Mark Twain Research Paper

Biographical Summary:

Samuel Langhorne Clemens was born in the small town of Florida, Missouri in 1835. His family soon moved to the nearby town of Hannibal, Missouri, along the bustling Mississippi River. Clemens faced many challenges in his life growing up, such as living alone with his mother and five siblings, and his father’s tragic death in 1847. When he grew older, he switched from a variety of occupations, from a printer, entrepreneur, miner, and Confederate soldier to steamboat captain. It was during his time as a steamboat pilot where he found the idea for his famous pen name, now immediately recognized by thousands of scholars. In 1875, Clemens created the pen name “Mark Twain” after the boatmen slang term for water safe to travel

McIntosh-Byrd suggests that Tom Sawyer is not the iconic, endearing children’s novel that it has been perceived as, complete with “a bright and fresh summer, brimming with life and a song in every heart”(Twain 36). I completely agree with McIntosh-Byrd’s interpretation of the novel as well. During my reading, I noticed constant references to battle and fighting which I dismissed as uninteresting. However, after reading this analysis, I have reconsidered from this angle and found that I agree. For example, she mentions how “Tom’s flouting of authority is a paradigm for American self-determination in the face of tyranny”. For instance, Tom stands strong, though he is small and fights his battles alone, “as a great man and a good man”(Twain 121). This is a direct reference to tyranny and freedom, which is represented often. McIntosh-Byrd conveys that this book is a representation of something greater. I found this account truthful because it brought to light the hidden savagery lying beneath the surface of the novel. These accounts prove that this novel is not simply a cute story about a childhood adventure, but instead has hidden meanings and