Mark Twain1835-1910

Early Years● Born in Florida, Missouri in 1835 to John and

Jane Clemons● At the age of 4 Twain moved to the steam boat

town of Hannibal, Missouri● As a kid Twain was kept inside because of his

poor health● When he was 12 his father died so he dropped

out of school to become a printer’s apprentice. Two years later he began working for his brother Orion’s newspaper. It was here that Twain discovered his talent and his love for writing

● At 17 he went to St. Louis for a printer job. While here he became a licensed river pilot.

Adult Life● After the Civil War started Twain joined a volunteer

Confederate unit called the Marion Rangers but after two weeks he quit

● During the Civil War Twain worked as a newspaper reporter● In 1866 Twain started working for the Sacramento Union

and was assigned to write about the Hawaiian islands. These writings were so popular that Twain went on a lecture tour which made him known as a successful stage performer

● In 1870, Twain was married to Olivia Langdon and together they had four children, but one died as a baby and two died in their twenties. Their surviving daughter lived to be 88

● Twain went bankrupt later on in life because of many bad investments

● On April 21‚ 1910‚ Twain died of a heart attack at the age of 74

Writing Highlights● People started to notice Twain when he got a story

published in the New York Saturday Press on November 18, 1965 called “The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calavaras County”

● His first book was called The Innocents Abroad published in 1869

● His most popular novels were The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

● He wrote 28 books and many short stories and is famous for many quotes such as “Let us endeavor so to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry” and “To be good is noble; but to show others how to be good is nobler and no trouble”

Long Work Cultural Context● A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s

Court was written in 1889, shortly after the Civil War

● In A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court there are many social injustices, most likely because of the influence of the post Civil War era that the book was written in

● In the novel the main character tries to improve medieval society using technology, but he falls short of his goals. The novel was also written during a time when Twain made many poor investments in hopeful technological advances

A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court Analysis

● This novel is about a 19th century man, whom the narrator calls the Yankee, who accidentally travels back in time to 6th century England. Using his modern day knowledge the man is able to convince the medieval people he is a wizard and works to improve society

● Twain uses satire to poke fun at 6th century English society, organized religion, and even society during Twain’s time

● There are two wizards in the story. A bogus magician named Merlin, and the Yankee who is more technologically savvy. Merlin uses deception, superstition, and a traditional way of thinking in order to create “magic” which is why he represents the portion of modern day society that still clings the pre-Civil War beliefs. The Yankee on the other hand uses technology and progressive thinking to create his magic which is a symbol for the progress society will hopefully make after the Civil War

Short Work Cultural Context● “To Jennie” was written during the

Civil War

● Is about someone close to Twain who died

● Twain lived during a time where health care was very poor and people died of many preventable diseases that would never kill people today. People had very short life expectancies and childhood deaths were very common

“To Jennie” Summary● “To Jennie” is about Mark Twain’s

niece, Jennie Clemons who was the only child of Twain’s brother Orion

● Twain and his niece both shared a love of reading and writing which is why they became so close

● Jennie died of spotted fever in 1864

● Jennie’s death devastated Twain and inspired him to write a poem in her honor

“To Jennie” Concepts● Apostrophe: when a writer or speaker addresses an imaginary character in

their speech ● Examples: Shakespeare’s Macbeth uses apostrophe, “Is this a dagger

which I see before me, the handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee! I have thee not, and yet I see thee still” (Shakespeare).

● We also see apostrophe in the famous nursery rhyme by Jane Taylor called “The Star”, "Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, like a diamond in the sky..." (Taylor).

● Finally we see apostrophe in “To Jennie” because of the fact the whole poem is talking to or about someone who is not right there

“To Jennie” Concepts● Ode: A poem where a writer

expresses a strong feeling of love, or respect for someone or something. They usually contain an irregular meter or rhyme scheme

● Examples: “Ode to the Confederate Dead” by Allen Tate

● “The Ship of State” by Quintus Horatius Flaccus

● “To Jennie” is an ode because it is an emotional poem about a person who was important to the writer. There is also an irregular structure.

“To Jennie” Concepts

● Hyperbole: Occurs when a writer uses exaggeration as a rhetorical device that is not intended to be taken literally

● Examples: We see hyperbole in “As I Walked One Evening” by W.H. Auden, “I’ll love you, dear, I’ll love you till China and Africa meet, and the river jumps over the mountain and the salmon sing in the street, I’ll love you till the ocean is folded and hung up to dry” (Auden).

● “I’ll kill you”● “This weighs a ton”● Hyperbole exists in “To Jennie” when Twain says, “Your image, graven on

my heart, forever shall remain” (Twain).

Love/Hate in “To Jennie”● Love is a very clear theme in “To

Jennie.” It is present when Twain says, “Aye, in my heart thoult have a place, among the friends held dear, nor shall the hand of time efface the memories written there” (Twain). Twain clearly loves and cherishes the memories he made with Jennie and will never forget them.

● We see hate when we realize Twain’s sadness at the passing of Jennie and the grief he has in his heart

Fun Facts● Mark Twain is just a pseudonym or pen

name, his real name is Samuel Clemons● His pen name, Mark Twain, comes from his

work as a river pilot. “Mark Twain” means it is safe to navigate in a certain area

● There are no direct descendants of Mark Twain

● There is a museum of Twain’s childhood home in Hannibal, Missouri

● A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court was turned into a musical film starring Bing Crosby and Rhonda Fleming

Fun Facts● Before 13, he nearly drowned 9 times● Twain also wrote under the pen

names Thomas Jefferson Snodgrass, W. Epaminondas Adrastus Blab, Sergeant Fathom, and Rambler during his career.

● On his deathbed, Twain read and re-read Carlyle’s rendition of the French Revolution.

● Haley's Comet was visible in the sky on the night that Mark Twain was both born and passed away.