"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and the Decade of the 1870s." Reconstruction and Unionism.
N.p., 01 Jan. 2008. Web. 25 Mar. 2013.
The setting of The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a small, fictional town called St.
Petersburg along the Mississippi river. The time period is set in the 1800’s in the state of
Missouri. The characteristics of the town resemble many of the southern villages of the time.
Slavery was very common. Tom Sawyer grew up in a town where everyone knew each other.
The children were expected to be disciplined, go to school, and learn the bible with the
exception of the squalid Huckleberry Finn. Tom experiences struggle as he faces conflicts
throughout the book.
"The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain." MonkeyNotes Study Guide Summary. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2013.
The village of St. Petersburg was modeled after the boyhood home of Samuel Clemens
(Mark Twain). He grew up in Hannibal, Missouri. The people of town had values the same as
those of many people in the south. It was a small, country, recently settled town. The setting
includes forests, a cave, and most importantly, the river which was filled with small islands. It
was a perfect backdrop for the timeless ways of boyhood.
"The Big Read." The Big Read. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2013.
This article gives detailed dates of events in history and in the life of Mark Twain from
the year Twain was born up until the year of his death. He lived during the 1800’s. He was
affected by the events occurring around him and influenced by society.
"Book Banning: "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" by Mark Twain." Cracked Spines. N.p., n.d.
Web. 25 Mar. 2013.
The novel was banned because adults thought the behavior of the characters would
negatively influence children. The audience was not directed at children. The author, Mark
Twain, said that the book was never meant for children and they shouldn’t have access to it.
More recently it has been banned for content being racist. However, it is still a popular American
classic and read by many.
Driscoll, Molly. 20 Banned Books That May Surprise You. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2013.
The novel has been controversial since the day it was published. Librarians began
banning the book. The morals of the characters are questionable.
Swan, Katharine. The Adentures of Tom Sawyer. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Mar. 2013.
The book was based on people and events from Mark Twain’s childhood. “The
Adventures of Tom Sawyer” is the story of a boy. Tom Sawyer often got into trouble and was
always looking for a new adventure. There were many memorable moments in the book, for
example, the fence painting scene or when three faked their deaths. Tom wasn’t all
mischievous because in the end, he is seen as a hero.