The Life and Works of The Life and Works of Mark TwainMark Twain

““Every time you stop a school, you will have to build a jail. Every time you stop a school, you will have to build a jail. What you gain at one end you lose at the other. It's like What you gain at one end you lose at the other. It's like feeding a dog on his own tail. It won't fatten the dog.”feeding a dog on his own tail. It won't fatten the dog.”

Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) is Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) is recognized as one of the best recognized as one of the best American writers of all time.American writers of all time.

His work and criticism of society is His work and criticism of society is still relevant today.still relevant today.

Samuel ClemensSamuel Clemens1835-19101835-1910

Grew up in the frontier Grew up in the frontier town of Hannibal, town of Hannibal, Missouri on the banks Missouri on the banks of the Mississippi Riverof the Mississippi River

Spent many summers Spent many summers playing in the slave playing in the slave quarters of his uncle’s quarters of his uncle’s farmfarm

Father died when Father died when Clemens was only 11 Clemens was only 11 forcing him to leave forcing him to leave school and go to workschool and go to work

Early WorkEarly Work

1847 - Became a printer's apprentice for a 1847 - Became a printer's apprentice for a local newspaper to help support familylocal newspaper to help support family Arranged the type for each of the newspaper's Arranged the type for each of the newspaper's

stories, allowing Clemens to read the news of stories, allowing Clemens to read the news of the world while completing his work. the world while completing his work.

1853 – 1857 Worked in New York and 1853 – 1857 Worked in New York and Philadelphia writing articles for several Philadelphia writing articles for several newspapers (was fired for writing stories newspapers (was fired for writing stories that had not happened yet).that had not happened yet).

1857 – Returned home to become a 1857 – Returned home to become a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi Riverriverboat pilot on the Mississippi River

Civil War YearsCivil War Years

During the Civil War, Twain formed a During the Civil War, Twain formed a Confederate militia known as the "Marion Confederate militia known as the "Marion Rangers." Rangers." The militia disbanded after approximately two The militia disbanded after approximately two

weeks. weeks. Traveled from Missouri to Nevada by Traveled from Missouri to Nevada by

stagecoach in search of silverstagecoach in search of silver It was during these years that Clemens first It was during these years that Clemens first

witnessed mistreatment of Native Americans.witnessed mistreatment of Native Americans. Suffered many disappointments and mishaps Suffered many disappointments and mishaps

Life and Life and WorksWorks

1865-Clemens published 1865-Clemens published one of his short stories, one of his short stories, "Jim Smiley and His "Jim Smiley and His Jumping Frog" in papers Jumping Frog" in papers across the country. across the country.

The popularity of this story The popularity of this story brought notoriety and a full brought notoriety and a full time writing jobtime writing job

His writings were so His writings were so popular that, one year popular that, one year later, he embarked upon later, he embarked upon his first lecture tour, which his first lecture tour, which established him as a established him as a successful stage performer. successful stage performer.

Olivia LangdonOlivia Langdon

Daughter of a very wealthy Daughter of a very wealthy coal businessmancoal businessman

Met Samuel Clemens in Met Samuel Clemens in 1867 through her brother 1867 through her brother CharlesCharles

First date was to a reading First date was to a reading by Charles Dickens in New by Charles Dickens in New York City. York City.

Courted her mainly by letterCourted her mainly by letter She rejected his first She rejected his first

proposal, but they became proposal, but they became engaged two months laterengaged two months later

In February 1870, they were In February 1870, they were married.married.

The Honeymoon PeriodThe Honeymoon Period

Langdon’s father Langdon’s father bought the couple bought the couple a house in the a house in the nicest part of New nicest part of New YorkYork

A few years later, A few years later, they sold the house they sold the house and built the house and built the house of their dreams in of their dreams in Connecticut Connecticut ((picturedpictured).).

Life and WorkLife and Work

1870-Married Olivia Langdon, she gave 1870-Married Olivia Langdon, she gave birth to son, Langdonbirth to son, Langdon

1871-Moved to Hartford, Connecticut to be 1871-Moved to Hartford, Connecticut to be closer to his publisher, Langdon diescloser to his publisher, Langdon dies

1872-Published his famous book, 1872-Published his famous book, Roughing Roughing ItIt, which detailed his early experiences, which detailed his early experiences

1873-Clemens began to focus his writing 1873-Clemens began to focus his writing on social criticismon social criticism

The Nature of his Prose The Nature of his Prose

As Clemens traveled around the country, As Clemens traveled around the country, he found much of what he saw, he found much of what he saw, contemptuouscontemptuous SlaverySlavery Treatment of the Native AmericansTreatment of the Native Americans GreedGreed HypocrisyHypocrisy Abuse of power (this will be a theme Abuse of power (this will be a theme

throughout all of Twain’s work)throughout all of Twain’s work)

The Nature of his ProseThe Nature of his Prose

Clemens used his writing as a forum Clemens used his writing as a forum to express his feelingsto express his feelings

Instead of coming right out and Instead of coming right out and saying what he was upset about, he saying what he was upset about, he wrote fictitious stories that made fun wrote fictitious stories that made fun of the behaviors he dislikedof the behaviors he disliked This type of writing is known as This type of writing is known as SatireSatire

The Nature of his ProseThe Nature of his Prose

When Clemens was writing, there was a shift When Clemens was writing, there was a shift in writing style from romanticism to realismin writing style from romanticism to realism Romanticism - stressed strong emotion as a Romanticism - stressed strong emotion as a

source of aesthetic experience, placing new source of aesthetic experience, placing new emphasis on such emotions as trepidation, emphasis on such emotions as trepidation, horror and awehorror and awe

Ex: “The Good old days, Golden YearsEx: “The Good old days, Golden Years Realism - emphasizes how life really is, rejects Realism - emphasizes how life really is, rejects

sentimental or emotional notionssentimental or emotional notions Realism addresses social problems through Realism addresses social problems through

believable characters (What makes these believable characters (What makes these characters believable?)characters believable?)

Life and WorkLife and Work

1874-1891 Clemens and his family (which 1874-1891 Clemens and his family (which now included three daughters) lived in now included three daughters) lived in Hartford and he made a substantial living Hartford and he made a substantial living and created many of his masterpiecesand created many of his masterpieces The Adventures of Tom SawyerThe Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1876) (1876) Life on the MississippiLife on the Mississippi (1883) (1883) The Prince and the PauperThe Prince and the Pauper (1881) (1881) A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's CourtA Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

(1889) (1889) Adventures of Huckleberry FinnAdventures of Huckleberry Finn (1884) (1884)

Life and WorkLife and Work

Clemens made plenty Clemens made plenty of money but always of money but always invested it poorlyinvested it poorly

1891- his publishing 1891- his publishing company failed and company failed and Clemens was forced to Clemens was forced to file for bankruptcyfile for bankruptcy

He moved his family He moved his family to Europe while he to Europe while he worked to pay off his worked to pay off his debtsdebts

Life and WorkLife and Work

Clemens was able to pay off his Clemens was able to pay off his $100,000 in debt by doing lecture $100,000 in debt by doing lecture tours around the worldtours around the world

People paid good money to go to People paid good money to go to these lectures because Clemens these lectures because Clemens extremely funnyextremely funny

Life and WorkLife and Work

Clemens stayed in Europe Clemens stayed in Europe until 1900 when his debt until 1900 when his debt was paid offwas paid off

His time there exposed His time there exposed him to even more human him to even more human cruelty than he had cruelty than he had witnessed in America witnessed in America (slavery, treatment of (slavery, treatment of Native Americans, etc.)Native Americans, etc.)

His writing took a dark turn His writing took a dark turn but much of his anti-but much of his anti-government work was not government work was not published until after his published until after his deathdeath

Life and WorkLife and Work

1903 – Olivia became 1903 – Olivia became sick and Clemens took sick and Clemens took her back to her home her back to her home in Italy where she later in Italy where she later dieddied

1903-1909 Clemens 1903-1909 Clemens continued to give continued to give lectures and writelectures and write

1909- one daughter 1909- one daughter married and another married and another died of an epileptic died of an epileptic seizureseizure

April 21, 1910, Samuel April 21, 1910, Samuel Clemens died Clemens died

The Clemens ChildrenThe Clemens Children

Olivia Susan ClemensOlivia Susan Clemens(1872-1896)(1872-1896)

A very sickly childA very sickly child Was close to her Was close to her

father and is father and is commonly referred to commonly referred to as his favoriteas his favorite

Her death sent him Her death sent him into a great into a great depressiondepression

The Clemens ChildrenThe Clemens Children

Clara Langdon ClemensClara Langdon Clemens(1874-1962)(1874-1962)

Very well educated Very well educated and often traveled and often traveled with her fatherwith her father

Clara was determined Clara was determined during her lifetime to during her lifetime to preserve her father's preserve her father's image as a lovable, image as a lovable, innocent humoristinnocent humorist

Died of a drug and Died of a drug and alcohol overdosealcohol overdose

The Clemens ChildrenThe Clemens Children

Jane Lampton ClemensJane Lampton Clemens(1880-1909)(1880-1909)

Very sickly -father was Very sickly -father was very protective of hervery protective of her

Was involved in animal Was involved in animal rights and several hobbiesrights and several hobbies

1904-went crazy and tried 1904-went crazy and tried to kill the housekeeper-had to kill the housekeeper-had to go to a sanatoriumto go to a sanatorium

Drowned during a seizure Drowned during a seizure in the bathtubin the bathtub

LanguageLanguage

1884- 1884- The Adventures of Huckleberry The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn-Finn- first book of its kind first book of its kind

Breaks the racial barrierBreaks the racial barrier Use of word “nigger”Use of word “nigger” Shows African Americans as humans Shows African Americans as humans

with emotions, opinions, hopes, dreamswith emotions, opinions, hopes, dreams Not any different from whites’ emotions, Not any different from whites’ emotions,

opinions, hopes, dreamsopinions, hopes, dreams

CharactersCharacters

The characters in The characters in Clemen’s works Clemen’s works were often were often modeled after modeled after people he knewpeople he knew

Tom Sawyer and Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn are Huck Finn are representations of representations of himselfhimself

““Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter Training is everything. The peach was once a bitter almond; cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a almond; cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a

college education. “college education. “

It is through the It is through the work of Clemens work of Clemens that we get a that we get a glimpse of late 19glimpse of late 19thth century Americacentury America

The wit and humor The wit and humor or Clemens is or Clemens is rivaled by nonerivaled by none