Special Sub-Topic: Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn Click Here To Play: Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn

From both books, who is Tom Sawyer's half-brother?

Sid. "Tom's younger brother, (or rather, half-brother) Sid, was already through with his part of the work (picking up chips), for he was a quiet boy and had no adventurous, troublesome ways." I had always thought he was a full brother to Tom.

From "Tom Sawyer", what activity do Tom, Huck and Joe Harper embark upon on Jackson's Island?

Pirating. Tom was always the leader, but we begin to see Huck's growing frustration with Tom's elaborate schemes.

From "Huck Finn", what does Huck do with the letter he wrote exposing Jim as a runaway slave?

tears it up. This is when we see Huck's growing love and compassion for the best friend he's ever had as well as, it might be said, a conscience about the issue of slavery.

From "Tom Sawyer", who is tried for the murder in the graveyard?

Muff Potter. We all know who really did it, though!

From either book, is Huck's mother EVER mentioned?

y. When Tom and Huck are discussing girls (Tom was always a lot more interested) Huck expresses his dismay with the whole thing because of the fights Pap and his mother had.

From "Huck Finn", where is Pap's body found?

in a house floating on the Mississippi. Jim wouldn't let Huck in to see the body and witheld the information of Pap's death until the very end of the book, when Huck expresses fear that Pap may come back.

From "Tom Sawyer", what is the first word of the book?

Tom. It is Aunt Polly calling for Tom, who, typically, does not respond.

From "Tom Sawyer", how many miles were Tom and Becky down river from the cave when they finally got out?

five. "...you were five miles down the river below the valley the cave is in..."

From "Tom Sawyer" again, and the terrifying ordeal in the cave; just how long WERE Tom and Becky in there?

three days. They barely lasted the three days, let alone a whole week!

From "Huck Finn", what derrogatory term does Huck use in reference to The Duke and The King?

rapscallions. They were all of these, but the word "rapscallions" is the one used. I like this word so much I began using it!

Who narrates "Huck Finn"?

Huck Finn. "You don't know about me, without you have read a book by the name of 'The Adventures of Tom Sawyer', but that ain't no matter." The opening line!

From "Huck Finn", we know the boys are always telling tall tales and pretending to be other than who they are, so who does Tom claim to be when he shows up at Aunt Sally's?

Sid Sawyer. Huck has already claimed to be Tom Sawyer, so Tom HAS to be someone else.

Who narrates "Tom Sawyer"?

nobody-it's in the third person. Hope this didn't trip you up.

From "Huck Finn", by what means was Jim finally made a free man?

the death of Miss Watson (it was in her will). My land! sho' 'nuff Tom and Huck had this elaborate plan hatched and actually DID break him out, but he was caught again, and they later found out about the will.

And finally, are the characters of Tom and Huck based on any actual people Clemens (Twain) knew?

yes. Tom is based on a combination of three boys Clemens knew (what? you don't read prefaces?), and Huck is based on an actual homeless, motherless, unschooled, boy whose real name, I believe, was Tom Blankenship (check out Ken Burns' PBS documentary on Mark Twain).