Preface—Ch. 4
PREFACE:
Are Huck and Tom based on real people?
Yes, because Tom is based on 4 people throughout the story, and Huck is based on one.
CHAPTER 1:
From what point of view is the novel written?
Why is Tom in trouble?
Tom is in trouble because he is playing hookey, he goes swimming, he gets in a fight, he eats the jam, etc.
Why is Tom's aunt worried about him?
Tom's aunt is worried about him because she is acting as a guardian towards Tom; the primary boss of him.
What does Aunt Polly think about herself?
Aunt Polly thinks of herself as Tom's last hope.
Why is Tom happy?
Tom is happy because he feels powerful, and that he is always winning.
What does the aunt decide, and why?
The aunt decides that instead of having fun on Saturday, she is going to give him a weekend's worth of chores.
CHAPTER 2:
Why is Tom painting the wall, even though he doesn't want to?
Tom is whitewashing the wall because it is what he needs to do to pay for playing hookey, and to draw people into doing it for him.
Why is Tom suddenly pretending to like work?
Tom is doing this because he wants people to think it is fun so that they will do it for him.
How did Tom turn his chores to his advantage?
Tom did this because he wanted the people to give him things in return for letting them do this "fun activity" with him.
CHAPTER 3:
Did Tom successfully fool his aunt?
Yes, because she let Tom go out and play.
Who is Amy Lawrence and why have Tom's feelings for her changed so suddenly?
Amy Lawrence is the daughter of the new judge in town.
What does the phrase "agony of pleasurable suffering" mean?
This means that he is suffering about if the girl will like him or not.
Who is the "Adored Unknown"?
The Adored Unknown is the girl.
CHAPTER 4:
Why does the fact that his Sunday suit is called his "other clothes" tell us the size of his wardrobe?
This says that he only has that one good outfit and wears his regular clothes every other day.
How is Mr. Waters different on Sundays?
His voice is different on Sundays than it is on weekdays.
Who is the "newcomer"? Where have we seen her before?
The "newcomer" is the judge's daughter, and we saw her in her front yard.
Explain the irony of this sentence - and what that says about Tom's town.
The irony is that he is suddenly happy when she comes, and also because she is new
What does Amy Lawrence realize in the above paragraph?
Amy realizes that Tom has another crush.
What does Twain mean by "the curtain of charity"?
Twain means that he is sparing Tom the embarrassment.
Are Huck and Tom based on real people?
Yes, because Tom is based on 4 people throughout the story, and Huck is based on one.
CHAPTER 1:
From what point of view is the novel written?
Why is Tom in trouble?
Tom is in trouble because he is playing hookey, he goes swimming, he gets in a fight, he eats the jam, etc.
Why is Tom's aunt worried about him?
Tom's aunt is worried about him because she is acting as a guardian towards Tom; the primary boss of him.
What does Aunt Polly think about herself?
Aunt Polly thinks of herself as Tom's last hope.
Why is Tom happy?
Tom is happy because he feels powerful, and that he is always winning.
What does the aunt decide, and why?
The aunt decides that instead of having fun on Saturday, she is going to give him a weekend's worth of chores.
CHAPTER 2:
Why is Tom painting the wall, even though he doesn't want to?
Tom is whitewashing the wall because it is what he needs to do to pay for playing hookey, and to draw people into doing it for him.
Why is Tom suddenly pretending to like work?
Tom is doing this because he wants people to think it is fun so that they will do it for him.
How did Tom turn his chores to his advantage?
Tom did this because he wanted the people to give him things in return for letting them do this "fun activity" with him.
CHAPTER 3:
Did Tom successfully fool his aunt?
Yes, because she let Tom go out and play.
Who is Amy Lawrence and why have Tom's feelings for her changed so suddenly?
Amy Lawrence is the daughter of the new judge in town.
What does the phrase "agony of pleasurable suffering" mean?
This means that he is suffering about if the girl will like him or not.
Who is the "Adored Unknown"?
The Adored Unknown is the girl.
CHAPTER 4:
Why does the fact that his Sunday suit is called his "other clothes" tell us the size of his wardrobe?
This says that he only has that one good outfit and wears his regular clothes every other day.
How is Mr. Waters different on Sundays?
His voice is different on Sundays than it is on weekdays.
Who is the "newcomer"? Where have we seen her before?
The "newcomer" is the judge's daughter, and we saw her in her front yard.
Explain the irony of this sentence - and what that says about Tom's town.
The irony is that he is suddenly happy when she comes, and also because she is new
What does Amy Lawrence realize in the above paragraph?
Amy realizes that Tom has another crush.
What does Twain mean by "the curtain of charity"?
Twain means that he is sparing Tom the embarrassment.