CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE, in which Huck agrees to be respectable

CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE on Project Gutenberg

Tom draws his understanding of pirates and robbers from sensational stories in “dime novels.” As the name suggests, these were cheap paperbacks; they originated across the sea in Britain as “penny dreadfuls,” indicating how cheap they were and how low-brow they were considered to be. 

Your mission for this chapter:

Using the website below, answer the following question.  After perusing the covers and chapters of various books, what types of stories were in these books, besides Tom’s pirates and robbers? (Give at least two different types.)

Website: http://www-sul.stanford.edu/depts/dp/pennies/home.html

P.S. Remember all the treasure Tom and Huck found?  Here's a fun fact: $12,000 dollars in 1844 would equal $355,000 in today’s world!

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR, in which Widow Douglas hosts a party

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR on Project Gutenberg

Table manners have a long history, dating back to the Greek and Roman societies.  Each culture has its own rules regulating not only how a meal is served, but also how one behaves and one speaks at the table, including superstitions concerning dropping utensils! 

Your mission for this chapter:

Using the website below, answer the following question. In medieval Europe, not only were there rituals for eating a meal, there were also rituals for what two things?

Website: http://www.brownielocks.com/tablemannerstrivia.html 

OR, for a double dog dare:

Emily Post, famed for her knowledge of manners during the early half of the 20^th century, answered many questions about proper dining etiquette in American society.  And while some rules have changed for modern times, many are the same or similar to what Aunt Polly or the Widow Douglas might expect of Tom and Sid. 

For this mission, answer this question:

According to Emily Post, how should you react to realizing something you ate tastes terrible?

Website: http://www.emilypost.com/table-manners

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE, in which Tom and Huck return to the cave

CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE on Project Gutenberg

The stalactite for Injun Joe’s cup had been formed over the centuries of history. Mark Twain mentions a few notable historic events, including “when the Conqueror created the British Empire.” This refers to William the Conqueror who defeated the Anglo-Saxons in 1066 and combined their little kingdoms into one empire. 

Your mission for this chapter:

Using this website: http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/primaryhistory/anglo_saxons/, answer the following question.  What was a trencher? (HINT: The Normans)

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO, in which Becky and Tom come home and recover

CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO on Project Gutenberg

Becky and Tom both must take time to recover after their adventures in the cave--weeks, in fact.  On top of dehydration and inanition (exhaustion from lack of food), the duo suffered fatigue.  This combination, then and today, could prove deadly but could also be survived. 

Your mission for this chapter:

According to this article from the Discovery Channel, what is “the name of the game” when combating fatigue?

Use this website: http://dsc.discovery.com/survival/medical-conditions/fatigue.html

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE, in which Becky and Tom search for an escape

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE on Project Gutenberg

Throughout the centuries, bats fascinated humans as creatures of the night and inspired fear and haunting folklore.  However, most bats eat insects which harm crops and pollinate vegetation; only three species of vampire bat exist, all three in Latin America, and even then they are useful to humans. 

Your mission for this chapter:

Explore this Introduction to Bats and answer this question.  What tree in Africa is dependent on bats for survival?

Website: http://www.batcon.org/index.php/all-about-bats/intro-to-bats/subcategory/intro.html

CHAPTER THIRTY, in which the town realizes Becky and Tom are lost in the cave

CHAPTER THIRTY on Project Gutenberg

Most people remember them by their spelling: stalagmites come from the ground, and stalactites hang from the ceiling.  Stalagmites and stalactites form by deposits, the slow drip of calcite-rich water, developing over eons.  However, one cave formation occurs from erosion. 

Your mission for this chapter:

With the website below, answer the following question.  What are formations occuring from erosion called?

Use this website: http://www.goodearthgraphics.com/virtcave/virtmap.html

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE, in which Huck saves the widow

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE on Project Gutenberg

Tom convinces Becky to visit the Widow with the prospect of ice cream, an especially delicious treat during the hot and humid Missouri summer. 

Your mission for this chapter:  Using the website below, answer the following question.  Who came up with the first ice cream machine? (Bonus: When was the waffle cone introduced?)

Website: http://www.foodnetwork.com/videos/ice-cream-history-and-trivia/12983.html

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT, in which Tom and Huck stake out the tavern

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT on Project Gutenberg

Before electricity or even the prevalent use of gaslight, lanterns and candles were the only means of seeing after the sun set.  New Englanders discovered the bayberry bush contained wax which worked better than tallow, the fat from animals, for burning. 

Your mission for this chapter:

What other discovery aided in making the use of candles less dirty?

Use this website: http://www.oldandinteresting.com/tallow-candles-snuffers.aspx

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN, in which Tom and Huck decide what to do

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN on Project Gutenberg

The currency of the United States has shifted as history changed the needs and demands for ready cash.  During the Civil War, when all metals were diverted to the war effort, the U.S. Treasury issued “fractional money,” or paper money to represent the value of a coin.  General Francis E. Spinner conceived this idea, as well as many others and was considered a hero. 

Your mission for this chapter:

What did Spencer M. Clark manage to do when he worked at the Treasury and what did Congress do thereafter? (HINT: After looking at the showcases, Tour Historical Context.)

Use this website: http://www.frbsf.org/currency/index.html

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX, in which Injun Joe finds the treasure

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX on Project Gutenberg

Injun Joe and his partner agree to leave St. Petersburg and head out for Texas.  At the time, Texas was not part of the union but it had already broken away from Mexico and existed as its own republic.  Since it was not part of the United States, Texas provided an escape for criminals and those wishing to avoid the long arm of the law. 

Your mission for this chapter:

Using this website: http://www.history.com/topics/texas/page4%23a6, answer the following question.  What were the two capitals of Texas and for whom were they named? 

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE, in which Tom and Huck hunt for buried treasure

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE on Project Gutenberg

The blue light Tom and Huck expect to see in the “ha’nted house” would have, in their eyes, indicated the presence of a spirit or otherworldly creature.  European folklore tells of a similar sensation, an ignis fatuus (Latin for foolish fire), also called a Will-o’-the-wisp. 

Your mission for this chapter:

Using this website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will-o'-the-wisp, answer the following question: What is the Americanized version of the Will-o'-the-wisp folk story?

Feel like that that's no challenge? Here's another double dog dare bonus question:

The word “hieroglyph” comes from the Greek and means “sacred carving.”  In Egypt, thoughts were first written with hieroglyphics, rather than an alphabet like English or Russian or Greek.  Egyptian hieroglyphs were nearly impossible to decipher as each image could represent an object, a sound, or a concept. 

Use this website: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/pyramid/hieroglyph/ to answer the following question:

 What discovery finally allowed archeologists to understand this ancient writing?

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR, in which Tom gets immortalized in print

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR on Project Gutenberg

Newspapers were quite popular in Mark Twain’s youth.  They signified that a town was established and the population educated.  When he worked at newspapers, first as an apprentice, then for his brother Orion, Twain would fill space with humorous stories and anecdotes.  Despite the invention of the printing press by Gutenberg, newspapers were slow in arriving and disseminating the news. 

Your mission for this chapter:

Using this website: http://www.wan-press.org/article.php3?id_article=2821, answer the following question.  Which country passed the first law protecting freedom of the press, and when?

FUN FACT: After his father died when he was twelve, Samuel Clemens was apprenticed to the local newspaper.  When his brother Orion returned home from his job as a journeyman at a newspaper in St. Louis, Orion began a second newspaper, The Hannibal Journal, and hired his younger brother to work for him.  Sam assisted and sometimes wrote humorous sketches, one of which even appeared in Eastern newspapers in 1852—“The Dandy Frightening the Squatter.” Once, when Orion had to leave town and left young Sam in charge, Sam took the opportunity to add some flavor to the Journal signing one sketch with his first pseudonym, “W. Epaminodnas Adrastus Perkins.”  Though his antics momentarily captured the town’s attention, his brother was less than pleased and issued a retraction upon his return.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE, in which Tom and Huck visit Muff Potter in jail

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE on Project Gutenberg

Guiltily, Tom and Huck remember the help Muff gave them, in particular with their kites and fishing lines.  Kites have been around for centuries and have played prominent roles in some of mankind’s greatest achievements. 

Your mission for this chapter:

How did ten-year-old Homan Walsh use a kite to change history? (HINT: Use the HISTORY section)

Use this website: http://www.gombergkites.com/nkm/index.html

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO, in which Tom gets the measles

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO on Project Gutenberg

Your mission for this chapter:

Measles has been a deadly disease for centuries.  What are the earliest recordings of measles outbreaks and when was the first vaccine available?

Use this website:

http://www.historyforkids.org/learn/science/medicine/measles.htm

FUN FACT:  Mark Twain as a boy not only had the measles, he went to great pains to get them! Read the excerpt from his Autobiography for his account of how he caught the disease and how he survived here.  Start on page 168 with the paragraph that begins, "In 1845, when I was ten years old..."

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE, in which Examination Day takes place

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE on Project Gutenberg

During the Examinations, various students recite famous and rather long speeches and poetry.  One boy began “The boy stood upon the burning deck,” which commemorates the life of a young boy who died during battle. 

Your mission for this chapter:

Read the whole poem (and think about trying to memorize it!) then answer: What was the battle?

Use this website:

http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/hemans/works/hf-burning.html

CHAPTER NINETEEN, in which Aunt Polly finds the bark message

CHAPTER NINETEEN on Project Gutenberg

Tree bark not only serves as makeshift paper but also can be used to make a canoe.  Ideally, a canoe would be built from a long piece of birch bark, but smaller pieces could be used. 

Your mission for this chapter:

How would the smaller pieces be joined together in building a canoe?

Use this website: http://www.native-art-in-canada.com/birchbarkcanoe.html

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN, in which Alfred pours ink on Tom's book

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN on Project Gutenberg

Alfred ruins Tom’s book in a fit of revenge by pouring ink over the page, rendering it unusable.  Destroying a book, especially in such a careless way, would be considered a shameful and, worse, wasteful action.  Ink dates back to 2500 B.C. 

Your mission for this chapter:

Read about one class’s science experiment in recreating iron-gall ink and then tell us: What is a gall?

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN, in which the pirates enjoy their own funeral

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN on Project Gutenberg

Throughout centuries, bells have rung as a part of daily life—calls to order, announcing the time of day or a celebration or a funeral.  In some times, bells were thought to have divine power or the ability to ward off evil spirits. 

Your mission for this chapter:

What city in 1502 and 1514 used bells to try and quell a tempest?

Use this website: http://www.handbells.org.au/history/genhist.htm

BONUS!

Feel like a double dog dare challenge?  Then go for this mission, too!

Made famous by Ernest Hemingway’s novel, For Whom the Bell Tolls, in 1624 John Donne wrote a meditation on the tolling of the bells which announced a death. 

The mission:

To what does Donne compare “any man’s death?”

Use this website: http://www.skrause.org/reading/donne.shtml

CHAPTER SIXTEEN, in which the trio play games on Jackson's Island

CHAPTER SIXTEEN on Project Gutenberg

Games in the world of Tom Sawyer relied on imagination or objects that could be easily found or made.  Marbles, a popular object for games, were sometimes called “muddies.”

Your mission for this chapter:

Why were some marbles known as "muddies"?

Use this website: http://www.connerprairie.org/Learn-And-Do/Indiana-History/America-1800-1860/19th-Century-Games.aspx

CHAPTER FIFTEEN, in which Tom swims back home

CHAPTER FIFTEEN on Project Gutenberg

Steamboats carried news and goods up and down the Mississippi river to St. Petersburg from St. Louis and beyond.  Steam propels the paddles to move the boat along. 

Your mission for this chapter:

Using this website, answer this:

What else did the steam power on steamboats?