1. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

2. Today’s plan Discussion questions: 20 minutes
Watch the movie clip: 35 minutes
Characterization: 20 minutes

3. Please sit with your group (in a group, not in a line)
IPA
IPS
Group 1: Kathleen, Kellyn, Livin, Will Vanessa Group 2: Sarah, Tim, Kenny, Velen
Group 1: Meina, Arlen, Michelle, Kitto, Yoyo Group 2: Ivan, Yobel, Jojo, Marcella, Will Group 3: Bill, Deidra, Richard, Sherena Group 4: Timmy, Vicky, Han, Jessica, Excella

4. Is Huckleberry Finn literate? How do readers find out if he is or not?
What is a superstition? In Chapter 6, what do Tom and Huck discuss that is superstitious? What are they planning to do?
Why is Huck going to “meow” like a cat in order to get Tom’s attention?
Tom gets in trouble for stopping to talk to Huck. Why do you think the teacher is mad that he did so? Why isn’t Tom upset that he was punished?
Twain writes, “But the elastic hear of youth cannot be kept compressed into one constrained shape long at a time” (p. 79). What does this mean?
Retell the story of what happened in the graveyard with your group so you all understand it. What motivated each of the following characters to be there? Dr. Robinson, Muff Potter, Injun Joe, Tom and Huck. (Chapter 9)
In Chapter 10, Tom and Huck agree to “keep mum” (p. 99). What does this mean?
Is Huckleberry Finn literate? How do readers find out if he is or not?
In chapter 10, readers see another example of Tom and Huck’s superstition. What is it?
How does Aunt Polly react when she finds out that Tom was out all night? How did she find out?
After Tom receives the brass doorknob back from Becky, he says, “This final feather broke the camel’s back” (p. 106). What does this mean?
Superstition: a belief or practice resulting from ignorance, fear of the unknown, trust in magic or chance
Melodramatic: dramatic in emotions

5. Strategies for creating a character

6. Characterization (p. 66-72 Cambridge book)
Characterization: the making of characters
Most engaging part of the story
Rounded characters
Flat characters
Caricatures: simplified, exaggerated
Rounded: also called main characters, 3D
Flat: also called minor characters, 1D
Who are the round and flat characters so far in the novel?
Don’t underestimate flat characters!

7. Narrative First person Third person
Reveals author’s attitude toward the character
1st person: “I,” “we,” told from the characters’ pov
3rd: Uses he, their names when they are talking.
What type of narrator is being used in Tom Sawyer?
Does 1st or 3rd person usually describe the appearance of the characters?

8. Character association
Locations (settings) or symbols
Aunt Polly:
Huckleberry Finn:
Sid:

9. Parallels and contrasts
Minor characters can reinforce the qualities of a main character or be direct contrasts to them.
Tom vs. Sid