Mark Twain- American Author

Mark Twain, was born Samuel Clemens, in Hannibal, Missouri on November 30, 1835. He died on April 21, 1910.

Twain, which was his pen name, was an famous American author, satirist, speaker and businessman.

The photograph on the previous page is Samuel Clemens at age 15, circa 1850, growing up in Missouri.

Two of Mark Twain’s most famous works are from his time growing up in Missouri along the Mississippi River when he was a child and teenager.

Those American classic novels are The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.

The picture to the right depicts Tom Sawyer from the original edition published by Mark Twain in 1876.

Huckleberry Finn is a timeless riverboat adventure along the Mississippi River taught in educational curriculum for decades.

Huckleberry Finn is now a controversial novel based on the times and language used from this era in regard to the character, Jim.

He was an escaped slave that Huckleberry Finn had to help go north along the Mississippi River as they encounter bounty hunters and steamboats on his way to freedom.

The picture to the right depicts Huckleberry Finn and Jim from the original published version of Huckleberry Finn in 1885.

Mark Twain married a lady, Olivia Langdon, in 1870 from Elmira, NY.

Twain settled in the Elmira area after they were married and spent his summers writing at their home, Quarry Farm. To the right is Twain’s study from Quarry Farm. It is now located on the grounds of Elmira College in Elmira, NY.

They had four children, and stayed married until 1904, when Olivia Langdon Clemens died.

Following his death in 1910, Mark Twain was referred to as “The father of American Literature,” by renowned author William Faulkner.

Mark Twain is buried at the Woodlawn Cemetery in Elmira, NY.

The Mark Twain gravesite is shown to the right on page 10.

Mark Twain Video on History Channel.

Discussion Questions:

Who else is another historical (deceased) author, writer, poet from the Central/Upstate New York area?

What are works, pieces, books, or poems are they famous for?

Why are their writings timeless? Why are they still impactful today?

How did they begin writing? What type of life did they lead?

Is there remembrance or namesakes from them today in their home area? If so where? And how are they remembered?

Activities:

Choose a historical author, who is deceased, that is from, lived in, went to college, worked in, the Central NY/Upstate NY region.

Research their historic works, what were a few a of their most impactful pieces? Why were they impactful? Give summaries of these pieces.

Develop a timeline a of their life, Where were they born? how did they come this region? How did they become writers here?