1. Chapter 1 Questions Why does Tom dislike the new boy?
Tom dislikes the new boy because of his clothes. He makes him feel bad about himself.
How does Aunt Polly justify her decision to make Tom work on Saturday?
Aunt Polly justifies her decision to make Tom work on Saturday because Tom hates work more than anything else, and he has not been behaving.
Why does Tom want to “lam Sid for that. I’ll learn him.”
Tom says he will “lam Sid for that” because Sid told Aunt Polly that the sew in his collar was the wrong color, and Tom was caught for playing hookey.

2. Chapter 2 questions
Briefly describe Cardiff Hill. Why is it so important to Tom?
Cardiff Hill is beyond the village, and green with vegetation. It is important to Tom because it is far enough away from home to be a good place to escape and dream.
Briefly describe Jim. How does Tom try to trick him?
Jim is Aunt Polly’s slave, he is young, and afraid of Aunt Polly.
Find an example of figurative language in this chapter that would mean, “You are in bad shape.”
On page 19- “You’re up a stump”
How does Tom convince Ben Rogers to give him his whole apple?
Tom makes Ben believe that whitewashing the fence is a privilege and only can be done by certain people.
What two generalizations about people does Twain make from Tom’s whitewashing incident?
Humans often want things that are hard to obtain.
Humans usually think of work as something they must do and play as something they do not have to do.
What is Twain attempting to convey through his extensive use of dialect—Tom’s, Aunt Polly’s, and especially Jim’s?
Twain wants to accurately convey the way ordinary people spoke in the Midwest during this time period.

3. Chapter 3 Questions How does Tom take revenge on Sid?
Tom takes revenge on Sid by throwing dirt clods at him.
Do you think Tom is really angry at Aunt Polly for striking him? Why?
This is your opinion. (I don’t believe Tom is really angry at Aunt Polly. He enjoys the idea that his aunt is sorry and wants to make up with him. He enjoys being the wronged one. Twain writes, “ He knew that in her heart his aunt was on her knees to him, and he was morosely gratified by the consciousness of it.”

4. Chapter 4 Questions
What are the blue and yellow tickets? What do they buy? Pg 32
The blue and yellow tickets are rewards for learning Bible verses. Ten blue tickets equal one red, and ten red equal one yellow. A student receives a Bible from the superintendent for ten yellow tickets. A student is supposed to memorize 2000 Bible verses to get a Bible.
Why does Tom want a Bible? Page 32
Tom doesn’t really want a Bible; he wants the admiration from the new girl, Becky, and also the other students.
How do Tom, Mr. Walters, and Judge Thatcher “show off” in church? Page 33-34
Tom shows off by pulling hair, punching other students, and making faces to Becky. Mr. Walters gives directions, judgements, and orders to show off to the Judge. The Judge sits in a chair and smiles warmly on all of the other people, showing off his superiority.

5. Chapter 5 Questions
Find an example of humorous exaggeration early in this chapter.
 All church choirs are ill-bred, except maybe one the narrator remembers in a foreign country.
Tom is not the only one watching the pinchbug and the dog. What is the author trying to say about the sermon?
The author is trying to say that the pinchbug is more interesting than the sermon.

6. Chapter 6 Briefly describe Huckleberry Finn.
Huck Finn is the son of the town drunk, idle, bad, poorly dressed and totally free. He does not go to school. He is a social outcast.
How does Huck use spunk-water to remove warts?
Huck uses spunk-water cure warts. He says a person must go alone, at midnight, back up to a stump, put a hand in, say the verse, walk away eleven steps with eyes shut, and turn around three times.
Why are the boys going to the graveyard at midnight?
The boys are going to the graveyard at midnight to cure their warts.

7. Chapter 7 Briefly describe Joe Harper. Joe and Tom are best friends.
Why does Becky agree to meet Tom at lunch time?
Becky agrees to meet Tom so Tom can teach her to draw.
What promises does Tom claim are part of the engagement?
As part of the engagement, Tom and Becky agree to walk to school together when no one is looking, to choose each other at parties, not to marry anyone else, and not to love anyone else.
How does Tom break Becky’s heart? How does he try to make amends?
Tom breaks Becky’s heart by accidentally saying that he had been engaged to Amy Lawrence. He claims he does not love her anymore, and gives her his most prized possession, a brass door knob, but Becky doesn’t believe him.

8. Chapter 8
To make Becky sorry for rejecting him, what does Tom contemplate? Which one does he decide to pursue?
Tom contemplates dying temporarily or becoming a clown, a soldier, an Indian65, and finally a pirate. He decides to pursue being a pirate.
List two of Tom’s superstitions described in this chapter. Do any of these work for Tom?
Tom believes that a boy buries a marble and leaves it for two weeks, he will find all the other marbles he has every lost when he digs it up.
If he calls a doodle bug and it comes out, then a witch has been there.
What literary figure is mentioned in this chapter?
The literary figure mentioned in this chapter is Robin Hood.
How do Tom and Joe speak to each other when playing?
When they play they speak by reciting lines from books.

9. Chapter 9 Find two superstitions Tom believes about death.
Tom thinks the sound of a death-beetle means someone is going to die.
He also believes the wind is the spirit of the dead who are upset about being disturbed.
Briefly identify Muff Potter and Injun Joe.
Muff Potter-he is a drunk and apparently stupid.
Injun Joe- is a half-breed, and the boys believe he is a murderer.
Why does Injun Joe insist the doctor pay him more money?
Doc. Had him arrested for vagrancy when he came to his father’s restaurant to get food.
What important information is revealed to the reader after the boys flee the murder scene?
At the murder scene, Injun Joe puts the knife in Muff’s hand; when Muff awakens, Injun Joe makes him believe he has murdered the doctor. Injun Joe promises not to tell anyone; and Muff runs away, leaving the incriminating evidence behind.

10. Chapter 10
Why do Tom and Huck decide to promise in blood not to reveal anything about the murder?
The boys decide not to reveal anything about the murder because they are afraid of Injun Joe.
What is Huck’s opinion of girls?
Huck thinks that girls will betray a promise if they get mad.
Why are the boys terrified of the stray dog?
The boys are terrified of the dog because there was a superstition that someone will die if a stray dog howls at the person it is facing.
How does Aunt Polly punish Tom? Is it effective?
Polly punishes Tom by saying she is disappointed with him, and she cried over him. Yes, it was an effective punishment.
Why does the brass knob add to Tom’s troubles?
The brass knob adds to Tom’s troubles because he gave it to Becky; by returning it, she is breaking up with him.

11. Chapter 11
Why do Tom and Huck not come to Muff’s aide the following afternoon?
Tom and Huck do not come to Muff’s aide because Injun Joe tells everyone that Muff murdered the doctor. Tom and Huck expect God to strike him down. When Injun Joe remains unharmed, they conclude he must be working with the devil. They are unable to fight the devil, so they keep quiet.
What superstition is hinted at when the body is moved and it bleeds a little?
People believe that a body will bleed if the murderer is close by.
How does Tom ease his conscience?
Tom eases his conscience by taking things to Muff in prison.
Why is Injun Joe not punished for grave-robbing?
Injun Joe is not arrested because Joe doesn’t admit to it at the inquest, and no one has the courage to tar and feather him.

12. Chapter 12 What is the water cure?
The water cure is when Aunt Polly first douses Tom with cold water, then wraps him up until he begins to sweat.
What lesson does Tom teach his aunt?
Tom teaches his Aunt that in giving all of the medicines to Tom she is just as cruel as Tom when he gives Pain-killer to the cat.

13. Chapter 13 Why does Joe Harper want to run away with Tom?
Joe wants to run away with Tom because Joe is feeling sorry for himself because his mother unjustly whips him for drinking some cream.
Describe Jackson Island. Why is it attractive to the boys?
Jackson Island is three miles below St. Petersburg, is uninhabited, and has a nice forest. The boys think the island is a perfect place for pirates to live.
Why are Joe and Tom troubled by their conscience? How do they resolve their problems?
Joe and Tom are troubled by their conscience because they are worried about stealing food, which is forbidden in the Bible. They are finally able to sleep once they decide that they will not steal as long as they are pirates.

14. Chapter 14
Why are the boys thrilled when Tom Figures out whose body they are looking for in the river?
Joe and Huck are thrilled when Tom figures out whose body they are looking for in the river because Tom thinks they are looking for them and everyone who has been mean to them will be sorry.

15. Chapter 15
How does Tom feel when he hears his aunt and Mrs. Harper talking?
Tom feels important and noble when he hears his aunt talking about him.
What does the note that Tom leaves on Joe’s hat say?
The note says that if he is not back by breakfast, Joe and Huck can keep his treasures.

16. Chapter 16 List the activities the boys enjoy on the island.
Swimming, finding turtle eggs, burying themselves in the sand, and playing circus and marbles.
Why do Joe and Huck want to go home? How does Tom convince them to stay?
Joe is homesick and Huck is lonely too. Tom gets them to come back by telling them his secret.

17. Chapter 17 What do the school children argue about before the funeral?
The school children try to decide who last say the boys alive.

18. Chapter 18
Why does Tom pretend he dreamed about his aunt? Does Sid believe his story?
Tom pretends he dreamed about his aunt because he wants Aunt Polly to know he really does care about her. Sid thinks it is unlikely that Tom remembers such a long dream without any mistakes.
How do the boys reach “the very summit of glory?”
They reach the summit of glory by telling their adventures to the other children, and when they light up and smoke their pipes.
What does Becky do to win back Tom?
Becky tries to show off to get Tom’s attention.
After Alfred realized Becky is using him, how does he get revenge?
Alfred gets revenge by spilling ink on Tom’s spelling book.
Why does Becky not warn Tom?
Becky does not tell Tom because Tom ignored her when she was talking about the picnic.

19. Chapter 19 How does Tom’s lie about the dream hurt Aunt Polly?
Aunt Polly feels foolish when she tries to tell Mrs. Harper about the dream. Joe has already told his mother that Tom was in the house that night and heard their conversation. Aunt Polly is hurt because she thinks Tom really doesn’t care about her.

20. Chapter 20 Briefly describe Mr. Dobbins
Mr. Dobbins is the middle-aged school master. He dreams of being a doctor and secretly reads anatomy books.
How does Tom plan to help Becky? What does he ultimately do?
Tom plans to help Becky by grabbing the book out of the master’s hands and running out the door with it. He waits too long to implement his plan and ends up confessing the crime. He takes Becky’s punishment.

21. Chapter 21 Why do the small boys want revenge on the master?
The boys want revenge on the master because he is punishing them more than usual because of the approaching “Examination” day.
What aspect of the prank pulled on the headmaster is unbelievable?
It is not believable that Mr. Dobbins spends the entire day unaware his head is covered with paint.

22. Chapter 22 Why is Tom depressed to find Huck quoting scripture?
After all the boys go to the revival meeting, Tom is depressed because no one is any fun; he is sure he is the only sinner left in the town.
How do Joe and Huck suffer a relapse like Tom?
Tom has suffered a relapse of measles, but Joe and Huck are eating stolen watermelon. They have relapsed into the boys they were before the revival.

23. Chapter 23
How does the attitude of the spectators change as the prosecution puts on its case?
Those attending the court start out ready to convict Muff, but become sympathetic when the defense lawyer refuses to cross examine any of the prosecutions witnesses. They feel sorry for Muff and are upset that his lawyer isn’t fighting for him.
What evidence is there that Muff does not know of his own innocence during the trial?
Muff is surprised his attorney does not cross examine any witnesses, and he buries his face in his hands when the prosecution rests.
What happens at the end of the chapter?
After Tom explains what he saw and basically accuses Injun Joe of murder, “the half- breed” escapes from the courtroom.