Thursday, May 1, 2014
Mark Twain created one of the most famous literary characters of all time, Tom Sawyer, in his classic novel, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. What are your impressions of Tom at this point in the book (Ch. 1 - Ch. 11)? Do you like Tom? Why or why not? Do you think Tom exhibits any of the Pillars of Character or not? Please use specific examples in the book to support your answers.
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Tom is not a bad kid he just is a troublemaker some times. I can relate to him because he is much like me. he does not follow the pillars but when he does he is not telling the truth. -George
ReplyDeleteI kinda agree with you George but not much but I do agree with you about the six pillars
DeleteI believe Tom is a troublemaker. He sneaks jam, skips school for other recreational activities, pretends to die, and sneaks into the graveyard without permission. He is also a liar. He lied about having enough tickets for a Bible, just to impress Becky, and is publicly humiliated, and lied about whitewashing the fence. I like Tom's spunky, fearless personality as a story character, but I wouldn't want to be him. He doesn't exhibit many pillars of character, but with Huckleberry, he shows trustworthiness by signing a pact with him, promising not to tell about witnessing the murder. Otherwise, he does not show any pillars of character.
ReplyDelete-Karina
Though it may not have been "true love", Tom shows caring for Becky for a very brief time by giving her a peach and his prize toy
DeleteMaggie
I think Tom is a very round character. While he appears heartless in front of Sid, he briefly exhibits the caring pillar when he gives Becky his peach and prize washer piece. Though it might not be for the best cause, he shows responsibility and self-sufficiency through his innovative ideas. I think Tom can be very smart when he wants to be, bringing Twain's whole work vs. play idea back into perspective. I predict that Tom will start to use the Pillars in a better, more frequent way throughout the remainder of the book.
ReplyDelete-Maggie
I agree with you, Maggie. However, he is not demonstrating the Caring pillar entirely. The only reason he was caring is he likes Becky. However, if Becky was a total stranger and not the girl of his dreams, he would most likely be rude and ignorant. What do you think Tom would act like?
Delete^^^^^
DeleteFrom Karina :)
I'm not entirely sure how Tom would act if Becky was not the girl of his dreams, but it's more of the fact that he has the ability to care and empathize with others
DeleteMaggie
I think Tom is what we (Americans) think of when we think of the true definition of a boy. Tom is witty, clever, a master of trickery, and a thief. But he is also kind-hearted, which is shown when he is with Becky, as well as true and honest (mostly). I don't think Tom and the pillars get along. Tom isn't supposed to represent trustworthiness, or respect, or any others. I think Tom would wince at the sight of the pillars. Yet he represents them perfectly. Deep down, Tom possesses all of these qualities, much more than I at least.
ReplyDeleteW
Very good insight Will.
DeleteDefinitely not Will
I agree with you, Will. When you say he is kind-hearted (only with Becky), do you think he would be kind-hearted if Becky were a total stranger and not the girl of his dreams?
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DeleteFrom Karina
If it was a girl, probably, because it's human nature. But if it was a boy, definitely not. As proof, Tom interacting with the model boy. Thank you for your response kind stranger.
DeleteW
I think Tom is not only kind hearted with Becky, but also with Mary, his cousin. He allows her to be the gentle, motherly figure who isn't Aunt Polly. He lets her fuss over his hair and clothes, and lets her correct him on his bible verses, something he would not let Polly do.
DeleteMaggie
I agree, Maggie. But why do you think that Tom is more considerate to Mary, rather than his own Aunt "mother"?
Delete-Karina
I think Tom is a classic trouble maker, Twain shows us this on the first page when tom is stealing jam from his Aunt Polly. I think Tom is a troublemaker becuase he chooses to because he is a very smart kid. -LB
ReplyDeleteDo you think that he means good?
DeleteJilly
No I do not think that he means good he just is the average boy
Delete-LB
Tom does have good qualities, maybe he just doesn't always show them. No, he may not show the pillars ALL the time, but that doesn't make him a bad person. At the beginning of the book when he is whitewashing the fence he meanly tricks the boys into doing his work. In return he charges them toys for him to play with. Still I think with a little manners and work he could be a great kid! Then I would definitely be his friend.
ReplyDeletealana
I agree with you, Alana. Tom is just the average boy who likes to stir up trouble! Surely anyone with a brother could relate. He is not a bad person, he is just a regular boy.
DeleteKarina
Alana, I don't think he meanly tricked the boys. I think he was clever. He didn't make the boys do it, he told them they couldn't do it which made the boys want it more. I don't think he tricked them to be mean, he just wanted to get out of work.
DeleteSarah
Tom is your typical troublemaker that just wants attention. Yes, he sneaks jam, plays hookey on school, and always gets out of work, but he does it all for attention. When he is sad, he wishes that he could die to see how others would feel. He makes drama out of everything, just to get attention.
ReplyDelete~Jilly
I agree with your insight, Jilly. I can relate, because my younger brothers used to stir up trouble for attention. I guess Tom is just being a regular, attention-wanting boy.
Delete-Karina
I'm sorry Jilly, but I'll have to disagree with you. I don't think Tom does this to show off, I think he does it because he wants too. He does whatever he wants.
DeleteSarah
I think that Tom is a great guy. Sure he skips the schools and eats the jams, but he really does care about the people he cares about, if you catch my drift. First impressions are important to Tom. He also doesn't like the tattletales. If you don't like the trouble he is making, then do not participate! He just wants to have fun.
ReplyDelete-Matthew V
Do you think Tom's lifestyle and mentality would change drastically if he was rich?
DeleteW
I don't know if I agree with that. Yes, he wants to have fun, but is that the only reason he gets in trouble? I think that sometimes, he does bad things for fun, but what about the times when he wants to die? Does that make him a great guy who wants to have fun? Or is that just a minor problem with him?
DeleteJilly
I think tom is childish for age because the actions he makes and the way he acts. In my opinion so I don't really like him because he is just a big trouble maker and very rude to his family and the people around him. I do not think he shows the six pillars one bit because he skips school, sneaks out at night, and does what he's not supposed to.
ReplyDelete-lily
Does doing those things really make him not able to show the pillars at all?
DeleteW.
I do agree with you Lily, I like him because he has the potential to be respectful, and like Matthew v said he really does care about the people he cares about.
Delete-Nic
This is a question for everyone:
ReplyDeleteWhy do you think Tom refuses to follow Aunt Polly's wishes? Do you think he'll still stir up trouble even after he say Aunt Polly so upset about him going against her back?
-Karina
Edit:
DeleteWhy do you think Tom refuses to follow Aunt Polly's wishes? Do you think he'll still stir up trouble even after he saw Aunt Polly so upset?
-Karina
It's a lot like the work/play things. Aunt Polly is a very sophisticated person. Aunt Polly establishes rules and Tom breaks them. He'll continue getting in trouble as usual, because based on his personality, these little lecture don't phase him much.
Delete-MTV
Because he is just an independent thinker, and doesn't like rules.
DeleteI think Tom is very naughty boy, at least in every chapter it shows him getting into mischief. Tom could show the six pillars if he wanted. It seems like when Tom wants to remember or do well in something it is a subject he is interested in.
ReplyDelete--Nic
I completely agree with Maggie. He does display some morality to the ones he pleases to impress. Tom is truly a trouble maker. He plays hooky, pretends to be sick to get out of school, sneaks out at night, eats jam secretly while hiding from Aunt Polly, tricks his friends into doing his chores, trades tickets to receive a bible instead of earning them, and throws dirt clods at his half-brother. There is no denying he has a truly difficult side. As I've said before, I believe Tom does and will show character. He's trustworthy towards Huck, he loves Aunt Polly, and I think he will tell the truth behind the murder mystery. On pg. it says he and Huck had a "wavering impulse to break their oath and save the poor betrayed prisoner's life". The feeling soon went away, but it shows that both boys have a sense of ethicality.
ReplyDelete-Darcy
I agree with you Darcy. The fact that the boys could gather enough character to feel that they needed to tell the truth is enough proof that they could follow the six pillars
DeleteI would classify Tom as a pessimist. Whenever something bad happens to him, he feels sorry for himself, instead of just moving on in life. I do not like Tom because he is always intentionally causing trouble. We all have to do work and some point in life, so everyone should be open minded. Tom doesn't want to do any work, which is natural, but he has to do some at one point or another. He does whatever he shouldn't do, even if he knows there will be consequences. He does not think before his actions. Overall, Tom does not exhibit the pillars very well. He represents trustworthiness while making a blood pact with Huck, but I predict he will break it, because he talks in his sleep and Sid is suspicious. He does not show respect for school, and is not responsible for always going to school. Tom loves to play hookey.
ReplyDeleteTom is (as the great philosopher Mr. W once said) the definition of a boy. He just wants to have fun and go on adventures. I love that about him. He would not like the pillars at all. He is a compassionate boy when he wants to be. He cares for people like Becky, Aunt Polly, and a couple more. Tom is, like I said before, the classic little boy. He is just a boy who wants to cause some trouble, just like my little brother. Tom is a fantastic character.
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