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Mark Mark TwainTwain

The Prince The Prince and the and the PauperPauper

ContentsContents

•BiographyBiography

•Literature careerLiterature career

•My favourite bookMy favourite book

•ConclusionConclusion

•QuotesQuotes

BiographyBiography• Real name is: Samuel Langhorne ClemensReal name is: Samuel Langhorne Clemens

• Was born: Florida, Missouri, on Was born: Florida, Missouri, on November 30,1835 November 30,1835 but lived as a child in but lived as a child in Hannibal, Missouri, on the Mississippi Hannibal, Missouri, on the Mississippi River. River.

• He had 6 brothers He had 6 brothers

• In 1852 he wrote his first story :” the In 1852 he wrote his first story :” the Dandy Frightening the SquatterDandy Frightening the Squatter

• He took the pen name Mark He took the pen name Mark Twain from the call of the Twain from the call of the

pilots on the river steamers, pilots on the river steamers, which indicated that the which indicated that the

water was twelve feet deep, a water was twelve feet deep, a safe depth for a steamer.safe depth for a steamer.

• During his early years, he During his early years, he worked as a riverboat pilot, worked as a riverboat pilot, newspaper reporter, printer, newspaper reporter, printer,

and gold prospector. and gold prospector.

• Then he turned to writing, Then he turned to writing, and became one of the and became one of the

greatest of American writers.greatest of American writers.

His His masterpiecmasterpiece:e:• Innocents Abroad 1869Innocents Abroad 1869

• The Adventures of Tom The Adventures of Tom Sawyer 1876Sawyer 1876

• The Prince and the The Prince and the Pauper 1882Pauper 1882

• Life on the Mississippi Life on the Mississippi 18831883

• The Adventures of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn 1885Huckleberry Finn 1885

In 1861, Samuel Clemens took his first In 1861, Samuel Clemens took his first writing job as reporter. writing job as reporter.

Serious news was often mixed with Serious news was often mixed with “reports”. Soon, he began using the “reports”. Soon, he began using the name Mark Twain It was a time when name Mark Twain It was a time when

he first discovered his talent, his he first discovered his talent, his calling, and his voice.calling, and his voice.

At 34 years of age he married Olivia At 34 years of age he married Olivia Langdon Clemens. She was the Langdon Clemens. She was the

daughter of a New York coal magnate, daughter of a New York coal magnate, a member of the country’s wealthy a member of the country’s wealthy elite. She would be partner, editor, elite. She would be partner, editor, and fellow traveler in success and and fellow traveler in success and

failure for the next thirty-five years. failure for the next thirty-five years. She would also furnish him her She would also furnish him her

family’s home in Elmira, New York, a family’s home in Elmira, New York, a place where he visited often and place where he visited often and

wrote many of his best-loved books.wrote many of his best-loved books.

He developed as a speaker and He developed as a speaker and traveled on lecture circuits, much in traveled on lecture circuits, much in

demand. His early performances demand. His early performances combined humor, information and combined humor, information and

eloquence in measures that delighted eloquence in measures that delighted most people.most people.

The Prince and the PauperThe Prince and the Pauper•The Prince and the Pauper was first The Prince and the Pauper was first

published in 1881 in Canada. published in 1881 in Canada. •The book represents Twain's first The book represents Twain's first

attempt at historical fiction. attempt at historical fiction. •Twain's popular novel describes the Twain's popular novel describes the

adventures of two young boys, Tom adventures of two young boys, Tom Canty, a pauper who lives with his Canty, a pauper who lives with his father in Offal Court, London, and father in Offal Court, London, and Prince Edward, son of Henry VIII of Prince Edward, son of Henry VIII of England, who exchange roles and England, who exchange roles and places in life. places in life.

Tom Canty, Tom Canty, youngest son of a youngest son of a family of beggars family of beggars living with the living with the dregs of society dregs of society in Offal Court, has in Offal Court, has always had always had aspirations to a aspirations to a better life, better life, encouraged by encouraged by the local priest the local priest who has taught who has taught him to read and him to read and write.write.

Experiences the brutish Experiences the brutish life of a pauper first life of a pauper first hand, Prince Edward hand, Prince Edward becomes aware of the becomes aware of the stark class As Edward stark class As Edward inequalities in England inequalities in England at that time. In at that time. In particular, he realizes particular, he realizes the harsh nature of the the harsh nature of the English judicial system, English judicial system, witnessing women witnessing women burned at the stake and burned at the stake and whipping. whipping.

He vows to reign with He vows to reign with mercy when he regains mercy when he regains his rightful place. his rightful place.

After a series ofAfter a series of adventures, adventures, including a stint in including a stint in prison, Edward prison, Edward manages to manages to exchange places exchange places with Tom just as with Tom just as the latter is about the latter is about to celebrate histo celebrate his

coronation.coronation.

Tom is eager to Tom is eager to give up the give up the throne, but the throne, but the nobles refuse to nobles refuse to believe that the believe that the beggarly child is beggarly child is the rightful king, the rightful king, until he until he produces the produces the Great Seal that Great Seal that he had hidden he had hidden before leaving before leaving the palace. the palace.

Edward and Tom Edward and Tom finally switch finally switch back.back.

As for Tom, in As for Tom, in gratitude in gratitude in supporting supporting the new the new King's claim King's claim to the throne, to the throne, Edward Edward names him names him "The King's "The King's Ward," a Ward," a privileged privileged position he position he holds for the holds for the rest of his rest of his life.life.

In the end, they In the end, they all live happily all live happily for quite some for quite some time. The time. The afterword afterword mentions that mentions that Edward died Edward died at a young at a young age.age.

The Prince and the Pauper is a The Prince and the Pauper is a beautiful fairy-tale about justice beautiful fairy-tale about justice and injustice. According to Mark and injustice. According to Mark Twain the contrast between Twain the contrast between poverty and luxury is unjust; the poverty and luxury is unjust; the idea that the people from the idea that the people from the lowest strata of society are lowest strata of society are inferior is wrong. He showed inferior is wrong. He showed that they have as much common that they have as much common sense and wit as their social sense and wit as their social superiors. superiors.

The second theme The second theme Mark Twain deals Mark Twain deals with is the with is the corruptive influence corruptive influence of money and of money and flattery on good flattery on good people.people.

"Tom Canty liked "Tom Canty liked clothes and ordered clothes and ordered more of them. 400 more of them. 400 servants he found servants he found not enough and not enough and made them thrice as made them thrice as many. The flattery many. The flattery of courtiers soundedof courtiers sounded music to him".music to him".

ConclusionConclusion

Mark Twain was one of Mark Twain was one of the great artists of all the great artists of all time. He was and is time. He was and is

one authentic giant of one authentic giant of our national literature.our national literature.

Twain's quotes and Twain's quotes and humor are as popular humor are as popular

today as at any time in today as at any time in American history. American history. 

““Be respectful to your Be respectful to your superiors, if you have superiors, if you have

any.”any.”

““Classic-a Classic-a book book which which people people praise praise

and don't and don't read.”read.”

““The man The man who does not who does not read good read good books has no books has no advantage advantage over the man over the man who can't who can't read them.”read them.”

““It is better It is better to keep to keep your mouth your mouth shut and shut and appear appear stupid than stupid than to open it to open it and remove and remove all doubt.”all doubt.”

““Humor is Humor is mankind's mankind's greatest greatest

blessing.”blessing.”

““Get a Get a bicycle. bicycle. You will You will

not regret not regret it. If you it. If you live.”live.”

The EndThe End