Approach Paper for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer:

1. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain is a classic story that revolves around the various exciting exploits of the imaginative yet mischievous Tom Sawyer during the nineteenth century. Residing in the quaint village of St. Petersburg, Missouri on the banks of the Mississippi River with his Aunt Polly and half-brother Sid, Tom experiences many challenges and adventures during his childhood (such as witnessing a murder in the graveyard with his best friend, Huck Finn, embarking on a search for buried treasure, and getting lost inside a dark cave with the love of his life, Becky Thatcher), which all connect to the wicked schemes of the town’s murderous villain, Injun Joe. To face the perilous dangers threatening his beloved town and become the admirable hero that he knows he has the potential to be, Tom Sawyer must make the difficult but feasible transition from a carefree, innocent boy to a mature, responsible young man.

2. After witnessing the murder of Dr. Robinson in the graveyard one night, Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn swear an oath that they will keep mum about the dreadful scene they have witnessed. Ever since that night, however, Tom begins to feel guilty about the fact that he was present at the scene of the crime and did nothing to prevent it from happening. His conscience also reminds him that he and Huck are the only witnesses to the crime, and that Injun Joe is the real murderer at fault rather than the innocent Muff Potter. At this point of the story, Tom is at a crossroads. He is unsure if he should tell the truth at Muff Potter’s upcoming trial and describe everything he has seen on the night of the crime, which would put his life and the lives of his family and friends in jeopardy, or simply keep quiet about it and mind his own business. Tom therefore smuggles various offerings, such as cigarettes and bits of food, into the jail cell of his good friend, Muff Potter, in order to comfort him. By doing this, Tom is able to “ease his conscience” so that he will not feel guilty about the reality of the situation. In the end, however, Tom testifies in court against Injun Joe and overcomes his fear of the malicious killer, confessing to everything he has witnessed in the graveyard and thus saving Muff Potter’s life. By doing so, Tom becomes the town’s hero and begins to make the transformation from an unruly, mischievous boy to a mature, responsible young man. One of the main themes of the novel is loss of innocence and a boy’s transition into adulthood, which is seen through the scene at the graveyard and the trial of Muff Potter.

3. When Tom Sawyer and Becky Thatcher attend a picnic and unfortunately get lost inside McDougal’s cave, Tom makes his final transition from an innocent boy to an accountable young man. He shows his level of maturity and tremendous courage by selflessly protecting, comforting, and taking care of Becky in time of panic, fatigue, and hunger. In addition, Tom boldly and fearlessly searches for a way out of the cave, even if it means risking an encounter with the vicious Injun Joe. When Becky insists that she has lost all hope and is too weak to carry on any further, Tom is there for her to depend on for encouragement and support. Not only does Tom locate a source of fresh water in the cave and share a piece of cake from the picnic that he discovers in his pocket with Becky, but he also decides not to tell Becky when he distinguishes the figure of Injun Joe in the darkness while searching for a way out of the cave, in order to prevent her from worrying even more. Tom acts rationally and calmly throughout the entire situation, while Becky only cries and panics in a frantic state. Tom manages to explore various passageways while using a kite string as a guide, eventually rescuing Becky and himself by finding an escape route and becoming the town’s hero. One of the main themes of the novel is a boy’s transition from a naïve, carefree child to a suitable, mature young man.

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