Twain

1
Twains Setting

• Mark Twain used Hannibal, Missouri as the setting
  for Tom Sawyer . Lets explore his world.

2
Hannibal, Missouri

• Found on the Mississippi River

3
Hannibal, Missouri

• Samuel Clemens, aka Mark Twain
• Steamboats landed 3 times a day
• His dream was to be a steamboat man on the river

4
Hannibal, Missouri

• Lived here between the years 1839 to 1853
• Newspaper career began as an apprentice to a
  publisher
• Do you see the white fence? Remember it!

5
Inside Mr. Clemens' Home
6
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

• The story is not an autobiography, but Mr.
  Clemens did turn many people from his life into
  the characters
• In the preface of the book Mr. Clemens states
  that Tom is a combination of three boys whom I
  knew

7
Main Characters

• Tom Sawyer combination of Samuel Clemens
  himself and two childhood friends Mr. Clemens
  actually did many of the things which Tom does in
  the book
• Huckleberry Finn comes from the real boy named
  Tom Blankenship, who lived down the street from
  Mr. Clemens

8
Main Characters

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

9
Main Characters

• Aunt Polly based on Mr. Clemens own mother,
  Jane Clemens
• Cousin Mary Mr. Clemens sister Pamela Clemens
• Cousin Sid Mr. Clemens younger brother, Henry
  Clemens
• Joe Harper based on a childhood playmate, John
  Briggs

10
Main Characters

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

11
Setting

• This is a picture which includes the grave stones
  of Mr. Clemens parents
• This graveyard will be important!

12
Setting

• McDougal Cave this is about 2 miles south of
  Hannibal and was well explored by children today
  it is known as Mark Twain Cave
• Why do you think the name was changed?

13
On the Mississippi

• Lived in several cities along the Mississippi
• When 21, lived in New Orleans
• Became an apprentice to Horace Bixby, a steamboat
  pilot
• Lived on the river for 2 years
• Began signing articles with the pseudonym Mark
  Twain, which means two fathoms deep

14
The Later Years

• Mr. Clemens became a famous and respected author
• He traveled and lectured all over the United
  States

15
Interesting Facts

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

16
The Later Years

• Mr. Clemens married and had 3 children. The
  first died after 2 years.
• He began many business adventures which failed
  and eventually had to file for bankruptcy because
  of his exuberant lifestyle
• Moved to Europe and did a lecture tour
• Oldest daughter died during this tour in 1896

17
The Later Years

• Wife became seriously ill and died in 1904
• Dined at the White House with President Theodore
  Roosevelt
• Youngest daughter died in 1909

18
The Last Year

• Mr. Clemens health rapidly deteriorated after
  his daughters death
• On April 21, 1910, his heart failed and he died
  at the age of 74

19
Go out with the Comet

• Samuel Clemens was born in November 1835 when
  Halleys Comet appeared in the night sky
• Mr. Clemens died during the next appearance of
  the comet, April 1910
• Amazingly, throughout his life predicted his own
  death

20
A Big Thank You!

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