by Mark Twain
A collection of Twain's short stories and excerpts from longer pieces from pbs.org.
Extensive biography of Twain's life, divided into chapters. Beware the banner ads.
A chronology of Twain's life from pbs. org: chronology of Twain's life,
Online texts of Twain's major novel.
1.
JOURNAL PROMPT FOR The
Adventures of Tom Sawyer
a ) What is your least favorite chore? b) Why do you detest (hate) that chore? c) Have you ever tried to wheedle your way out of doing that chore? If so, how? If not, how would you if you were a wheedling-type of kid? What was/would be the outcome?
2. JOURNAL PROMPT CHARACTER TRAITS SPIRAL ENTRY # ____
Examine these three lists of character traits. Each list is a brief sketch of a character in TS. Character A: loving, honest, and easily fooled. Character B: outwardly polite, not adventurous, and a tattletale. Character C: imaginative, tricky or sneaky, and adventurous.
Which character, A, B, or C to you 1) relate to most and why? 2) Admire most and why? 3) Want as a friend and why? 4) Be interested in reading about and why?
3. IDIOMS AND SLANG SPIRAL ENTRY # ______
A) Make a chart or list of slang that American teenagers use today. What are the words, when are they used (context) and what do they mean?
B) Download the "Idioms and Slang" handout (see list of handouts at right). Use this handout to record slang in the novel once you start reading.
4. Read Chapters 1-3 and make one "On the Surface/Under the Surface" Tree. If you can't remember how to do an On/Under the surface tree, click here.
5. Responding to Literature as a Reader and a Writer Questions: Chp 1-3 Spiral Entry #_____.
Answer the questions thoughtfully. Use evidence from the text to back up your answers. The questions are on this website. Click on the picture of Twain at the right.
5.5 Write your own "As A Reader/ As a Writer" Discussion questions. Spiral Entry # ______
Write two of each type of question. Remember, "as a reader" questions are open-ended questions that will spark discussion about the characters, plot, conflict, and setting. In these questions one responds to the literature as a reader. "As a writer" questions cause one to examine HOW the writer achieves certain effects, in other words, to look at the novel from the writer's perspective.
6. Read Chapters 4-8 Spiral Entry #______
Explain why the following scenes are important or significant: a) Chp 3 -- introducing Aunt Polly: how does Twain reveal her character? b) Chp 4-- "showing off", c) Chp 5-- Twain's satirical mockery of church goers, d) Chp 6 -- introducing Huck Finn, e) Chp 8 -- Tom seeks "high emotions"
7. Satire Chart Spiral Entry #______
Create a three columned satire chart indicating: what Twain makes fun of (satirizes), evidence from the text shwoing him mocking that thing, and the page & chapter. (You can also use the handout available on-line)
8. Read chapters 9-12 Be ready for a plot quiz on chps 5-12
9. Literary Devices: Characterization & Humor
A) "Analyzing Aunt Polly & Tom" Double-sided handout -- given out in class -- not available on-line
B) "Humorous Word Choices: Hyperbole & Formal Language" Double-sided handout -- given out in class -- not available on-line
10. Setting: How does Twain use sensory details (sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell) to describe the setting?
These elements can be part of the setting:
 | physical location: geography, climate, types of buildings |
| time: season & historical period |
| atmosphere: social, cultural, and emotional conditions, characters' manner of life |
Complete the "Literary Skills: Setting" Handout (available only in class, not online.)
For Excellent Learning Habits Tickets, research the setting of TS, especially the historical period and geography, and then bring that information in to share with the class.
11. Complete As a Reader/As a Writer Questions for chapters 4-11
12. Read Chapters 13-14
13. Literary Devices: Introduction to Juxtaposition to show contrast
Spiral Entry # ______Contrast Notes & Handout Imagine blowing up a balloon so that it becomes huge, then purposely popping it. Mark Twain figuratively inflates balloons in TS only to dramatically deflate them in the next chapter or even in the next paragraph. He wants the reader to mentally juxtapose and then compare the inflated balloon with the deflated one. In class you'll take notes on a few examples of Twain's use of juxtaposition to show contrast. You'll learn about at least four reasons why he uses this literary device.
Complete the handout "Literary Skills: Comparison & Contrast-- Expectation v. Reality" available only in class
14. Read chapters 15-16 & annotate using sticky notes
| With a team of students, look for examples of contrast in chapters 8-16. Make a three-columned Contrast & Juxtaposition Chart. This is part of the previous spiral entry. |
Page/Chp | Example | Effect on reader
| Be ready for an open book plot quiz on 12-16 |
15. Journal Prompts for chapters 17 & 19: Human Emotions Spiral Entry # _____
| Think of and list several ways people try to make each other jealous. |
| What are some of the reasons people use to justify making someone else feel jealous? |
| Why do guys and gals (and even adults) sometimes pretend not to care about each other? |
| Why do we sometimes feel momentarily better if another person (usually someone we like) is hurting? |
| Have you ever unintentionally hurt someone else by your own carelessness or thoughtlessness? Begin your journal entry with the phrase "I didn't think..." |
16. Read chapters 17-19
| Complete Handout "Literary Skills: Interpretation-- Recognizing Inconsistencies" |
| Complete Handout "Literary Skills: Point of View-- The all-knowing narrator" |
17. Answer As a Reader/As a Writer questions for chapters 12-19
18. Read chapter 20 and prepare for a class discussion on
| Aunt Polly's indecision regarding searching Tom's pockets for the bark note-- what does it reveal about her? How does Twain characterize her through her actions and words? |
| What is the story of the boy who cried wolf and how might it relate to chapter 19? |
| What are possible consequences of not thinking before you act? Personal examples? Examples from the novel? |
| What does the Pirate-Funeral-Bark incident reveal about Tom? Is he selfish? Are his intentions good? Are good intentions enough? Or does the author suggest one has to be good too? |
19. Read chapters 21-23
| Do the activities on my humor web page |
20. Read chapters 24-6
| Annotate using sticky notes |
| Complete Handout "Literary Skills: Characterization-- Characters as Types" |
21. Read chapters 27-28
| Complete Handout "Literary Skills: Foreshadowing & Suspense-- Buildup to Terror" |
| Complete Handout "Literary Skills: Conflict-- A Sea of Troubles" |
22. Answer As a Reader/As a Writer questions on chap. 24-28
This Week's Activities
23. Read Chap. 29-31
| Write your own As a Reader & As a Writer questions (two of each kind). You do not need to answer them. |
| Complete Handout "Literary Skills" Simile & Metaphor-- Coloring in Descriptions" |
24. Read Chap. 32-33
| Do a dialectical journal entry for these chapters. If you forget how to do that, see the handout in the column at the right. |
25. Finish the novel
| Do an On the Surface/Under the Surface Tree of the last two chapters |
| Make a T-chart comparing Huck's options a) Advantages of living on his own or b) Living with Widow Douglas. Then put yourself in Huck's shoes and write a letter to Widow Douglas informing her of your decision. Anticipate her concerns and address them. Use Huck's style of speaking if you can. |
26. Choose to do one of the following Literary Skills Handouts: Motifs-- Links in the Chain or Satire-- What's so Funny.
27. Culminating Project: Essay (choose one of the questions)
OPTION A. Does the novel suggest that good intentions outweigh the suffering caused by thoughtlessness or selfishness? Or is Twain making a different point about human nature? Cite evidence to support your thesis.
Step One: Analyze both positions in a T-Chart
Yes, good intentions outweigh suffering | No, good intentions don't
Step Two:....
OPTION B. Write an essay about a theme in the novel.
OPTION C. Write an essay about two characters in the novel-- Your essay may take the form of an obituary in the St. Petersburg newspaper
OPTION D. Write an essay about satire in the novel
Idioms
and Slang Handout #3
Satire Chart #7
As a Reader/ Writer questions for the entire novel
Click
here to visit the Twain's humor web page
Reminders
on how to do Dialectical Journal entries.
Handout
here soon
Visit the University of Virginia's website on Mark Twain
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Designed by L. Clark-Burnell, 2003