Novel Adventure

The Adventures
of Tom Sawyer
Author Year Published Original Language
Mark Twain 1876 English

OVERVIEW

A Boy’s Set along the Mississippi River in the mid-1800s, The Adventures of Tom
Sawyer follows Tom and his friends as they navigate the line between
Adventure adventure and responsibility. Tom must balance the pressures of finding
his place in society, winning the affection of his crush, and facing the
consequences of witnessing a murder.

1
2
Tom and Huck witness Injun
The two boys run away with
Joe commit murder
Joe Harper to an island in the
in the graveyard.
Mississippi River.

Tom testifies against Injun 4

Joe, who flees out a window.
Tom and Becky get lost
exploring a cave but
eventually escape.

Injun Joe is trapped in the

cave with his treasure
and dies.
6

Tom and Huck find and reveal

the treasure, securing
their future.

Main Characters
Friends Love Interest Witnesses murder

Huckleberry Finn Tom Sawyer Joe Harper

Veritable orphan because of Good-hearted but Boy with a typical childhood;

his father’s drinking; Tom’s mischievous orphan with a eager to play games and have
cohort in his adventures penchant for rule-breaking safe adventures

Becky Thatcher Aunt Polly Injun Joe

Young newcomer to town; Kindhearted and trusting Vengeful criminal

emotional but willing woman; raises Tom and his with a foul temper
to stand up to Tom half-brother

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Author
by the Numbers

$12,000
Value of the treasure Tom
and Huck find at the end of
the novel in the mid-1800s
1956
Year Tom Sawyer Island
opened at Disneyland in
California—the only attraction
Walt Disney designed himself
MARK TWAIN
1835–1910

One of the most successful

American writers during
and after his lifetime, Twain
wrote novels that are
quintessentially Southern in
their presentation of religion

1849 1907 and community. He created

Year Perry Davis’s
Pain-Killer—which Aunt
Polly uses to torment
Tom—became available
in Hannibal, Missouri
stories filled with humor,
including The Adventures
Year a silent film
of Tom Sawyer and
version—the first film
The Adventures of Huckleberry
adaptation of Tom
Finn, which draw on his
Sawyer—was released
Missouri boyhood.

Themes

Establishing Authority Social Pressures Transition to Adulthood

Growing up without father Tom and Huck struggle to Tom and Huck’s perspective
figures, Tom and Huck seek follow society’s rules without on the world matures through
out and challenge authority. sacrificing their individual the life-risking adventures
freedom. they face together.

here comes a time in every rightly-constructed

boy’s life when he has a raging desire to go
somewhere and dig for hidden treasure.
Narrator, Chapter 25

Sources: Disneyland.com, Encyclopedia.com, Forbes, IMDb, Mark Twain and

Medicine by K. Patrick Ober, University of Rochester, World Heritage Encyclopedia

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