The Adventures of Tom Sawyer
by Mark Twain
The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is set in the 1840's in the fictitious town of St. Petersburg, Missouri, where Tom lives with his deceased mother's sister, Aunt Polly, and his half-brother, Sid. After Tom plays hooky from school, he is made to whitewash Aunt Polly's fence as punishment, but persuades his friends to do it for him.
Tom's real trouble begins when he and Huck Finn witness a murder committed by Injun Joe. They swear to never tell, and the wrong man, Muff Potter, is accused of the crime. Tom, Huck, and a friend run away to be pirates, but become aware that the whole town is searching for their bodies. Each of the boys make an appearance at their own funerals, where they are greeted with open arms. As Muff Potter's trial begins, Tom is overcome with guilt and testifies against Injun Joe, who quickly flees the courtroom.
Later, on a class field trip to a cave, Tom and his love interest, Becky Thatcher, get lost. As they run out of food and candles searching for a way out, Tom and Becky come upon Injun Joe, who is using the cave as a hideout. Tom finds a way out just as the search party is giving up. The town rejoices and Judge Thatcher, Becky's father, has the cave sealed, unknowingly trapping Injun Joe inside where he starves to death.
Source: Twain, M. (1876). The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. Hartford, CT: American Publishing Co.
- Preface
- Author's preface.
- Chapter 1
- Aunt Polly catches Tom misbehaving, but finds it hard to punish her late sisters child. Tom's fight with a stranger in town causes him to temporarily lose his freedom. The reader is introduced to Tom's half brother Sid.
- Chapter 2
- Tom finds a way to turn a profit from his punishment.
- Chapter 3
- Tom tries to attract the attention of Becky Thatcher. Tom is wrongly accused and punished by Aunt Polly when Sid has an accident, causing him to evaluate his importance in the world.
- Chapter 4
- Tom trades his profits from the whitewashing for tickets in order to win a prize at church. Tom is introduced to Judge Thatcher.
- Chapter 5
- The church breaks out is a sudden commotion when a dog has a run in with a beetle.
- Chapter 6
- Tom attempts to stay home from school, with painful and unexpected results. While going to school Tom runs into his friend Huckleberry Finn.
- Chapter 7
- Tom is punished for being late to school resulting in him meeting Becky Thatcher. Tom and Becky's lunch together does not end well for Tom.
- Chapter 8
- Tom plays hooky from school feeling bad about his lunch with Becky. Tom runs into his friend Joe Harper.
- Chapter 9
- Tom and Huck witness a commotion in the graveyard.
- Chapter 10
- Tom and Huck run to town. Fearing for their lives they take an oath to never reveal what they have seen and promise behave from then on.
- Chapter 11
- News of Dr. Robinson's murder spreads throughout St. Petersberg. Both Tom and Huck are greatly troubled by the arrest of an innocent man.
- Chapter 12
- Becky Thatcher's illness causes a change in Tom's behavior, which leads Aunt Polly to believe he is ill. Tom continues to seek the attention of Becky.
- Chapter 13
- Tom, feeling low and friendless, decides that he would be better suited to a life of crime. The gang of Tom, Huck, and Joe plan to meet that night.
- Chapter 14
- The "Pirates" borrow a raft, intending to camp at a nearby island. The boys are alarmed at the news of a drowning.
- Chapter 15
- Tom, having returned home temporarily, overhears his Aunt Polly speaking with Mrs. Harper. Tom, Joe, and Huck continue to pursue their new life as pirates.
- Chapter 16
- A sudden and fierce storm causes the boys to reexamine their decisions.
- Chapter 17
- St. Petersburg prepares for a somber day. Tom, Huck, and Joe's sudden and unexpected arrival changes the mood of the congregation.
- Chapter 18
- Tom and Joe find they are now held in high regard by their peers. Becky, feeling rejected by Tom, attempts to make him jealous.
- Chapter 19
- Aunt Polly confronts Tom for his dishonesty after paying a visit to Mrs. Harper. Aunt Polly discovers Tom's note. Tom's attempt to reconcile with Becky do not go as planned.
- Chapter 20
- While at school, Tom catches Becky in the act. Becky is not as satisfied by Tom's punishment as she had hoped. Tom decides to take the blame for something he did not do, receiving adoration from Becky in return.
- Chapter 21
- While Mr. Dobbins plans for the school's final exam, the boys form a plan to get back at Mr. Dobbins.
- Chapter 22
- Tom continues to look for distractions. Tom finds himself suddenly ill.
- Chapter 23
- With the start of Muff Potter's trial, Huck and Tom remember Muff's kindness.
- Chapter 24
- In court, the defense attorney calls forth a new witness. The real murderer makes an unexpected escape, while Muff finds himself embraced by the townspeople. With Injun Joe still on the loose, Tom continues to worry.
- Chapter 25
- The boys search for buried treasure leads them to a haunted house.
- Chapter 26
- The boys enter the haunted house and overhear a devious plan.
- Chapter 27
- Tom and Huck continue to search for treasure.
- Chapter 28
- Huck and Tom wait patiently for a chance to act.
- Chapter 29
- Becky returns from her vacation. Huck and Tom continue to hunt for treasure. Huck overhears a sinister plan for revenge.
- Chapter 30
- Huck seeks help in order to protect the Widow Douglas. Tom and Becky are discovered missing.
- Chapter 31
- Tom and Becky continue to explore.
- Chapter 32
- Tom and Becky are found and the cave is sealed off, presumably with Injun Joe inside.
- Chapter 33
- Injun Joe is finally found, causing Tom to feel a sense of relief. Tom and Huck return to the cave.
- Chapter 34
- Tom reveals a secret at Huck's surprise party.
- Chapter 35
- The disclosure of the buried treasure put the town in a frenzy. Huck and Tom find that there newfound wealth has changed their lives.
- Conclusion
- The author's conclusion.