The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876)

by Mark Twain
Genre – Bildungsroman (= focuses on the psychological and moral
growth of the protagonist from childhood to adulthood, coming of age
novel, in which character change is important), picaresque novel (= it
depicts the adventures of a roguish but "appealing hero", usually of low
social class, who lives by his wits in a corrupt society), satire, folk,
children's literature;
Tom Sawyer - the epitome (= the typical/highest example) of the all-
American boy, full of mischief but basically pure-hearted;
Summary:
It tells the story of a mischievous and imaginative young boy named
Tom Sawyer, who lives in the fictional town of St. Petersburg, Missouri,
in the mid-19th century. Tom gets into various adventures with his
friends, including Huckleberry Finn and Becky Thatcher, often finding
himself in trouble due to his pranks and schemes.
The novel explores themes of childhood, freedom, and the moral
development of its characters. Tom's escapades (бягство,
приключение), including witnessing a murder, attending his own
funeral, and treasure hunting, make this a beloved work of American
literature.
Themes:
Childhood and Growing Up: The novel vividly portrays the experiences
and challenges of childhood, depicting the transition from innocence to
maturity. Tom's adventures and his moral development are central to
this theme.
Freedom and Independence: Tom is a symbol of freedom, often
rebelling against the constraints of adult authority figures. His desire
for independence and adventure is a recurring theme.
Imagination and Fantasy: Tom's vivid imagination drives many of his
adventures. The novel shows the power of imagination in shaping a
child's perception of the world and in creating a sense of wonder and
excitement.
Social Hypocrisy: Twain satirizes the hypocrisy and moral double
standards of the society of his time. He criticizes the adult world for its
superficial values and social conventions.
Friendship: Tom's friendships with characters like Huckleberry Finn and
Joe Harper are central to the story. These friendships represent loyalty
and the bond between kindred spirits.
Superstition: The novel incorporates various superstitions and beliefs
of the time, often driving the characters' actions and decisions. These
superstitions add depth to the story and reflect the cultural context.
Moral Development: Tom's journey involves a moral awakening. He
learns about the consequences of his actions and becomes a more
responsible and compassionate individual as the story progresses.
Social Injustice: The novel touches on social issues, such as the harsh
punishment of children in schools and the unfairness of the justice
system, highlighting the need for reform.
Nature: The Mississippi River and the woods play a significant role in
the adventures of Tom and his friends, emphasizing the connection
between nature and freedom.
The Search for Treasure: The quest for treasure, particularly the search
for Injun Joe's hidden treasure, serves as a metaphor for the pursuit of
personal goals and dreams.
Here are some key contrasts between the two characters – Tom Sawyer
and Huck Finn:

Background and Social Class:Tom Sawyer comes from a more

conventional background. He lives with his Aunt Polly and has a stable
home life.
Huck Finn, on the other hand, is an orphan who has grown up without
a stable family structure. He is poor and lives a more unpredictable
and independent life.
Education: Tom Sawyer is relatively well-educated for his time and
place. He can read and write and often engages in imaginative play
based on the stories he reads.
Huck Finn is largely uneducated and illiterate. He has a practical
intelligence but lacks the formal education that Tom has.
Morality and Ethics: Tom often follows societal rules and conventions,
even if he breaks them for the sake of adventure. He has a sense of
right and wrong shaped by society.
Huck is more independent and has a stronger sense of individual
morality. He follows his own conscience, which often leads him to
question and even defy societal norms, especially when it comes to
issues like slavery.
Adventure and Risk-Taking: Tom is attracted to adventure and mischief
but tends to seek it out in a more structured and playful manner. He
enjoys pretending to be a pirate or a detective and often devises
elaborate plans.
Huck is naturally drawn to adventure as well, but his adventures tend
to be more spontaneous and often involve greater risks. His journey
down the Mississippi River with Jim, an escaped slave, is a prime
example of this.
Social Relationships: Tom has a strong desire for approval and
validation from his peers. He values social status and often seeks
recognition and praise.
Huck is more of a loner and is less concerned with societal approval.
He values his friendships based on genuine connections and shared
experiences.
Attitude toward Authority: Tom generally respects authority figures
like Aunt Polly and the town's adults, even as he sometimes outwits
them.
Huck is more skeptical of authority figures, especially if he believes
their actions are unjust. He is willing to challenge authority when he
feels it's the right thing to do.
Through these two characters, Twain provides a commentary on
society, morality, and individualism in 19th-century America.
Vocabulary from the excerpt:
alacrity – speed and enthusiasm/eagerness (готовност, пъргавост,
живост)
brim – the top edge of a cup/bowl
to brim with – to be full of – преливам от, пълен съм с
to issue (from)- to come out from
a spring – 1.a quick jump forward and up; 2.a long thin piece of metal in
the shape of a coil that quickly returns to its original shape after you
stretch it and let it go
in bloom – with flowers
blossom – the flower of a seed plant (e.g. apple blossoms)
delectable (land) – very attractive/pleasant – възхитителен
repose – a calm and relaxed state (отдих, почивка)
to repose – 1.слагам, полагам (ръка/глава); 2.лежа, почивам си
reposeful – calm, relaxed
whitewash – a white substance used for painting
hollow (life) – empty, without meaning
plank – дъска (long narrow piece of wood)
fragrance – a pleasant /sweet smell
streak – a line on sth (ивица)
to heave in sight – to become able to be seen, to appear
to be up a stump – (dialect) to be in a difficult situation
to survey – to look at sth carefully, to examine sth
range up – to move freely around; to approach and walk with sb
consent – approval of what is done or proposed by another; agreement
to let on - to pretend (dialect)
to be particular about sth – to be hard to please, to be exacting
(придирчив, капризен, взискателен)
core (of the apple) – сърцевина, среда,
to the core – съвсем, напълно, до мозъка на костите
reluctance – unwillingness