Mark Twain, born Samuel Clemens in 1835, was an American author and humorist known as the "Grandfather of American Literature." He grew up in Hannibal, Missouri where many of his childhood experiences inspired his most famous works, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Throughout his career, Twain wrote numerous books, short stories, letters and sketches that satirized society and used regional dialects of the American South and Midwest. He remains one of the most important American authors and his works have had a significant influence on literature and culture.

1. Mark Twain
The
Grandfather of
American
Literature

2. Mark Twain
1835-1910
• Born on November 30,
1835 in Florida, MO
• Real name: Samuel
Clemens
• Spent much of childhood
in Hannibal, MO
• His father died when he
was young, leaving him to
care for his family

4. Welcome to Hannibal
Home of Mark Twain

5. Mark Twain
Interesting Facts…
• Childhood hangout was Jesse
James’ hideout
• Tom Sawyer is based on his
childhood experiences.
• He once spent the night in Judge
Clemens’office with the corpse
of a stabbing victim.
“Mark Twain Cave”

6. Mark Twain
Early Years
• At 17, Clemens left
Hannibal for a printer’s
job in St. Louis
• While in St. Louis, he
became a licensed river
pilot.
• Clemens began working
as a newspaper reporter
for newspapers around
the U.S.

7. Mark Twain
• Clemens’ pseudonym, Mark Twain, comes
from his days as a river pilot.
• “Mark twain” means it is safe to navigate.

8. Mark Twain
• Twain began to get famous when his story, “The
Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calavaras County”
appeared in the New York Saturday Press.

9. Mark Twain
• Twain’s first book, “The Innocents Abroad”
was published in 1869.
• 1870 – Marries Livy Langdon.
• 1870-80s – Becomes a father of one boy and
three girls. (Some die at an early age.)
• He wrote 28 books and numerous short
stories, letters and sketches.

10. • Bankruptcy in his 50’s
• Deaths: 1st Susy 2nd Olivia Both
of his daughters go insane
• 3rd Death: Jean
• Because of his personal tragedies, his
later works are much more pessimistic...
• Works such as “To the Person Sitting in
the Darkness”, “King Leopold s‟
Soliloquy” and (what you read) “The
War Prayer”
• The tone is much darker and has a
sense of anger and hopelessness
• To cope, he began wearing white suits
(he had 14) and scarlet socks and being
much more public

11. Mark Twain
Famous Novels
• “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”, 1876.
• “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”, 1885.
• “A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court”,
1889.

12. Mark Twain
• Passed away
April 21, 1910
• Childhood home in
Hannibal, MO is
open to the public as
a museum

13. TwainTwain’s Use of’s Use of SatireSatire
• Satire:
– Criticize people and society through ridicule.
– Point out the hypocrisy of people and make them
look ridiculous.

14. Background KnowledgeBackground Knowledge
– Speech Patterns– Speech Patterns
The characters in the book speak very differently
from the way most Americans do today. They speak
in a different dialect.
“He’s a-going up there. Say-look! He’s a-going to shake
hands with him—he is shaking hands with him! By
jings, don’t you wish you was Jeff?” page 35
“Huck, he must mean us both—we’re right together.”
“Oh, Tom, I reckon we’re goners. I reckon there ain’t
no mistake ‘bout where I’ll go to. I been so wicked.”
page 74
“Hucky, do you das’t to go if I lead?” “I don’t like to,
much, Tom, s’pose it’s Injun Joe!” page 75