Twain’s Setting Mark Twain used Hannibal, Missouri as the setting for Tom Sawyer. Let’s explore his world.

Twain’s Twain’s SettingSetting

Mark Twain used Hannibal, Mark Twain used Hannibal, Missouri as the setting for Missouri as the setting for Tom Tom

Sawyer Sawyer . Let’s explore his world.. Let’s explore his world.

Hannibal, MissouriHannibal, Missouri

Found on the Mississippi RiverFound on the Mississippi River

Hannibal, MissouriHannibal, Missouri

Samuel Clemens, Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twainaka Mark Twain

Steamboats landed Steamboats landed 3 times a day3 times a day

His dream was to His dream was to be a steamboat be a steamboat man on the river man on the river

Hannibal, MissouriHannibal, Missouri

Lived here between Lived here between the years 1839 to the years 1839 to 18531853

Newspaper career Newspaper career began as an began as an apprentice to a apprentice to a publisherpublisher

Do you see the white Do you see the white fence? Remember it!fence? Remember it!

Inside Mr. Clemens' HomeInside Mr. Clemens' Home

The Adventures of Tom The Adventures of Tom SawyerSawyer

The story is not an autobiography, but The story is not an autobiography, but Mr. Clemens’ did turn many people Mr. Clemens’ did turn many people from his life into the charactersfrom his life into the characters

In the preface of the book Mr. Clemens In the preface of the book Mr. Clemens states that Tom “is a combination of states that Tom “is a combination of three boys whom I knew”three boys whom I knew”

Main CharactersMain Characters

Tom Sawyer – combination of Samuel Tom Sawyer – combination of Samuel Clemens himself and two childhood Clemens himself and two childhood friends; Mr. Clemens actually did friends; Mr. Clemens actually did many of the things which Tom does many of the things which Tom does in the bookin the book

Huckleberry Finn – comes from the Huckleberry Finn – comes from the real boy named Tom Blankenship, real boy named Tom Blankenship, who lived down the street from Mr. who lived down the street from Mr. ClemensClemens

Main CharactersMain Characters

Becky Thatcher – Becky Thatcher – based on the young based on the young girl, Laura Hawkins, girl, Laura Hawkins, who lived across the who lived across the street from Mr. street from Mr. Clemens; she lived her Clemens; she lived her whole life in Hannibal; whole life in Hannibal; this is a picture of the this is a picture of the house in Hannibal house in Hannibal which is called “Becky which is called “Becky Thatcher’s House”Thatcher’s House”

Main CharactersMain Characters

Aunt Polly – based on Mr. Clemens’ Aunt Polly – based on Mr. Clemens’ own mother, Jane Clemensown mother, Jane Clemens

Cousin Mary – Mr. Clemens’ sister Cousin Mary – Mr. Clemens’ sister Pamela ClemensPamela Clemens

Cousin Sid – Mr. Clemens’ younger Cousin Sid – Mr. Clemens’ younger brother, Henry Clemensbrother, Henry Clemens

Joe Harper – based on a childhood Joe Harper – based on a childhood playmate, John Briggsplaymate, John Briggs

Main CharactersMain Characters

Injun Joe – legend says that this Injun Joe – legend says that this character was based on Joe Douglas character was based on Joe Douglas who was part Indian and part African-who was part Indian and part African-American; Douglas was bald and American; Douglas was bald and wore a red wig; lived a long life and wore a red wig; lived a long life and died respectablydied respectably

SettingSetting

This is a picture This is a picture which includes which includes the grave stones the grave stones of Mr. Clemens’ of Mr. Clemens’ parentsparents

This graveyard This graveyard will be important!will be important!

SettingSetting

McDougal Cave – this is about 2 McDougal Cave – this is about 2 miles south of Hannibal and was well miles south of Hannibal and was well explored by children; today it is explored by children; today it is known as Mark Twain Caveknown as Mark Twain Cave

Why do you think the name was Why do you think the name was changed?changed?

On the MississippiOn the Mississippi

Lived in several cities along the Lived in several cities along the MississippiMississippi

When 21, lived in New OrleansWhen 21, lived in New Orleans Became an apprentice to Horace Bixby, Became an apprentice to Horace Bixby,

a steamboat pilota steamboat pilot Lived on the river for 2 yearsLived on the river for 2 years Began signing articles with the Began signing articles with the

pseudonym “Mark Twain,” which means pseudonym “Mark Twain,” which means “two fathoms deep”“two fathoms deep”

The Later YearsThe Later Years

Mr. Clemens became Mr. Clemens became a famous and a famous and respected authorrespected author

He traveled and He traveled and lectured all over the lectured all over the United StatesUnited States

Interesting FactsInteresting Facts

Mr. Clemens Mr. Clemens became known for became known for the white linen the white linen suits he would suits he would wear for lectureswear for lectures

The Later YearsThe Later Years

Mr. Clemens married and had 3 Mr. Clemens married and had 3 children. The first died after 2 years.children. The first died after 2 years.

He began many business adventures He began many business adventures which failed and eventually had to file which failed and eventually had to file for bankruptcy because of his for bankruptcy because of his exuberant lifestyleexuberant lifestyle

Moved to Europe and did a lecture Moved to Europe and did a lecture tourtour

Oldest daughter died during this tour Oldest daughter died during this tour in 1896in 1896

The Later YearsThe Later Years

Wife became Wife became seriously ill and seriously ill and died in 1904died in 1904

Dined at the White Dined at the White House with House with President Theodore President Theodore RooseveltRoosevelt

Youngest daughter Youngest daughter died in 1909died in 1909

The Last YearThe Last Year

Mr. Clemens’ health rapidly Mr. Clemens’ health rapidly deteriorated after his daughter’s deteriorated after his daughter’s deathdeath

On April 21, 1910, his heart failed On April 21, 1910, his heart failed and he died at the age of 74and he died at the age of 74

““Go out with the Comet”Go out with the Comet”

Samuel Clemens was Samuel Clemens was born in November 1835 born in November 1835 when when Halley’s Comet Halley’s Comet appeared in the night appeared in the night skysky

Mr. Clemens died during Mr. Clemens died during the next appearance of the next appearance of the comet, April 1910the comet, April 1910

Amazingly, throughout Amazingly, throughout his life predicted his own his life predicted his own deathdeath

A Big Thank You!A Big Thank You!

All pictures in this presentation can All pictures in this presentation can be found in the American Memory be found in the American Memory Collection of the Library of CongressCollection of the Library of Congress