Literary Analysis Term Paper for Tom Sawyer: A Classic Novel Essay

Mark Twain’s book is a novel that follows the juvenile life of a small boy. You will see how much fun the main character, Tom, and his friends have by skipping school, fishing, swimming, and using with their imaginations to have a good time. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is a classic novel for many reasons. The plot gives us an idea about how people lived in the era the book takes place in. Readers enjoy the book because they can relate to Tom and enjoy his fun experiences. Tom is always into having a good time with his friends. It is a classic because it is enjoyable to readers of all ages, no matter what century, place, or gender you belong to. Tom’s experiences really draw the reader into the book, making it a fun read. Twain did a really good job at expressing the way Tom felt about things. In chapter four Twain makes going to church seem endless by making the chapter endless. He just talks on and on about the Superintendent and about what happens in church. The book shows really well how people felt in that time. Tom and his friends were very superstitious. Twain stated, â€Å"He crossed a small ‘branch’ two or three times, because of a prevailing juvenile superstition that to cross water baffled pursuit,† (62). Throughout the book there is a lot of prejudice towards African Americans and slavery. This gives us more of an idea about what life was like for Tom and other people that lived during that era. Some readers enjoy the book because they can relate to Tom and his friends and how the characters feel. Tom is very mischievous and sneaky. And readers enjoy that. Some kids don’t like school and like Tom would try really hard to get out of having to go to class. In chapter six Tom wakes up and said he has a sore toe. When that doesn’t work he complains and says that he can’t go to school because of a loose tooth. All of this just to get out of going to school. Have you ever pretended that you were a pirate and had a treasure hunt or imagined you were a cowboy? Well Tom did and many other readers have too. Connecting the reader to the books main character really draws them in even more. In chapter thirteen Tom and his friends, Huck and Joe, decide to run away to Jackson’s Island and become pirates. On this adventure the reader might feel like he is there with the characters, making the book even more interesting to the reader. Tom is considered a hero in the book. And we all know being a hero is a big deal. This might make the reader want to be just like him, putting himself in Tom’s place. This makes the book even more popular, because the readers might enjoy the good-guy bad-guy scenario. Mark Twain’s book takes surprising turns and keeps the reader on the edge of their seat, pushing the reader to keep going, and making it exciting to read. Some books are packed full of mystery. Tom Sawyer is not one of them but does have an exciting plot. During chapter 9 the boys witness the murder of Dr. Robinson. During that chapter you are excited to find out what happens next. And Twain made it somewhat suspenseful making the book even more popular for a reader that likes mystery. Twain wrote, â€Å"†¦ not twenty yards away, a human hand, holding a candle, appeared from behind a rock! † (229). If Tom and Becky stuck in a cave wasn’t enough then finding another person right in there with you ought to be! This is just one more example where Twain adds a little mystery to the life of Tom Sawyer. Mark Twain was really good at adding romance, mystery, adventure, etc. into the book making it appealing to just about everyone. As I have shown you, Mark Twain’s book, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, is a classic novel. It is special to all readers because we can relate to Tom in different ways. The plot reflects real situations of that time. And the book has surprising twists pulling the reader into the book. Classical books are, among other things, enjoyable for people of all ages and timeless.