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Mark Twaina.k.a. Samuel Langhorne Clemens

Synopsis

Biography

Works

Views

Legacy

Mark Twain

SynopsisBorn Samuel LanghorneClemens

American author andhumorist

"Father of American literature"(William Faulkner)

Praise from critics and peers

Best known forAdventures of Huckleberry Finn

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

Biography

Beginning life

Wife and kids

Interest in technology and science

Late life

Beginning life

Born: Nov. 30, 1835 inFlorida, Missouri

FamilyMerchant parents

Sixth of seven children

Grew up in Missouri Impact of slavery

Worked for newspapers

Beginning life cont.Beginning

life

EducationNot beyondelementary school

Educated himself

Use of public libraries

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Married Olivia Langdon Feb. 1870"Wealthy but liberal family"

Met abolitionists, socialists, and women'srights activists.

Olivia's death in 1904

Three daughtersSusy, Clara, Jean

Wife and kids

Interest in technology and science

Nikola Tesla's lab

InventionsBed clamp for infants, new typeof steam engine, kaolatype

WritingsA Connecticut Yankee inKing Arthur's Court

Pioneer in science fictiongenre

Late life

Suffered from depression

Wrote autobiography

Oxford University Award

Died April 21, 1910

Works

Transition from light andhumorous

American literature built onAmerican themes andlanguage

Suppressed worksAdventures of Huckleberry Finn

Synopsis of Twain's works

Synopsis cont.

Not all of Twain's workcan be tracked down

Large number of writings

Use of pen names

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Early writing

The Celebrated JumpingFrog of Calaveras County

New York Saturday Press

First important work

Wrote about travelHumorous

Informative

Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn

The Adventures ofTom Sawyer

Inspired by Twain's youth

Main character modeledafter Twain

Book was a huge success

Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn cont.

Adventures ofHuckleberry Finn

Had trouble completing

"The first GreatAmerican Novel"

More serious tone thanTom Sawyer

Required reading inmany schools

Later writing

Wrote darker, political piecesThe Private History of a Campaign That Failed,A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court,Pudd'nhead Wilson

Literary reviews

Autobiography

Views

Synopsis

Evolution of views

Anti-imperialism

Minorities

Women

Synopsis of Twain's views

Social critic AND author

Strong political views

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Evolution of views

Maintained a neutral stance during theCivil War

Views became more radical with age

VP of American Anti-Imperialist League

Wrote pamphlets

"Hatred and condemnation ofimperialism of all stripes"

Anti-Imperialism

Minorities

"Lincoln's Proclamation...not only set the black slavesfree, but the white man freealso." -Mark Twain

Saw injustice in treatment ofminorities

Minorities

Women

Strong supporter of women's rights

Twain's powerful speech, "Votes for Women"

Legacy

Mark Twain House

Twain statue in Hannibal, Missouri

Mark TwainElementary School,Mark Twain MemorialBridge, Mark TwainVillage, Mark TwainAward, Mark TwainBoyhood Home &Museum, Mark TwainHouse, etc.

The End

"Get your facts firstand then you candistort them asmuch as you wish."- Mark Twain