English Final Review- Mark Twain Questions
o "His deceptively relaxed style has had a profound influenced on generations of American writers" (npr. Org) o His humor, "his jokes go to the roots of human nature" (npr.org) o People can relate to his characters
17. Why is he considered an important American author today? Give at least three reasons.
He didn't strike it rich with silver of cold mining, but his story ideas did.
Describe his experience in the West?
Mark Twin and Olivia "Livy" Langdon met through Olivia's younger brother Charles in 1867. She was 24, beautiful, smart, gentle, and from a wealthy family.
How did he meet his wife? What was her name? What do you know about her?
An apprentice printer at the Hannibal Courier, A printer and occasional writer and editor at the Hannibal Western Union A river boat pilot
List three jobs he took after he left school.
o The Gilded Age o Life on the Mississippi o The Adventures of Tom Sawyer o A darkly comical look at the greed and political corruption in post-Civil War America o A memoir of his days as a steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River o Published: 1876- a young man's adventure story; many say it's based on Twain's adolescent adventures in Hannibal, Missouri
What experiences in Mark Twain's life influenced each of these books?
Not a good one- he got into mischief often. However, he was quite a good speller even early on.
What kind of student was he?
A little log cabin school with Mrs. H as his teacher
What school(s) did Samuel attend?
Halley's Coment
What significant event occurred in the sky on his birthday and his death?
Samuel Langhorne Clemens
What was Mark Twain's real name?
1904-1910: He tried to be happy, but after so many people he loved died (named Livy and his daughter/son), he had trouble writing and being sincerely good-humored.
What was his later life like?
He died of a heart attack in April 21, 1910
When did Mark Twain die?
His father died when Twain was 12, so he had to get a job to help support the family.
When did he leave school and why?
Florida Missouri, November 30, 1835
When was Samuel Langhorne Clemens born? Where was he born?
"The Jumping Frog of Calaveras County"
Which story first made him famous?
(He made lots of money from his lectures). He need the money
Why did he become a lecturer as well as an author?
(Literal meaning= mark number two) a Mississippi River term: second mark on the line that measured depth signified two fathoms, or twelve feet- JUST BARELY SAFE depth for the steamboat (**Similar to how Twin lived his life... That's probably why he chose this pen name.)
Why did he choose the pseudonym, pen name, "Mark Twain"? What does it mean?