Verified Document

Tom Sawyer Term Paper

Related Topics:

¶ … Tom Sawyer. There are four references used for this paper. Mark Twain is one of America's most well-known and respected writers. It is interesting to define satire and how Twain uses it in the Sunday school scene in the book 'Tom Sawyer'.

Defining Satire

In order to understand how Mark Twain uses satire in his stories, it is important to understand exactly what satire is. Satire is a "literary manner which blends a critical attitude with humor and wit to the end that human institutions or humanity may be improved. Satire is the literary art of diminishing or derogating a subject by making it ridiculous and evoking towards it attitudes of amusement, contempt, scorn, and indignation. The true satirist is conscious of the frailty of institutions of man's devising and attempts through laughter, not so much to tear them down, but to ridicule their folly and shortcomings to inspire a remodeling, if not of the institutions, then at least of the reader's view of them (tiger.towson.edu/users/nsmith6/whatissatire.htm)."

Mark Twain and Humor

Mark Twain, a.k.a. Samuel Clemens, is known for his use of Satire in writings. Although he originally wrote 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer' with adults in mind, it has become a classic among young readers as well.

Twain's humor was noted when the book was reviewed by the New York Times in 1877. The columnist wrote "As a humorist, Mr. Clemens has a great deal of fun in him, of the true American kind, which crops out all over the book. Mr. Clemens has an audience both here and in England, and doubtless his friends across the water will...

The concept of morality is intertwined with "freedom from restraint. Religion is mocked during Sunday and church with the overly pious sermonizing of the elocution exercises (www.northern.edu/hastingw/tomsawyer.htm)."
Mischievousness

Tom Sawyer and the other children must attend church with their families. Twain adds humor to the somberness of church be showing how mischievous little boys can be. Most children quickly become bored when forced to listen to long, dull sermons. While in Sunday school, Tom finds way to amuse himself by not only bothering the boy in front of him by pulling his hair, but also sticking a pin into another boy.

Twain also shows how even good kids can become quickly bored, as evidenced when Mr. Walters asks for the student's undivided attention. Mr. Walters is able to gain their attention with humor when he states, "That is the way good little boys and girls should do. I see one little girl who is looking out of the window…

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

(Mark Twain. (Accessed 03 December, 2004).


Twain, Mark. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: Chapter 4. New York and London: Harper and Brothers. (1903). Pp. 44-58. (Originally published in 1876).

(Unknown. "Book review for Tom Sawyer." The New York Times. January 13, 1877. (Accessed 03 December, 2004). ).
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

Tom Sawyer Chapter Exegesis Scene
Words: 994 Length: 4 Document Type: Term Paper

Fighting fair, Tom still shines despite his aggression, particularly in light of Alfred's cowardly stone throwing when Tom's back is turned. Analysis This first chapter in Tom's adventures is of cleverly constructed form; sharing all key elements needed to know in order to follow the story, identify with the protagonist, despise the multiple antagonists, and fondly recognize the doddering aunt as a 'straight man' to Tom's antics. The reader is immediately

Tom Sawyer the Main Character
Words: 498 Length: 1 Document Type: Term Paper

"(Twain,39). Later on, he witnesses with his friends their own funeral service, because they had been considered dead after their disappearance. Also, Tom pretends to be visionary and recounts his so-called dream to aunt Polly, which was in fact only an account of what he himself had seen: "Tom! The sperrit was upon you! You was a-prophesying -- that's what you was doing!" (Twain, 157) Finally, Tom emerges as a "real

Tom Sawyer: Con Man in
Words: 902 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

Tom's role in this relationship is significant because it demonstrates Lindberg's point that the definition of con man has a compound definition attached to it -- one that includes "admiration, amusement, and connivance" (Lindberg 4). Tom is a likable character from the first pages of the book and this is another concept Lindberg explores. He writes that con men appear in literature for a reason and, according to Lindberg, they

Tom Sawyer
Words: 825 Length: 3 Document Type: Term Paper

Adventures of Tom Sawyer Maria Tatar, a professor of German at Harvard, is partial to the Tales of the Brothers Grimm, who she claims purged the collection of references to sexuality but left in "lurid portrayals of child abuse, starvation, and exposure and fastidious descriptions of cruel and unusual punishments, including cannibalism" (Showalter Pp). Says Tatar, "Giants, ogres, stepmothers, cooks, witches, and evil mothers-in-law are driven by a ravenous appetite

Adventures of Tom Sawyer," by Mark Twain
Words: 668 Length: 2 Document Type: Term Paper

Adventures of Tom Sawyer," by Mark Twain The novel "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain is a narrative of the adventures and events in the life of Tom Sawyer, a young, mischievous man who lives in St. Petersburg, Missouri. Apart from the adventurous events in the life of Tom, one of the most noticeable and interesting element that Twain uses in order to give character to Tom's portrayal

"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer": Analysis
Words: 1120 Length: 4 Document Type: Book Report

Adventures of Tom Sawyer - analysis Mark Twain's novel "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" is a timeless masterpiece in the world of literature. Most readers are likely to identify with particular attitudes that the central character takes on throughout the book. Furthermore, it feels difficult not to sympathize with him when considering the numerous incidents he comes across. Even with the fact that the book appears to be directed at an

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now