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Mark Twain: An American Humorist's Journey Through Life

Uncover the life of Samuel Langhorne Clemens, known as Mark Twain, from his birth in 1835 to his legacy in American literature. Explore his childhood in Hannibal, Missouri, his wit and humor, his experiences with slavery, and his iconic works like "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" and "Huckleberry Finn." Delve into Twain's journey through success, fame, and social criticism, with a touch of his renowned epigrams.

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Mark Twain: An American Humorist's Journey Through Life

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Presentation Transcript

  1. Written by:Leah Rife-Frame

  2. Twain on Halley’s Comet “I came in with Halley's Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year (1910), and I expect to go out with it. It will be the greatest disappointment of my life if I don't go out with Halley's Comet. The Almighty has said, no doubt: ‘Now here are these two unaccountable freaks; they came in together, they must go out together.’” - Mark Twain, a Biography Single click speaker for audio clip >>>>

  3. Twain: An Overview (1835-1910)

  4. Who? • Born Samuel Langhorne Clemens • Recognized by his pen name, Mark Twain

  5. Hometown - Hannibal • Family left Florida, MO: Twain was four • Moved to Hannibal, MO Single click speaker for audio clip >>>>

  6. Drowsing Hannibal • Moved about 40 miles from birthplace • Often described Hannibal as “drowsing”

  7. Florida to Hannibal, MO

  8. Mark Twain’s Boyhood Home in Hannibal

  9. Tourist Attraction • Childhood home is a museum • Additional sites connected with Twain: tourist attractions in Hannibal • Annual pick of “Tom” and “Becky” sponsored

  10. Tour Twain’s Home

  11. An Inspirational Place • Twain’s fictional St. Petersburg modeled after Hannibal • Setting for two of Twain’s most famous works • Title often mistitled by publishers

  12. American Humorist • Twain is considered the greatest humorist of 19th century American literature • A humorist is defined as: • “an author who specializes in short, humorous articles and essays”

  13. Laughing Lectures • Known for humorous “lectures” • First show in San Francisco, CA • Often described adventures in “exotic” places

  14. What Wit • Used witty advertising to generate lecture interest • “Doors open at 7. Orgies to Commence at 8 P.M.”

  15. Youth • Born prematurely • Father: Judge John Marshall • Mother: Jane Lampton Clemens

  16. Scenes of Slavery • Missouri was a slave state • Family owned slave who told Twain stories • Uncle owned several slaves • Young Twain played in slave quarters • Listened to slave stories and spirituals

  17. Influence of Slavery • Horrors of slavery witnessed influenced Twain’s stories • Pudd’nhead Wilson: clearest statement against slavery • A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court: realization of slavery’s cruelty

  18. Growing Up Fast • Father died when Twain was 11 • Twain left school • Worked as printer’s apprentice

  19. Career Journey • Continued a career in newspapers • Returned to the Mississippi River in 1857 Single click speaker for audio clip >>>>

  20. Civil War 1861-1865 • Halted riverboat traffic on Mississippi • No need for riverboat pilots • Ended Twain’s pilot career • Confederate volunteer for two weeks

  21. Go West, Young Twain! • Hoped to become rich mining • Twain’s brother appointed Secretary of the Nevada Territory • Invited Twain to move West • Twain agreed • Unsuccessful as silver prospector Orion Clemens

  22. A Name Is Born • Began writing for Nevada newspaper • First used name “Mark Twain” in this job • Name came from riverboat days Single click speaker for audio clip >>>>

  23. What’s in a Name? • Also speculated: • Gained name from time in the West • Told bartender to “mark twain” on his tab

  24. Jumping to Success • Moved to San Francisco • First major success came

  25. Traveling Reporter • Hired to report on Sandwich Islands (Hawaii) • Writing was popular • Began lecture career • Hired to continue travel writing Twain

  26. An Important Trip • Met Charles Langdon • Saw picture of Olivia, Charles’ sister • Married Olivia in 1870 • Settled in Buffalo, NY • Wrote for Buffalo Express

  27. Home in Hartford • Moved to Hartford, CT • Daughter born same year first child died from diphtheria • Had two more daughters

  28. Major Works - Novels • The Prince and the Pauper • Adventures of Huckleberry Finn • The Adventures of Tom Sawyer • A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court

  29. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer 1876 • Set in St. Petersburg, MO • Depicts childhood adventures along Mississippi River • Introduced characters who appear in later novels

  30. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 1884 • Considered one of the first “great” American novels • Told in first-person point of view • Depicts life along the Mississippi River • Criticizes slavery and racism

  31. Adventures in Censorship • Adventures of Huckleberry Finn often censored • Banned soon after publication • Still removed from reading lists

  32. Say What? • Known for use of colloquial speech • Used Regionalism in writing

  33. Constant Themes • Earlier works were less serious in nature • Later used literature for social criticism • Many Twain works share common themes: *Hatred of hypocrisy *Contempt for oppression

  34. Epigrams • Twain is known for his epigrams

  35. According to Twain… • What is a literary classic? • “… a book which people praise and don’t read.” • How does one become successful? • “All you need is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure.” • Why should one do good in the world? • “Always do right. That will gratify some of the people, and astonish the rest.”

  36. Additional Twain Quotes “You can’t depend on your judgment when your imagination is out of focus” “It is best to keep your mouth shut and be presumed ignorant than to open it and remove all doubt.”

  37. Quotes Abound “Don’t go around saying the world owes you a living. The world owes you nothing. It was here first.” “Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please.”

  38. And Abound… “I have never let my schooling interfere with my education.” “If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything.” “The man who doesn’t read good books has no advantage over the man who can’t read them. “

  39. Cutting on Congress • A favorite target of Twain’s wit was Congress: • “Suppose you were an idiot and suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.” • “It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly American criminal class except Congress.” Single click speaker for audio clip >>>>

  40. Money Troubles • Several bad investments in inventions • Went bankrupt • Moved family to Europe • Hoped was less expensive • Publishing company failed

  41. A Streak of Bad Luck • Oldest daughter died • Wife died • Youngest daughter died

  42. Twain’s Death • Died April 21st, 1910 • Was 74 years old • Buried in Elmira, NY

  43. Concluding Thoughts • Twain lives on through his writing • Image captured in photos and film footage

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