... is an absorbing adventure story, a picture of pre-Civil War America, and also a humorous tale rich with satire. Tom's impractical, drawn-out escape plan is meant to make fun of romanticism, which was popular in that day. His plan includes digging into Jim's cabin with knives, having him write a diary on a shirt using blood as ink, providing him with various animals ... had been a free man the whole time. Twain has Tom invent this unrealistic scheme to ridicule the absurdity of romantic literature, a theme throughout the whole novel. Tom's band of robbers, the sinking of the Walter Scott...

• Word Count: 630
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School