The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Description of the Main Characters. Characteristic of Tom Sawyer

Tom Sawyer is the owner of a rebellious character, fidget, prankster and great adventurer who settled in four books of the writer. The former journalist went through the path of creative torment before he found the right form for the work and, in fact, the hero who was destined to become the favorite of young readers. Merry adventures have created the author's reputation as a great humorist and master of intrigue. Unrestrained imagination, enthusiasm and mischievous actions - any child will envy the life of a boy from the town of St. Petersburg.

History of creation

Mark Twain gave children four novels, in which exciting events unfold: The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Tom Sawyer Abroad and the detective Tom Sawyer the Detective. Another work entitled "The Conspiracy of Tom Sawyer" the author did not manage to finish.

The first book was born with difficulty: Twain began it in 1872, and finished it only by the summer of 1875. An interesting fact is that this is the first work of the author in his creative biography wrote on a typewriter. The autobiographical novel is based on the writer's childhood, when worries had not yet burst into a serene world filled with dreams of feats and achievements. adult life... Mark Twain admitted that, like the heroes of the novels, as a boy, he wanted to find a treasure, build a raft, settle on desert island.

The author borrowed the name of the character from his friend Thomas Sawyer, whom fate brought together in California. However, three boy friends from distant childhood served as prototypes, as Twain talks about in the preface. That's why main character turned out with such a contradictory character.

He wrote a prose writer not so much for children as for their parents, trying to convey to mothers and fathers that a roof over their heads and clothes are not enough for children. Gotta try to understand Magic world a child, do not evaluate his actions only negatively - behind every action there is a "great" idea. Indeed, the simple language, a huge number of curiosities and sparkling humor made the novels an excellent reading material for adults.

Subsequent books were written in 1884, 1894 and 1896. No less than a dozen writers tried to translate the novels into Russian, however better work translation is recognized. The writer presented the work to Soviet children in 1929.

Biography and plot

Tom Sawyer lives in the small town of St. Petersburg, Missouri on the banks of the Mississippi River in the family of his own aunt - after the death of his mother, she took the boy up. Days fly by at school, in fights and games on the street, and Tom also makes friends with a street child and falls in love with a beautiful peer Becky. In general, everything is like an ordinary teenager.

The incredible optimist Tom can turn every problem into a profitable event. So, whitewashing the fence, which was entrusted to the boy by his aunt in the form of punishment, becomes a profitable business. Tom works with such enthusiasm and pleasure with a brush that young acquaintances also want to try. In this case, Sawyer amassed a fortune, adding glass balls, a one-eyed kitten and a dead rat to his boy's treasures.

Once the protagonist of the novel met Finn on the street, and a controversy erupted between the boys about the effectiveness of treating warts. Huckleberry told new way, which requires a dead cat and a trip to the cemetery at night. From that moment, the exciting adventures of friends started.

The boys witness a murder in a cemetery, decide to become pirates, together with their school friend Joe, they build a fleet and set off on a journey to a nearby island. Friends even managed to find a chest of gold and turn into the richest boys in the city.

The adventures of friends continue in the next book, where Huckleberry Finn comes to the fore. Tom helps his friend save Jim's slave by turning a whole scam. And in the third novel, the friends find themselves on hot-air balloon- a series of tests await them on a journey across America, over the Sahara and the Atlantic Ocean.

In the future, Tom Sawyer was to visit Arkansas, where, again with Finn, the boy got involved in the investigation of the murder and theft of diamonds.

Screen adaptations

Mark Twain's works have been used by renowned directors several times. For the first time, the adventures of the young prankster were transferred to film by William Taylor in 1917. However, the picture was not successful. But the next film, directed by John Cromwell in 1930, became the leader of the box office. 40 years later, the Americans repeated their success - the musical film directed by Don Taylor was nominated three times for an Oscar and twice for a Golden Globe. the main role went to Johnny Whitaker.

The French decided to approach the adventures of the American boy in a big way, having presented the series "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" (1968), albeit in a mini-format. Roland Demonjo was transformed into the restless Tom.

In the land of the Soviets, the directors did not ignore Mark Twain's novel either. In 1936 Lazar Frenkel and Gleb Zatvornitsky created a black and white tape based on The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. However, the film "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn", which appeared on Soviet cinema screens in 1981, won great fame. I tried on the image of Tom, and his friend Huckleberry is a future celebrity, for whom the role became his debut.

Govorukhin gathered actors with a name on the set. Characters in the American book were played by (Aunt Polly Sawyer), (Meff Potter). The role of Tom's beloved - Becky - was played by his daughter. The film crew moved around the world: the geography of the film's creation included Ukraine, the Caucasus, Abkhazia, and the Dnieper convincingly appeared in the image of the Mississippi River.

The new director's reading of Twain's books was presented to the audience by Hermin Huntgeburt. In Tom Sawyer (2011), the roles are assigned to Louis Hoffman (Tom) and Leon Seidel (Huckleberry).

Producer Boris Shenfelder said in an interview:

“The idea to make a film about Sawyer came to me after watching Hands Off the Mississippi and Ingenious Swindlers. Considering these two films, I decided to make a film for children and young adults that will not blindly indulge children's tastes and will be out of our time. "

It turned out to be realized quite successfully.

The last film adaptation of the literary brainchild of Mark Twain happened in 2014. The German-US co-production Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn was directed by Joe Kastner. Joel Courtney played the restless inventive boy.

• Hidden under the name of St. Petersburg is the hometown of Hannibal, where Mark Twain was born and raised. Tom Sawyer's entourage has real prototypes. For example, Aunt Polly is "copied" from the writer's mother, and Becky - from the neighbor's girl Laura Hawkins.
• In 2005, the Children's Musical Theater for Young Spectators staged the sparkling musical "Tom Sawyer". The music and lyrics for the performance were written by the composer Viktor Semyonov, especially the audience like the composition "Star River".

• The two-story house of the Hawkins family still adorns the street of the writer's hometown. Hannibal's authorities are about to renovate the building and open the Becky Thatcher Museum. Nearby, according to fans of Twain's work, there is "the same" fence that Tom had to whitewash, and a block from the street rises Cardiff Hill, where the games of the children described in the novel were held. The caves, in which Tom once got lost with Becky, are also found in the vicinity of the village.
• Various artists have undertaken to illustrate Mark Twain's books, but pictures by Robert Ingpen are considered the best work.

Quotes

"It often happens that the less justification there is for some ingrained custom, the more difficult it is to get rid of it."

“There is no fool worse than an old fool. No wonder they say: “ Old dog you can't learn new tricks. "

“- What are you going to do with your share, Tom?
- I'll buy a drum, a real saber, a red tie, a bulldog puppy and get married.
- Are you getting married?
- Well, yes.
"Tom, you're ... you're out of your mind!"

"It's only nice that it's hard to get it."

“The main thing is to believe. If you believe, then everything will definitely be fine - even better than you yourself can arrange. "

“Glory, of course, is an important and valuable thing, but for real pleasure, a secret is still better.

"In the Middle Ages, the difference between humans and locusts was that locusts were not stupid."

"You can recognize everything from girls by their faces - they have no endurance."

1. Mark Twain as the creator of a unique image.
2. Advantages and disadvantages of the hero.
3. Tom Sawyer is one of the most beloved characters in world literature.

Perhaps there is no more or less literate person in the world who has not read the novel by the famous American prose writer M. Twain. He created many wonderful works such as The Adventure of Huckleberry Finn, The Prince and the Pauper, Jeanne d'Arc and others. But it is "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" that is best known and loved by adults and young readers all over the world. What is the secret of such a great and long-term popularity? It seems to me that it lies in the tremendous charm that the author's talented pen has endowed the image of this restless, restless boy.

In world literature, there are a great many images of boys - adventure seekers, but Twain's hero is unique and original. At first glance, this is a completely ordinary boy from a small provincial American town. Like thousands and millions of his neighbors, Tom does not like to do household chores, hates going to school, prefers worn clothes to an elegant suit, and as for shoes, he tries to do without them altogether. Attending church and especially Sunday school is a real torture for him. Tom has a lot of friends - the same mischief-makers as himself. His clever head is constantly filled with all kinds of fantasies and inventions. Most likely, if the boy's parents were alive, he would grow up more obedient and less wayward. The old maid, Aunt Polly, with all her diligence, could not cope with the restless nephew entrusted to her cares. But it was precisely this freedom that allowed Tom to remain a sincere, direct, organic being. Of course, cunning is inherent in him, he can lie without any remorse, "steal" a treat without permission, but with all this, it is almost impossible to get angry with him.

At first glance, Tom Sawyer is the same ordinary boy, like most of his peers. And yet - a special hero, because Twain endowed him with all the most wonderful qualities that can only be inherent in a teenager.

Tom loves Aunt Polly dearly. Not knowing how to pacify his inclinations, the boy nevertheless worries if he sees that he is giving his aunt anxiety and grief. This is characterized by a sense of justice. He does not tolerate pretense, hypocrisy, insincerity. That is why the obedient brother Sid often becomes the object of Tom's dislike. Sometimes the boy finds a desire to become a good, "correct" child, not his fault that he often fails to curb his irrepressible temper. With all the boys in the world, Tom Sawyer has in common the fact that he does not tolerate boredom, routine, monotony. He will always prefer spanking or other physical punishment to cramming, to a dull being in a church service. This is a lively, impressionable person with a rich imagination.

Not every adult is able to admit that he is wrong, but the same man can do it. Repented of his escape from home, the boy convinces his friends to return to the city.

Tom Sawyer has many outstanding personality traits. One of them is his entrepreneurial spirit. It is not without reason that the episode with the fence has become a textbook. Here the boy shows remarkable abilities of a psychologist and organizer. Leadership qualities are generally inherent in Tom. He easily manages to inspire his less inventive and brave friends to take risks. Tom is able from the bottom of his heart to sympathize with those who undeservedly endure resentment, injustice. Despite his fear of Indian Joe, Tom, together with his bosom friend Huckleberry Finn, risking his life, rescues the hapless Maff Potter, giving evidence in court. Not every adult is capable of such a brave act, committed by a sympathetic boy. This, in my opinion, is real heroism.

Another episode showing us Tom from the very better side, - pages about how he got lost in a cave with Becky Thatcher. The boy managed to maintain his composure, to find a way out, while still constantly supporting, comforting and encouraging the girl. In the finale, Tom helps to neutralize a gang of bandits, to save the life of a respectable city woman.

The author rewards his hero - Tom becomes a rich man, a heroic person, deserves the respect of the most prominent citizens. However, even this, the last, test the boy passes with brilliance. He does not become arrogant, does not boast of his heroism and wealth. This is still a spontaneous, charming teenager.

Saying goodbye to him, the reader remains convinced that Tom Sawyer will keep all his best qualities, will become a wonderful person and, having turned into an adult man, will perform many more wonderful deeds.

Tom Sawyer is a restless, funny boy who does not like to obey adults and dreams of becoming as free as his friend, homeless Huckleberry Finn. Consider briefly the characterization of Tom Sawyer - the hero from the book of Mark Twain.

Tom Sawyer has plenty of energy. He always comes up with something interesting, his wit and enterprise for the age of twelve seems to be genius. Tom is an orphan, and Aunt Polly is raising the boy. She cannot be called evil, she is generally good and kind, but is guided by a principle from the Bible, which says about proper punishment for a child. Therefore, Aunt Polly considers it her duty to punish the pupil.

Although we are talking about the characterization of Tom Sawyer, it is worth mentioning that in the upbringing of Aunt Polly, the goody and the scary sneak Siddi - Tom Sawyer's half-brother, and also a sweet and patient girl Mary, who was Tom's cousin, lives with them. It is clear that Siddi is the opposite of Tom, they are so different in character and views on how to live. Therefore, Siddi is a lover of beauties, and Tom is not averse to nagging.

What the book tells about Tom Sawyer

For example, once Tom accidentally acted as a witness to a murder and even managed to expose the culprit. Then he became engaged to a girl from his class, ran away from home in order to start living on a distant island where there was no one. Tom Sawyer attended his funeral, and once he got lost in a cave, but was able to find a way out in time. He also found a treasure. All of these adventures show what the characteristic of Tom Sawyer is.

If you look at the purpose of the book, you can see that the image of Tom Sawyer represents the carefree and wonderful childhood of children in the middle of the 19th century.

A striking episode characterizing Tom

The characterization of Tom Sawyer is very well revealed at the very beginning of the story. Consider one episode from his life.

One day, instead of going to school, Tom decided to take a dip. Aunt Polly found out about these tricks and roughly punished her pupil - Tom should have whitewashed a long fence. But this is not so bad. We had to do whitewashing in the midst of Saturday - the day off! The guys at this time played merrily, and Tom had already imagined how they would laugh at him, seeing his friend at tedious work.

Tom Sawyer was not taken aback, he made a cunning plan. There were many useful things in his pockets, for example, a dead rat with a string (for more convenience, spin it in the air) or a key that could not open anything. But is it possible to buy even a little bit of freedom for these "jewels"? The boy Ben approached Tom, clearly with the intention of bullying. And then the characterization of Tom Sawyer was revealed in all its glory. What did Tom come up with?

Our sly guy told Ben that painting the fence is his favorite thing, and therefore he is happy to do it. Ben at first began to tease, but Tom was surprised to ask what kind of work Ben thought was good, and then announced to him that Aunt Polly had barely agreed to entrust Tom with this responsibility for whitewashing the fence. Tom's idea and his plan turned out to be correct, because soon not only the rogue Ben, but others also begged Tom to let them work on the whitewash ...

Tom made an important conclusion, and so did we: when a job, even a difficult and tedious one, is not paid for, it becomes not a job, but a hobby, and doing it is interesting. But as soon as they start paying for it, the hobby turns into work, and this is already boring.

You learned what is the characteristic of Tom Sawyer, what kind of character he is and what we can learn from him. Be sure to read about his adventures.

Tom Sawyer is an energetic, witty, enterprising boy of twelve, whose orphan is raised by Aunt Polly. Aunt Polly is, in general, a kind, but at the same time strict and prim woman who believes that her Christian duty is to punish a child for his own good: "... For it is said in the Scriptures that whoever spares the rod spoils the child." ... In addition to Tom, Aunt Polly is raising Tom's Stepbrother Siddi, a goody-goody and a sneak, and Tom's cousin Mary, a kind and patient girl. Tom and Siddi have a mutual hostility due to differences in personalities and outlook on life and its rules, as a result of which Siddi loves to fool Tom on his aunt.

The novel describes the varied adventures of Tom and his friends over several months. During these adventures, he manages to witness the murder and expose the killer, get engaged to a girl classmate, run away from home and live on a desert island, attend own funeral, get lost in a cave and get out of it safely, and also find a precious treasure.

Tom personifies the carelessness and wonderful world of childhood in the middle of the 19th century. His best friends- Joe Harper and Huckleberry Finn. She was once in love with Emmy Lawrence, but later Rebecca Thatcher (Becky) took her place in Tom's heart.

Tom's character is best revealed in the first chapter, in which Tom, as punishment for going to swim in the river instead of attending school the day before, was condemned by Aunt Polly to whitewash a long fence on Saturday - the day off for which the rest of the boys are scheduled funny Games... Thinking longingly about how the other guys would scoff at the fact that he was forced to work, Tom began to invent a plan to get rid of the obligation at least for a little while. He calculated that for "treasures" from the depths of his pocket, like a dead rat on a string (so that it is convenient to twist it) or a key that does not open anything, he can buy only a small fraction of freedom. Thinking sadly, Tom noticed Ben approaching, whose bullying Tom did not want to endure. The only way for Tom to keep his honor was to pretend he was on their own... When Ben tried to tease Tom, he inquired in the highest degree of surprise what exactly Ben considered work and said that he almost begged his aunt to entrust him with such a responsible task. The trick led to the fact that Ben, and after him and other boys, began to ask for an opportunity to whitewash, and Tom was surprised to deduce a certain formula from the field of the human psyche: if a business, no matter how difficult, is not paid, then it is interesting, because it - hobby. As soon as you offer a fee for this business, it becomes work and loses its temptation.