. I paid you the money!' said the doctor.
'Yes,' said Injun Joe. 'And you did something else too. Five years ago, I came to your father's house. I asked for something to eat. You didn't give me any food. You sent me away. Now I'm going to—' The doctor hit Joe.
Muff Potter ran towards the doctor. “Don’t hit him!” he shouted.
Muff Potter pushed the doctor and the doctor fell on the ground but muff dropped his knife. It lay on the ground, near Injun Joe. Injun Joe looked at the knife. Joe looked at Muff Potter and the doctor. They were fighting. Joe grabbed the knife. Doctor Robinson saw the piece of wood next to the open grave. The doctor grabbed a piece of wood, he hit Muff Potter on the head with the piece of wood. Muff fell on the ground, but at the same time Injun Joe pushed the knife into the doctor’s back. In a moment the doctor was dead.
Tom and Huck saw how Joe killed the doctor. They ran out of the graveyard.
Injun Joe talked to Muff Porter. He pointed at the doctor’s body. “Why did you kill him?” he asked.
“Did I kill him?” Muff replied. “I am drunk, I can’t remember.”
“You were fighting”, said Joe. “You killed him.” Muff Porter put his arms round Joe’s legs.
“Oh, Joe,” Muff said. “Please, don’t tell anybody. Please, don’t tell…”
Muff got up from the ground and started to walk away. Injun Joe saw Muff’s knife near the doctor’s body.
“He’s forgotten his knife,” Joe thought. “That’s good.”
A. Complete the sentences:
1. THE three men walked towards Tom and Huck. The first man was carrying……………..
2. He stopped next to Hoss Williams' grave. He held up his lamp. Huck and Tom saw a young man's face.
'It's ………………..' said Tom quietly.
B. Let’s imagine:
Tom and his friend are in the bar. Try to think what boys are thinking about.
Tom Huck

7. Written in Blood
Tom and Huck were very frightened. They ran towards the town. Had Injun Joe seen them? Was he running after them?
Tom and Huck ran through the open door of an old barn. They both fell onto the floor.
'What will happen now?' asked Tom.
'Injun Joe murdered Doctor Robinson,' said Huck. 'The sheriff will catch him. Injun Joe will be sent to jail. Then he will be killed. He will be hanged.'
Tom thought for a minute. Then he said, 'We know about the murder. But nobody in the town knows. Who will tell the sheriff? You and me?'
'No, I won't tell him,' said Huck. 'I'm frightened of Injun Joe. Muff Potter must tell the sheriff.'
Tom thought for another minute. Then he said, 'I luck, Muff Potter didn't see the murder.'
'What?'
'Doctor Robinson hit Muff with a piece of wood. Mud fell on the ground,' said Tom. 'He didn't see any¬thing,'
'Tom, we must not tell anybody,' replied Huck. 'The sheriff will look for Injun Joe. Then Injun Joe will look for us. He'll find us and he'll murder us. We must not tell anybody. Let's swear.'
'Yes,' said Tom. 'Let's hold hands and swear—'
'No,' said Huck. 'We're going to write our promise in blood!'
'Yes,' Tom said. 'Let's write in blood.'
He picked up a flat piece of wood. Then he took a pencil out of his pocket and wrote on the wood.
Tom had a knife. He cut his finger and some blood came out. He wrote 'TS' on the wood with his blood.
Then Huck cut his finger. Huck could not read or write but Tom helped him. Huck wrote 'HF' on the wood in blood.
'We have written our promise in blood,' said Tom. 'Now, we can't tell anybody. Let's go!' The boys ran back to the town.
8. Muff Potter in Jail
On Tuesday morning, Tom woke late. He got dressed quickly. Aunt Polly was eating her breakfast.
Aunt Polly looked at Tom and she started to cry.
'You're a bad boy,' she said. 'You went out last night, didn't you? I worry and worry about you. But you don't care about me.'
Tom started to cry.
'I won't go out at night again, Aunt Polly. I won't,' he said. 'I'm very sorry.'
Soon the people of St Petersburg were talking about Doctor Robinson's death. Had Muff Potter murdered
him? The morning after the murder, somebody had found Muff Potter in a barn. Muff was drunk. And his
knife was beside the doctor's body in the graveyard, There was blood on the knife.
Injun Joe told lies to the sheriff. 'Muff Potter killed the doctor,' he said.
The sheriff sent Muff Potter to jail. There was going to be a trial - a trial for murder.
Tom was very worried. He spoke to Huck.
'I luck, have you talked about the murder?' he asked.
'No, I haven't,' replied Huck. 'I'm frightened of Injun Joe. He'll kill us.'
'Huck, let's swear again!' said Tom. 'We won't tell anybody!'
Huck and Tom swore again. They spoke together. 'Huck Finn and Tom Sawyer swear this - they won't tell anybody about the murder.'
The days passed. Tom was unhappy. He did not speak to his friends at school. He did not speak to Becky. He did not speak to Aunt Polly. He only spoke to Huck.
Becky was unhappy. She wanted Tom to speak to her.
The boys went to the jail every day. They went early in the morning. They gave tobacco and matches to Muff Potter. They put them through the window. Muff put the tobacco in his pipe and lit a match. He smoked the pipe.
One morning, Muff said, 'You're good boys. Other people have forgotten me, but you haven't forgotten me.'
Tom and Huck walked away.
'Muff Potter isn't a bad man,' said Huck. 'He gets drunk sometimes. But he doesn't kill people.'
'Oh, Huck,' said Tom. 'He'll be hanged, won't he?'
'Yes,' replied Huck.
Tom said goodbye to Huck. He walked slowly to school. He was very sad.
Tom sat at his desk. There was something on the desk. It was his metal door-handle. Becky had given it back to him.
9 The Pirates
Tom was very unhappy. He was in trouble and Becky did not love him. He was going to leave home for ever!
Sadly, Tom walked away from St Petersburg. He met his friend, Joe Harper. Joe was walking away from the town too.
'Goodbye, Joe,' said Tom. 'Nobody loves me! I'm leaving home.'
'Oh!' replied Joe. 'I'm leaving home too. My mother is angry with me.'
'Let's leave St Petersburg together,' said Tom.
'Yes,' said Joe. 'We'll be hungry and cold. We'll die. Then everybody will be sad.'
Tom did not like Joe's idea. He did not want to die. 'Let's be pirates!' he said. 'Let's go to Jackson's Island and be pirates.'
'What do pirates do?' asked Joe.
'They fight other pirates!' replied Tom. 'They find buried treasure under the ground - gold and silver and jewels! They sink ships to the bottom of the sea!'
'Yes,' said Joe happily. 'Let's be pirates! And let's ask Huck to come. Huck can be a pirate too.'
It was midnight on Tuesday. Tom was two miles from St Petersburg. He was standing next to a small wooden
boat.
Soon, Huck and Joe arrived.
'I've got some cake,' said Tom. 'What have you got?'
'I've got a piece of meat and some corn,' said Huck.
'I've got a cooking pot and a fishing line,' said Joe. 'Come on, pirates! Let's get into the boat.'
At two o'clock in the morning, the pirates were on Jackson's Island. Jackson's Island was three miles from St Petersburg. It was a long, narrow island in the Mississippi River.
There were lots of trees in the middle of the island. There were sandy beaches round the edge of the island. Nobody lived on Jackson's Island.
The pirates took their things from the boat. There was an old sail in the boat. The pirates made a tent
with the old sail.
'This is our camp!' said Tom.
Huck lit a fire. Then they cooked some meat and corn in Joe's cooking pot. They ate their meal. Then they lay down next to the fire.
'This is wonderful,' said Tom. 'We don't have to wake early.'
'We don't have to go to school,' said Joe.
'What do pirates do?' asked Huck.
'Oh,' said Tom. 'They fight other pirates and they find buried treasure under the ground.'
'They sink ships to the bottom of the sea!' said Joe.
Soon, the pirates were asleep.
Tom woke late in the morning. It was very quiet and the sun was warm.
'Come on!' he shouted. He took off his clothes and ran into the river. Huck and Joe were soon in the water too. The pirates swam for a while. Then they went back to their camp.
The pirates were happy and very hungry. Huck lit the lire again. Joe cut some meat into pieces and Tom caught some fish. They cooked the food and they had a big meal.
In the afternoon, the pirates sat down near some trees and talked. But soon they were silent. Tom thought about Aunt Polly. Joe thought about his mother. Huck thought about St Petersburg. They did not say anything.
Suddenly, there was a loud noise.
BOOM!
The boys ran to the beach. A steamboat was on the river about a mile away. The noise was from a big gun on the steamboat. There were lots of people on the steamboat. Many small boats were on the river too.
BOOM!
'Somebody is dead,' said Tom. 'Somebody has drowned in the river.'
'Yes, that's right,' said Huck. 'They fire the gun over the water. Then the dead body comes to the top of the water. I remember! Bill Turner was drowned last year. They fired the gun then!'
'Who has drowned this year?' asked Joe.
Suddenly, Tom knew. 'It's us!' he shouted. 'We're drowned!'
This was very exciting news. Tom, Huck and Joe were very pleased. People were looking for the boys' bodies. They were important people now.
But in the evening, the boys were sad. They were very quiet.
At last, Joe spoke. 'Let's go home,' he said quietly. 'It's boring here.'
'Go home, then!' said Tom angrily.
'I'm going,' said Joe.
He stood up.
'We're staying, aren't we, Huck?' said Tom.
Huck looked at Tom. 'Oh, Tom,' he said. 'I want to go too. I'm bored too. Let's all go.'
'I won't go,' said Tom. 'You two can go. I'm staying.'
Huck and Joe started to walk away.
Suddenly, Tom had a wonderful idea. 'Wait! Wait!' lie shouted. 'I want to tell you something.'
Joe and Huck ran back and Tom told them his idea.
Huck and Joe did not go home that evening The next day, the pirates went swimming again. They
caught some fish and they climbed some trees. And
they looked for buried treasure.
In the evening, they had a big meal of fish and meat. Then they fell asleep.
True or False
1. Tom was very happy because Becky loved him.
2. Tom and his friend Joe wanted to leave St Petersburg together.
3. The children wanted to be travelling singers.
4. Jackson's Island was three miles from St Petersburg. It was a long, narrow island in the Mississippi River.
5. In the afternoon only Tom went home.

Draw 5 pictures for the comics “Tom Sawyer and pirates’ adventures”.

10 . A Funeral and a Trial
It was very quiet in St Petersburg. The church was full of people. They were waiting quietly. Some people were crying. Everybody was wearing black clothes. They had come to the church for a funeral. It was the funeral of the three drowned boys - Tom, Joe and Huck.
Aunt Polly arrived at the church with Mr and Mrs Harper.
The funeral started. The minister stood at the front of the church. The people stood up and they sang a hymn. Then the people sat down and the minister talked about the boys. Tom, Joe and Huck were good boys. They were clean and tidy. They behaved well. They helped their families and their school friends.
The people of St Petersburg remembered these good, helpful boys. Soon, everybody was crying. The minister was crying too!
Suddenly, there was a noise. The minister looked towards the back of the church. He was very surprised. His mouth opened. He could not speak. People stood up. They turned round.
The three dead boys walked along the aisle. Tom was first. Joe followed him. Huck was last. They hail come to their own funeral! This was Tom's 'wonderful idea'.
Aunt Polly grabbed Tom, and the Harpers grabbed Joe. They kissed them and held them. Everybody in the church was talking. Huck wanted to run away. But Tom grabbed Huck.
Aunt Polly, Huck's here too!' Tom said.
'Yes, dear!' said Aunt Polly. 'I'm very happy to see Huck.' And she grabbed Huck and kissed him.
Huck was not happy. He did not like people kissing him. But Tom was very happy. This was the best day of his life!
The next morning, Muff Potter's trial started. Tom and I luck waited outside the courtroom all day. And on the second day of the trial, they waited again. People came out of the courtroom and they talked to each other. Huck and Tom listened. The boys were very worried. Everybody said the same things .
The trial was going to end on the third day.
Judge Thatcher believed Injun Joe's story.
Mull Potter was guilty of murder.
Mull Potter was going to be hanged!
After the second day of the trial, Tom came home very late. Aunt Polly was in bed. Tom climbed into the house through a window. He was very excited and he could not sleep. Where had he been?
On the third day, Tom and Huck sat inside the court¬room. It was full of people. Injun Joe looked at Muff Potter. Muff Potter was very frightened. Injun Joe was quiet.
Judge Thatcher arrived. Each witness came to the front of the courtroom.
'I was near the river. I saw Muff Potter,' said the first witness. 'He was washing his hands. There was blood on his hands. He saw me and he ran away.'
'I have no questions to ask,' said Muff's lawyer.
'I found the knife in the graveyard,' said the second witness. 'The knife was near the doctor's body.'
'I have no questions to ask,' said Muff's lawyer.
'The knife belongs to Muff Potter,' said the third witness.
'I have no questions to ask,' said Muff's lawyer.
The people of St Petersburg were angry. The lawyer was not asking any questions. Did he want Muff Potter to die?
Then Muff's lawyer stood up and spoke to the judge.
'Judge Thatcher,' he said. 'At the beginning of the trial, you asked Mr Potter to tell the truth. He pleaded Guilty. Guilty of murder. He was drunk at the time of the murder. He cannot remember the murder. Bui I pleaded Guilty.'
'Now - he does not plead Guilty,' said the lawyer. 'He pleads Not Guilty. There is another witness - Tom Sawyer.'
Everybody in the courtroom was surprised. Every¬body looked at Tom. He walked to the front of the Courtroom.
'Tom Sawyer, where were you at midnight on the seventeenth of June?' asked Muff's lawyer.
Tom was very frightened. Injun Joe was looking at him.
' I was in the graveyard,' said Tom quietly.
'Speak louder, please, Tom,' said the lawyer. 'Don't In frightened.'
'I was in the graveyard,' said Tom loudly.
Injun Joe smiled. It was a terrible smile.
'Were you near Hoss Williams' grave?' asked the lawyer.
'Yes, sir,' replied Tom.
'Were you hiding?' asked the lawyer.
'Yes, sir. I was hiding behind a tree,' said Tom.
'Was anybody with you?'
'Yes, sir. I was with—'
'Don't tell me his name, Tom,' said the lawyer. 'I will talk to your friend soon. Did you have anything with you?'
'Yes, sir. A cat, sir. A dead cat,' Tom replied.
Some people laughed. But Injun Joe did not laugh.
The lawyer spoke to Judge Thatcher. 'Tom was in the graveyard,' he said. 'We can show the body of this cat to the court.'
The lawyer spoke to Tom again. 'Now, Tom,' he said. 'What did you see in the graveyard? Tell every¬body.'
Tom started to talk. It was very quiet in the court¬room. Everybody was listening to Tom's story.
At last, he said, '—and the doctor hit Muff Potter with the piece of wood. Muff fell down. Then Injun Joe pushed the knife into the doctor's—'
Suddenly, Injun Joe jumped up. He ran to a window, Some men tried to stop him. CRASH! Injun Joe broke the glass. He jumped out of the window and he ran away.
Put all events in order
1. Mull Potter was guilty of murder.
2. Injun Joe jumped out of the window and he ran away.
3. Aunt Polly was happy to see Tom again.
4. People came to the church for the funeral of the three drowned boys - Tom, Joe and Huck. 1.
5. Tom walked to the front of the Courtroom.
6. Injun Joe jumped up and ran to a window.
7. People came out of the courtroom and they talked to each other.

11. Buried Treasure
After Muff Potter's trial, everybody in St Petersburg talked about Tom. Judge Thatcher spoke to him.
'You are a fine young man, Tom,' he said.
And Becky smiled and said, 'Let's be friends again, Tom. It's my birthday on Saturday. I'm going to have a picnic at McDougal's Caves. All my friends are going to come. Will you come to the picnic?'
'Oh, yes,' said Tom. He was very happy.
The next day, Tom met Huck.
'We didn't find any buried treasure on Jackson's Island,' Tom said. 'I want to find some buried treasure. Will you come with me?'
'Where shall we look for it?' asked Huck.
'Let's look in the Haunted House,' said Tom.
They took two shovels, and they went to an old house near the town. All the boys in St Petersburg called it the Haunted House.
The house was empty. The windows were broken and there were holes in the walls. The garden was untidy and the fence was broken.
At first, the boys were afraid. They did not want to go into the house. But it was a bright sunny day.
'There are no ghosts in the daytime,' said Tom.
Tom and Huck went quietly through the broken door. They walked round the empty rooms.
'Let's go upstairs,' said Huck.
They put their shovels on the floor. Then they went up the broken stairs carefully. All the rooms upstairs were empty. The boys went back to the stairs. Suddenly, Tom heard a noise.
'Listen!' he said. 'There are ghosts downstairs!'
'Oh no!' said Huck. 'Let's run away!'
'We can't,' said Tom. 'The ghosts will see us! Come in here!'
The boys went into one of the upstairs rooms. There were many holes in the floor. Tom and Huck lay down on the floor. They looked through the holes. They could see the room below them.
Two men came into the downstairs room.
One was a stranger. The other man was Injun Joe!
The two men were talking.
'I won't do it, Joe!' said the Stranger. 'The job is too dangerous.'
'It isn't dangerous!' said Injun Joe. 'We'll do the job soon. Then we'll go to Texas.'
'I want some of the money now,' said the Stranger. 'How much money is there?'
'Six hundred and fifty dollars,' replied Joe.
Six hundred and fifty dollars! Huck and Tom looked
at each other. What a lot of money!
Injun Joe moved a stone in the floor and pulled out a bag. He took some dollars from the bag and he gave them to the Stranger.
'I'll bury the bag again,' Injun Joe said. 'I'll bury it in another place. Then nobody will find it.'
He started to dig in the floor with his knife. Suddenly, there was a noise. Injun Joe stopped digging. His knife had hit something.
Injun Joe saw the boy's shovels on the floor. 'Give me one of those shovels!' he said.
The Stranger gave Injun Joe one of the shovels. Injun Joe dug in the floor again. He used the shovel. Then he lifted an old box out of the hole. He opened the box and put his hand inside it. He took some gold coins from the box!
There was buried treasure in the Haunted House! Tom and Huck were very excited!
'There are thousands of dollars in this box,' said the Stranger. 'Somebody stole this money from a bank. They buried the money here. Now we don't have to do that job.'
'Oh yes, we do,' said Injun Joe. 'I don't want money. I want revenge. And I want your help. Go home. I'll come and find you soon.'
'What are we going to do with this money?' asked the Stranger. He pointed to the gold coins.
'I'll take the money to the other place,' replied Injun Joe. 'It isn't safe here. Those shovels are not ours. Somebody has been here. Let's go.'
The two men left the house.
'He's taken the treasure,' said Huck sadly. 'Where is he going to bury it now?'
'I don't know,' said Tom. 'But I don't want to follow them. I'm frightened.'
Tom was very worried. 'Huck,' he said. 'Revenge! Injun Joe wants revenge. He's going to get revenge on me! I spoke at the trial. Now he's going to punish me!'
12 The Picnic at the Caves
It was Saturday. It was the day of Becky's picnic at McDougal's Caves. The children of St Petersburg were going to the picnic.
Huck was not going to the picnic. The mothers of St Petersburg did not ask Huck to go to the picnic.
Tom was very happy. He was going to Becky's birth¬day picnic. He was not thinking about Injun Joe.
At eleven o'clock, everybody got on an old steam¬boat. They carried baskets of food and they laughed and sang. They were going down the river on the steamboat. Then they were going to walk to the caves. No adults went with the children. The older chil¬dren were taking care of the younger children.
The steamboat travelled along the river. It stopped beside a beach three miles away from the town. Behind the beach, there was a steep hill and a big forest.
Everybody got off the boat. The children opened the baskets of food. They ate and ate! After lunch, they were quiet for a short time.
Then somebody asked a question. 'Who wants to go into the caves?' 'Me!' 'Me!' 'Me!' Everybody wanted to go into the caves.
They got candles and matches out of their baskets. Then they ran up the hill.
The entrance to McDougal's Caves was in the side of the hill. A long time ago, somebody had put a big wooden door in the entrance. One of the older boys opened the door and everybody went inside. Everybody was quiet. They looked at the sunshine and the green trees behind them. Then they looked at the darkness in front of them. McDougal's Caves were cold and dark and frightening!
Somebody lit a candle. There was light! But some¬body else blew out the flame and it was dark again! A game started. People lit candles and other people blew them out. Everybody ran around. They laughed and they shouted.
Soon the game finished and the children walked further into the caves. They all carried bright candles and they walked in a long line. The main path was narrow, and there were narrower paths to the right and to the left. There were lots of paths in McDougal's Caves. Some paths went round in circles and came back to the main path. And other paths went further and further into the hill. Nobody knew about all the paths in the caves.
'The steamboat bell will ring at seven o'clock,' shouted one of the older children. 'We have to go then. Everybody must come back to the entrance at seven o'clock.'
Tom and Becky left the other children. They took a basket of food and they took some candles. They went further into the caves together.
'Look, Becky,' said Tom. 'You can write your name on the wall. Use the smoke from your candle.'
They moved their candles. They wrote their names on the wall with the black smoke. Then they held their candles up high. They read other people's names on the rock walls.
They walked on and soon they came to a little waterfall. Water was falling from a hole in the rock.
'It'll beautiful, Tom,' said Becky.
'Come on, Becky,' said Tom. 'There's a path behind the water fall. It goes down and down. Let's go along it. Make a smoke mark on the wall. Then we can come back to the same place.'
Becky made a large smoke mark on the wall with her candle. The two children went behind the water¬fall. They went down and down. Suddenly, they were in a very big cave.
They walked all round the cave. Then they walked along another path. Soon, they came to another big cave and another waterfall. The water fell into a small lake. Tom held his candle near the water. The rocks under the water were white.
'Oh, Tom,' said Becky. 'What a beautiful white
lake!'
Then Tom heard a noise and he looked up at the roof. Bats! Hundreds of small, black bats! They had
seen the light from the candles. They were squeaking. They were flapping their wings. The bats were starting to move!
'Come on! Quickly! Run!' Tom said. He grabbed Becky's hand. Then he pulled her along a narrow path.
Bats flew after them! Becky dropped her candle. Tom and Becky ran and ran. At last they escaped from the bats. They stopped to rest next to a big, dark
After a few minutes, Becky spoke. 'I can't hear any voices. Where are the other children?'
I can’t hear them,' said Tom.
How long have we been here, Tom?' Becky asked. The steamboat bell is going to ring at seven o'clock. We must go back.’
Tom did not speak for a minute. Then he said, “Becky, we are lost!”

Answer the questions:
1. What was on Saturday?
2. Where were the children going?
3. Was Huck going to the picnic?
4. Where did the children want to go after lunch?
5. What game did the children started playing in the cave?
6. Did Tom and Becky go with other children together?
7. What were Tom and Becky writing on the wall?
8. What did the children escape from?

13. Lost!
'Come on, Becky!' said Tom. 'We'll soon find the way to the entrance.'
They started to walk. Tom held his candle up high. He walked in front of Becky. 'It's all right, Becky,' he said. 'We'll soon find the white lake.'
An hour passed. At last, Becky said, 'Tom, we aren't near the lake. You don't know the way back!'
'Becky, I'm stupid,' said Tom. 'I forgot to make any smoke marks on the walls.'
'Tom! Tom! We're lost!' cried Becky. 'We will never get out of this terrible place!' And she started to cry.
Tom shouted loudly. 'Help! Help!' He shouted again. 'Help! Can anybody hear me!'
'Can anybody hear me? Can anybody hear me?' Tom's voice came back to them a hundred times. It came from the walls of rock. Then there was silence.
Becky sat down on the ground. She cried and cried. Tom sat down and put his arms around her. 'Come on, Becky,' he said. 'We will get out.' The two children walked and walked. Sometimes they sat down and rested. Sometimes they slept for a few hours. Then they walked again. But they did not find the entrance. How long had they been in the caves? What day was it? They did not know!
Tom and Becky came to a small river.
'We have to stop here,' said Tom. 'This is the last candle. It is very small now. The flame will go out soon.'
'Oh,' said Becky, and she sat down. She did not speak for many minutes. Then she said, 'Will my father be looking for us, Tom? Will he find us?'
'Yes, Becky, he will,' said Tom.
They sat quietly. They looked at the candle. It got smaller and smaller. Then the flame went out. There was no light at all!
Time passed very slowly. Tom and Becky slept or they sat quietly.
Suddenly, Tom moved. 'Listen, Becky! Listen! THERE is a noise! Somebody's coming.'
They heard the noise again. Then they shouted and shouted. 'Help! Help!'
'Tom, the noise is going away. They can't hear us!' said Becky. She was very frightened.
'I'll go along the path towards them and shout again,' said Tom. 'I won't go far.'
'Yes, all right,' said Becky.
Tom went very slowly along the path. He walked very close to the wall of rock. Then he went round a corner and he stopped suddenly. There was a light behind a big stone in front of him! Tom saw a hand holding up a candle.
Tom shouted loudly. 'HELP!'
The man with the candle stood up. It was Injun Joe!
But Tom's shout frightened Injun Joe. He turned
and ran away.
Tom was very frightened too. Quickly and quietly, he went back to Becky.
Tom did not want to frighten Becky. He did not tell her about Injun Joe.
'There wasn't anybody there,' he said. 'I shouted, but nobody came.'
'Oh,' said Becky quietly.
They sat by the small river for hours. At last, they fell asleep.
Tom woke up. He was very hungry and very thirsty. Becky was awake too.
'Becky, we must walk again,' said Tom.
Becky understood. They were going to die in the caves. But they were going to look for the entrance.
Slowly, Tom and Becky went along the path. It was very dark.
But after an hour, Tom saw another light.
'Look, Becky. Look!' he said.
Becky looked. There was a small, round, white light in front of them.
'Tom, it's light,' she cried. 'It's daylight. It's the sun!'
True or False
1. Becky held her candle up high. She walked in front of Tom.
2. The children knew the way, because Tom made some smoke marks on the wall.
3. Tom and Becky sat down on the ground. They cried and cried.
4. Tom did not want to frighten Becky. He did not tell her about Injun Joe.
5. The children saw sunlight.

14. . Injun Joe's Revenge
Lots of children had gone to the picnic at McDougal's Caves on Saturday. It was quiet in St Petersburg. Huck sat by the river. In the evening, he saw the old steam¬boat come back. He saw all the tired children walking home. He did not see Tom. Where was Tom?
At eleven o'clock, the lights in the town started to go out. Huck walked out of the town. He was going to
sleep in a barn.
Suddenly, Huck saw somebody in front of him. It was Injun Joe! Huck followed him.
'He's carrying something,' Huck said to himself. 'He's going to bury the treasure!'
Soon, Injun Joe met the Stranger. The two men walked up a hill outside the town. They stopped next
to a house.
'That's Mrs Douglas' house,' Huck said to himself. 'Are they going to bury the treasure on her land?'
'There's a light in the house,' Injun Joe said to the Stranger. 'We'll wait here. She'll go to bed soon.'
'No! Let's go away,' said the Stranger.
'We'll go in. Wait! The light will go out soon,' said
Injun Joe.
Suddenly, Huck was frightened. Was this Injun Joe's revenge? Was he going to murder Mrs Douglas? Huck heard Injun Joe's voice again.
'The woman's husband was a judge. The judge sent me to jail. I was going to get revenge on him. But the judge died. So I'll get my revenge on his wife!'
'Don't kill her!' said the Stranger. 'I don't want to kill anybody!'
'No, I won't kill her. I don't kill women,' replied Injun Joe. 'But I want revenge. I'll cut her face and her ears. And you must help—'
Huck moved away very, very slowly. Then he turned and ran down the hill. Mrs Douglas was a good lady.
Mrs Douglas gave him food sometimes. He had to get help.
Huck ran and ran. He ran to Judge Thatcher's house. He knocked on the door. A window opened.
'Who's that? Why are you knocking on the door?' said a voice.
'Let me in - quickly,' said Huck. 'Please!'
'Who are you?'
'Huck. Huckleberry Finn. Please be quick.'
Judge Thatcher knew about Huck. 'Well, Huck Finn,' he said. 'Many people will not open their doors for you. But I will open mine.'
The judge opened the door and Huck ran into the
house.
Three minutes later, the judge and some other men came out of the house. They ran up the hill. Huck started to follow them. Suddenly, he was very tired. He stopped and he sat down on the ground.
Then Huck heard the sound of a gun. He jumped up and ran away down the hill.
Early on Sunday morning, there was a knock on the judge's door.
'Who's there?'
'Huck Finn.'
'Come in, Huck Finn,' said Judge Thatcher. 'You're very welcome.'
Huck was surprised. People did not say, 'You're very welcome' to him!
The door opened and Huck went in. 'I want to talk to you,' said the judge. 'Why did you run away last night?'
'I heard the gun,' said Huck. 'I was frightened.' 'Poor boy,' said Judge Thatcher. 'Everything is all right now. We frightened those men away. We didn't catch them. But we'll catch them soon. What did they look like? Who were they?'
'There was a stranger,' said Huck. 'And Injun Joe.' 'Injun Joe!' The judge stood up. 'I'll tell the sheriff.' Soon, there was something else to tell the sheriff. Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher were lost. They were lost in McDougal's Caves. All the men from the town went to the caves. They looked for the children all day and all night.
Huck slept all day and all night at the judge's house. Huck was ill. On Monday, Mrs Douglas took him to her house.
'I will take care of the boy,' she said.
The people of St Petersburg looked for Tom and Becky on Monday and Tuesday. But on Wednesday morning, they stopped. The children were lost for ever!
Judge Thatcher and some other men went to the 11' K ii at the entrance to the caves. They put a big piece "I metal across the door.
'Now, nobody can get in. Nobody will ever get lost in the caves again,' said Judge Thatcher.
15 The Reward
But Tom and Becky were not lost for ever! On Wednesday afternoon, they were home again.
Tom was telling their story. Aunt Polly and Becky's parents and lots of friends were listening.
'—and we saw the daylight coming through a hole,' he said. 'We got out through the hole. We were near the river. Some men came along the river in a boat and we shouted to them.'
Everybody was very happy. Becky and Tom were not hurt. But they were very tired and very hungry. They both slept for two days.
It was two weeks after Tom and Becky escaped from the caves. Tom was talking to Judge Thatcher.
'Nobody will get lost in those caves again,' said the judge.
'Why not?' said Tom.
'Two weeks ago, we put a big piece of metal across the door.'
'Oh!' said Tom. His face was white.
'Tom!' said Judge Thatcher. 'Tom, are you all right?'
'Oh, Judge, Injun Joe is in the caves!'
Judge Thatcher went to the caves with the sheriff. They took away the piece of metal from the door. They
opened the door.
Injun Joe was lying on the ground. He was dead!
The two men found an old wooden box near Injun Joe's body. And in the box were gold coins - hundreds of gold coins. The judge and the sheriff took the box back to St Petersburg.
Tom and Huck told the story of the Haunted House. Injun Joe had taken the gold coins from the Haunted House to the caves.
'Give the money to Tom and Huck,' said the sheriff. 'Give them a reward.'
So Tom and Huck were rich. And everybody was pleased with them. Judge Thatcher was pleased with Tom. Tom had saved the life of his daughter. Mrs Douglas was pleased with Huck. Huck had saved her from Injun Joe.
Tom was friends with Becky and he often visited the Thatchers. Huck lived with Mrs Douglas. He slept in a bed and he wore clean clothes. But Huck did not like clean clothes and beds. He did not want to stay in St Petersburg forever. One day, he got into a small boat and he went south. He travelled down the Mississippi River. But that is another story!

 

Source: http://interclass.in.ua/books/Tom%20Sayer2010-2.%201%20docx.doc

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Author of the text: indicated on the source document of the above text

Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain -- Reading Checks – Chapter Fifteen

1.  What can we assume Tom wrote on the note he left in Joe's hat at the end of Chapter 14?
if he isn’t back to the island by breakfast, they can have all his things

 


2.  Name a piece of evidence the villagers use to conclude the boys had drowned.
the small raft was missing; boys told that Tom and Huck told them they’d “hear something soon;” they never showed at the next town down the river; their bodies wouldn’t be found because they would have drowned mid-river.


3.  Why does Tom not "capture" the rowboat he uses to get back to the island, even though he's tempted to?
because he knows someone will notice that it is missing and that could lead to him and his fellow pirates being found.

 


4.  Why does Aunt Polly scold Sid?
because Sid says he hopes Tom is better off where he is, but if Tom had behaved, he’d be in a better place! (Sid insinuates that Tom is in hell).

 


5.  What does Tom start to do, and then decide not to do? (Besides capturing the rowboat.)
He starts to leave a note for Aunt Polly, but then doesn’t leave it.

 

 

 

Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain -- Reading Checks – Chapters 16 – 20

1. The boys had two reasons to be thankful after the big storm. What were they?
1 – they were safe (their camp was destroyed but since they abandoned it, they were okay). 2 – they were able to start their fire back up again.

2. "Well, Tom Sawyer, he licked me once." (p 118b, 109w) Why did this person say this? Why was no one impressed?
A boy said this to impress the other children, but it didn’t work because most every other boy could say that, too.

Also note – Becky soliloquized about missing Tom and the andiron he gave her: this mean she is saying these things to herself.

3.  Explain how Tom, Huck, and Joe crash their own funeral.
They paddled back over to the town, spent the night in the woods at the edge of town and then snuck into the church early that morning.  They awoke and were able to watch the entire funeral.

 

4. Reread the last line of chapter 17. Explain.
cuffs – Aunt Polly is hitting him for scaring her; kisses – Aunt Polly kisses him because she’s glad he’s back.  This makes Tom confused – he’s unsure which one makes him more thankful to be home. In other words, he missed the hits and the kisses.

5. What was Tom’s great secret? Explain why it was important to him to do this.
to return home. it was important because he likes to have all the attention, and he hasn’t had it for a while.

6. How did Aunt Polly find out the truth about Tom's "dream"?
she went to tell Joe’s mom, Mrs. Harper, about it but Joe told them that Tom snuck over and witnessed that all in person.

7. Who is Alfred Temple? What does he do to Tom (secretly)?  Why? Where have we seen him before?
He is the “new boy” that Tom beat up in CH 1. He pours ink onto the pages of Tom’s spelling book.

8.  Explain the title of Chapter 19 – The Cruelty of “I Didn’t Think.”
Tom didn’t think about lying about his dream.  This causes Aunt Polly to look foolish in front of her friend and also hurts her feelings.

 


9. What was Mr. Dobbins' (the schoolmaster) secret ambition?
to be a doctor

10. What kind of book did Becky rip?
an anatomy book

11. Why does Tom say that Becky will get caught, even if he doesn't tell on her? Quote from the text using parenthetical citation.
“[Dobbins will] ask first one and then t’other, and when he comes to the right girl he’ll know it, without any telling. Girls’ faces always tell on them” (134).


12. Why was Tom not at all upset about being whipped for the spelling book?
he thought it was possible that  he did spill the ink in it while he was messing around during school and just didn’t remember.
13. What was Tom's punishment for the teacher's ripped book?
it was “the most merciless” whipping ever and he had to stay two hours after school
14. Predict what Tom will do to get back at Alfred Temple.
 answers will vary

Chapters 21-24

7. Draw a diagram of or explain in a paragraph the prank the boys pulled on the school master.
The schoolmaster, who has been nipping from his bottle of private reserve liquor, is a little unsteady on his feet, and as he tries to draw a map of the United States, the audience begins to twitter. From above him in the attic, a cat is being slowly lowered through a trapdoor directly above his head. As soon as the cat can reach it, the cat snags the schoolmaster’s toupee, revealing his bald head, which had been gilded gold by the sign painter’s son and which shone like a star. (The teacher boards at the sign painter’s house and the son waited for him to nod off after drinking and then painted his head).

8. Name three of the things that came to town during the  summer.
A senator comes. A circus comes and leaves the next day.  A phrenologist and a mesmerizer come.  A minstrel show comes.

9. Why was Tom disappointed in the U.S. senator who came  to town?
because he was not twenty five feet high

 

10. Why did Tom think the storm in Chapter 22 was intended for him?
he was sick with the measles when a revival came to town, and everyone “got religion” but him – even Huck is quoting the Bible!

 

11. "Little hands, and weak--but they've helped Muff Potter a power, and they'd help him more if they could." (151). Who's talking? Explain how this is this ironic.
This is Muff talking.  He is saying that he is thankful that Tom and Huck help him by bringing him things to the jail.  This is ironic because the boys have the power to help him by freeing him from jail (by telling that they saw Joe kill the Doc) and they won’t do it.

12. After the trial, Tom's days were.... but Tom's nights were... Explain why this is.
His days were of splendor but his nights were horrific.  This means that he loved the day time – everyone was paying attention to him since he testified at Muff’s trial.  But at night he is terrified that Joe will come after him and get revenge.

 

Source: http://teachers.usd497.org/kahart/English/15-24answers.doc

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The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain

 

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