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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Tom trade his tooth for?

2. What is the potential consequence Tom heard that the illness could have?

3. What does the sheriff say about catching Muff Potter?

4. What task does Polly give Tom as punishment?

5. Where does Aunt Polly find Tom?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe Tom's high spirits at suppertime.

2. Why does Tom confess that he stopped to talk with Huckleberry Finn on the way to school?

3. Why does Tom realize that Muff Potter cannot tell the true story?

4. What does Tom make Becky whisper in his ear?

5. Describe the reaction to the Sunday School visitors.

6. Where do Tom and Huck agree to meet next?

7. How are Sid and Tom different?

8. What grievance does Injun Joe have against the doctor?

9. How does Tom trick other boys into doing his work for him?

10. What do Tom and Huck do with their pact after they sign it?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Tom Sawyer is a mischievous trickster. Discuss the role of mischief and trickery in the novel.

1) Aunt Polly scolds and punishes Tom for his mischief, but she forgives him easily, too. When Tom thinks he'll die, he believes he'll go to hell for his misbehavior, but at his funeral, the pastor has nothing but good to say of the boys. How bad or wrong is Tom's mischief?

2) Why does Tom misbehave? What does Tom gain from his antics, and is the gain worth the price?

3) Besides Tom, how do other characters get into mischief? Compare and contrast other characters' mischievous behavior with Tom's.

Essay Topic 2

Throughout the novel, people show off, or posture. Tom shows off when he wants to get Becky's attention, but showing off is not just for children. The Sunday School teacher shows off for important guests, and the schoolmaster shows off for the parents and town.

1) Why do the characters in the novel show off? What do they hope to gain?

2) What different forms does "showing off" take? Why are these actions supposed to impress others?

3) How aware are the characters of others' "showing off"? How effective is it?

Essay Topic 3

Tom Sawyer is set in a small town in middle-America in the mid-1800s. Discuss the importance of the setting of Tom Sawyer.

1) How are the qualities of Tom's childhood determined by the setting?

2) What type of independence does the setting allow Tom? What types of constraints does the setting put on Tom?

3) How might Tom's childhood be different in a different location or time?

(see the answer keys)

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