Twain’s Setting
Mark Twain used Hannibal, Missouri as
the setting for Tom Sawyer . Let’s
explore his world.
Hannibal, Missouri

Found on the Mississippi River
Hannibal, Missouri
Samuel Clemens, aka
Mark Twain
 Steamboats landed 3
times a day
 His dream was to be
a steamboat man on
the river

Hannibal, Missouri



Lived here between the
years 1839 to 1853
Newspaper career
began as an apprentice
to a publisher
Do you see the white
fence? Remember it!
Inside Mr. Clemens' Home
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
The story is not an autobiography, but Mr.
Clemens’ did turn many people from his
life into the characters
 In the preface of the book Mr. Clemens
states that Tom “is a combination of three
boys whom I knew”

Main Characters
Tom Sawyer – combination of Samuel
Clemens himself and two childhood
friends; Mr. Clemens actually did many of
the things which Tom does in the book
 Huckleberry Finn – comes from the real
boy named Tom Blankenship, who lived
down the street from Mr. Clemens

Main Characters

Becky Thatcher – based
on the young girl, Laura
Hawkins, who lived
across the street from Mr.
Clemens; she lived her
whole life in Hannibal;
this is a picture of the
house in Hannibal which
is called “Becky
Thatcher’s House”
Main Characters
Aunt Polly – based on Mr. Clemens’ own
mother, Jane Clemens
 Cousin Mary – Mr. Clemens’ sister Pamela
Clemens
 Cousin Sid – Mr. Clemens’ younger brother,
Henry Clemens
 Joe Harper – based on a childhood
playmate, John Briggs

Main Characters

Injun Joe – legend says that this character
was based on Joe Douglas who was part
Indian and part African-American; Douglas
was bald and wore a red wig; lived a long
life and died respectably
Setting


This is a picture
which includes
the grave stones
of Mr. Clemens’
parents
This graveyard
will be important!
Setting
McDougal Cave – this is about 2 miles
south of Hannibal and was well explored
by children; today it is known as Mark
Twain Cave
 Why do you think the name was changed?

On the Mississippi
Lived in several cities along the Mississippi
 When 21, lived in New Orleans
 Became an apprentice to Horace Bixby, a
steamboat pilot
 Lived on the river for 2 years
 Began signing articles with the pseudonym
“Mark Twain,” which means “two fathoms
deep”

The Later Years
Mr. Clemens became
a famous and
respected author
 He traveled and
lectured all over the
United States

Interesting Facts

Mr. Clemens became
known for the white
linen suits he would
wear for lectures
The Later Years
Mr. Clemens married and had 3 children.
The first died after 2 years.
 He began many business adventures
which failed and eventually had to file for
bankruptcy because of his exuberant
lifestyle
 Moved to Europe and did a lecture tour
 Oldest daughter died during this tour in
1896

The Later Years
Wife became seriously
ill and died in 1904
 Dined at the White
House with President
Theodore Roosevelt
 Youngest daughter
died in 1909

The Last Year
Mr. Clemens’ health rapidly deteriorated
after his daughter’s death
 On April 21, 1910, his heart failed and he
died at the age of 74

“Go out with the Comet”



Samuel Clemens was
born in November 1835
when Halley’s Comet
appeared in the night sky
Mr. Clemens died during
the next appearance of
the comet, April 1910
Amazingly, throughout his
life predicted his own
death
A Big Thank You!

All pictures in this presentation can be
found in the American Memory Collection
of the Library of Congress