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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 try to do during the sermon?

2. What does Mary promise Tom for memorizing his Bible verses?

3. What does Tom steal as he goes out to play after whitewashing the fence?

4. What serves as a field for their tick game?

5. What does Tom throw at Sid as he leaves?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Tom trick Aunt Polly so that he can escape?

2. What do the villagers want to do to Injun Joe?

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

4. What mistake does Tom make that gives away to Polly that he played hooky?

5. What are the boys' reactions to realizing that the townspeople think they're dead?

6. Describe what Tom draws on his slate for Becky.

7. How does Tom get shooed away from Jeff Thatcher's house?

8. What do Tom and Becky talk about before their discussion turns to romance?

9. What about Tom's behavior at school strikes Sid as strange?

10. Describe Polly's reaction when Tom says he's done with the whitewashing.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

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 3

Discuss religion in the novel.

1) Is Tom religious? Discuss his reactions to Sunday school, his behavior in church, his beliefs in superstition, and his beliefs about the afterlife.

2) What role does religion play in Tom's family? What purposes does the Sunday-morning family ritual serve?

3) Do the community's religious leaders influence thought in the community? How?

(see the answer keys)

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