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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 illness does Tom contract during vacation?

2. Why does Tom say they need to stop and wait by the water?

3. What is the title of the first-prize composition?

4. When does Mrs. Thatcher find out that Becky's not where she's supposed to be?

5. By Monday morning, what do the men searching the cave send word to town for?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Tom think when he's whipped for ruining his schoolbook?

2. Does the Welshman take credit for saving Widow Douglas?

3. Describe what happens the first time Becky goes to sleep in the cave.

4. What happens at the Fourth of July celebration?

5. How does Mrs. Thatcher react as Tuesday comes and Becky is still missing?

6. How does Becky react when she first realizes she and Tom are lost?

7. Why does Injun Joe want to harm the Widow Douglas?

8. What is the town's reaction after the murder trial?

9. How does Tom feel when Injun Joe is found dead?

10. Describe Huck's reaction to living with the Widow Douglas.

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Superstition and myth is an important part of Tom Sawyer's worldview. Discuss superstition and myth in the novel.

1) What superstitions and myths does Tom believe in? Why does Tom believe in these superstitions and myths?

2) What does Tom do when events in reality contradict the myths or superstitions he believes in? Why does he react this way?

3) What are the other characters' opinions and beliefs about myths, superstitions, or the supernatural? How does Tom use Polly's belief in the supernatural to manipulate her?

Essay Topic 2

Huck Finn feels constrained by the Widow Douglas, just as Tom feels constrained by his Sunday shoes. Discuss freedom in the novel, and how freedom conflicts with civilization.

1) What does Huck Finn find constricting about civilization?

2) The boys admire and emulate outlaws. Why do they admire fictional outlaws? How do they feel about the real outlaws in the novel?

3) Tom Sawyer admires Huck for his free lifestyle, and yet at the end of the novel, he convinces Huck to stay with the Widow Douglas. Why does he do this?

Essay Topic 3

The novel contains many examples of guilt and self-condemnation. For example, Muff Potter condemns himself for a crime he didn't commit, saying it's right that he should die for it, while Tom and Huck are overcome with guilt for not telling what they know.

1) Tom is always misbehaving and doesn't feel guilty at all. What types of circumstances will or won't make Tom feel guilty?

2) Muff Potter and Huck Finn both feel that they deserve condemnation, in part because of the society's condemnation of them. How does societal condemnation relate to self-condemnation?

3) In what ways is guilt a valuable feeling? How does it help or hinder the characters? Use examples from the novel.

(see the answer keys)

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