Englis
TITLE: THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER
AUTHOR: MARK TWAIN
CHARACTERS:
Major Character:
TOM SAWYER, a typical American boy
Minor Characters:
AUNT POLLY, his loving aunt
SIDNEY and MARY, his stepbrother and stepsister
HUCKLEBERRY FINN, Tom's playmate
BECKY THATCHER, Tom's sweetheart
SETTING: Mississippi
THE STORY:
Young Tom Sawyer played hockey in school, was often punished by the teacher for his classroom pranks. He always fought boys from other neighborhoods. Generally he came home with torn clothes from surprise outings with Huck Finn, young town outcast.
One Saturday his Aunt Polly required him to whitewash their fence. He returned this drudgery into an exciting and envious experience; thus, other boys bribed him with gifts just to handle the brush.
Tom fell in love with classmate Becky Thatcher. When Becky turned against him upon learning that he loved other girls before, Tom ran away with Huck one night. Passing by the graveyard, they saw Muff Potter and half-breed Indian Joe who killed Dr. Robinson over payment for a cadaver that was dug up. Afraid of being harmed by the killer, Tom, Huck and Joe Harper, another boy, sailed on the Mississippi on a raft they made.
The town looked for the missing boys, even dredged the river fearing they were drowned. The town went into mourning, held a funeral service for them; but, as the women were wailing, the three boys showed up and there was rejoicing. In court Tom testified that Indian Joe murdered the doctor; so Muff Potter was released from prison.
During a class picnic, Tom and Becky got lost in a mountain cave, found Indian Joe inside dead from starvation. Later, Tom and Huck found pirate treasure in the cave, making them rich for life.
VALUES LEARNED:
A wholesome novel...
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