Samuel L. ClemensSamuel L. Clemens

Pen Name-Pen Name-

Mark TwainMark Twain

Samuel ClemensSamuel Clemens

Born- Born- November 30, 1835November 30, 1835

Died-Died- April 21, 1910April 21, 1910

-Haley’s Comet--Haley’s Comet- appeared the year of his birth appeared the year of his birth and the year of his deathand the year of his death

-He predicted this would occur-He predicted this would occur

Clemens's Early YearsClemens's Early Years

Born in Hannibal, MissouriBorn in Hannibal, Missouri Grew up along the MississippiGrew up along the Mississippi Father died in 1847 when he was 12Father died in 1847 when he was 12 Apprenticed as a printerApprenticed as a printer Worked with brother-Orion - at his Worked with brother-Orion - at his

newspaper-newspaper-The Hannibal JournalThe Hannibal Journal Learned early about frontier humorLearned early about frontier humor

Clemens's Early Adult YearsClemens's Early Adult Years Worked as a reporter/printer inWorked as a reporter/printer in

- New York- New York- Philadelphia- Philadelphia

- St. Louis- St. Louis - New Orleans- New Orleans Learned trade of steamboat pilot before Learned trade of steamboat pilot before the Civil War- a well paid but dangerous the Civil War- a well paid but dangerous

jobjob Served as a Confederate soldierServed as a Confederate soldier

Clemens's Early Adult YearsClemens's Early Adult Years

Traveled west to NevadaTraveled west to Nevada Mined for gold and silverMined for gold and silver Wrote for the Virginia City paperWrote for the Virginia City paper Started writing under the name of Mark Started writing under the name of Mark

Twain to hide his identityTwain to hide his identity ““mark twain”mark twain” is a river boat term meaning is a river boat term meaning

two fathoms deep (twenty feet)- safe watertwo fathoms deep (twenty feet)- safe water

Clemen’s Writing CareerClemen’s Writing Career

Wrote many short storiesWrote many short stories Considered to be a great humoristConsidered to be a great humorist Started to travel the lecture circuit to tell Started to travel the lecture circuit to tell

his storieshis stories 1870 - became a fulltime writer1870 - became a fulltime writer

Twain’s Personal LifeTwain’s Personal Life

Married Olivia Langdon in 1870- a Married Olivia Langdon in 1870- a progressive lady and an abolitionistprogressive lady and an abolitionist

Moved to Hartford, Connecticut, in 1871Moved to Hartford, Connecticut, in 1871 Wrote Wrote --Tom SawyerTom Sawyer -1875 -1875 --Prince and the PauperPrince and the Pauper -1882 -1882 --Adventures of Huckleberry Finn- 1884 (7 years to write)1884 (7 years to write)

Twain’s ChallengesTwain’s Challenges

Bad businessman - often brokeBad businessman - often broke

Had debts from bad investmentsHad debts from bad investments

Suffered from depressionSuffered from depression

Lost two childrenLost two children

Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Based on the life of a childhood friend - Based on the life of a childhood friend -

Tom BlankenshipTom Blankenship Considered the greatest American novelConsidered the greatest American novel

- used regular language and dialects- used regular language and dialects - dealt with real American themes and - dealt with real American themes and issuesissues - gave respectability to less educated - gave respectability to less educated peoplepeople

Major Themes and MotifsMajor Themes and Motifs

Huck Finn is a is a satiresatire about America, its about America, its people, religion, politics, education, people, religion, politics, education, slavery, and customsslavery, and customs

Huck Finn is a book about the is a book about the moralmoral developmentdevelopment of Huck Finn-(the main of Huck Finn-(the main character)character)

Huck Finn is a book about is a book about growing upgrowing up and and adventureadventure

Major Themes and MotifsMajor Themes and Motifs

Huck Finn is an is an allegoryallegory- - -God and man-God and man -good and evil-good and evil The River and the LandThe River and the Land The book had 3 main partsThe book had 3 main parts

- St. Petersburg- St. Petersburg- the river- the river- the Phelps plantation- the Phelps plantation

Adventures of Huckleberry FinnAdventures of Huckleberry Finn

Has been a banned bookHas been a banned book Considered to be too violentConsidered to be too violent Considered to be a put down to blacksConsidered to be a put down to blacks Considered to be a put down to religionConsidered to be a put down to religion