Mark Twain An American Icon Real name Samuel
- Slides: 23
Mark Twain An American Icon
• Real name: Samuel Langhorne Clemens • As a young man, he worked as a riverboat pilot • When he started his writing career, he changed his name to “Mark Twain” • “Mark Twain” means two fathoms, a safe depth for a riverboat (The periodic measurement of the distance between the bottom of the steamboat and the riverbed. When the leadsman detected a depth of only twelve feet (two fathoms), he would sound the alert: 'By the maaa-ark, twain!‘)
• 1861 -Mark Twain headed West to avoid the Civil War • First job: reporter at the Virginia City Territorial Enterprise • At this job, Twain first discovered his talent for writing
• Age 34 -Married Olivia Langdon, who was part of a wealthy coal family • Olivia provided her family’s home in NY for him to write and relax
• His most famous novel The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. is • Many have criticized it for being racist • Mark Twain was not racist, but he simply depicted life in his times.
"I have no color prejudices nor caste prejudices nor creed prejudices. All I care to know is that a man is a human being, and that is enough for me; he can't be any worse. "
• 1900 -Twain had become the most important American celebrity • He was invited to attend fancy dinners, gatherings, ship launchings, political events. • Reporters were always anxious to get a humorous quip or comment from him • He started wearing all white suits; he loved to stroll down the street so people would stare at him
• Twain began to involve himself in fanciful investment schemes that led to his bankruptcy —and eventual departure. • He lived in Europe from 1891 -1901 because of financial problems
• He began to travel the world speaking and lecturing. • He combined humor with information to reach the public
• He died on April 21, 1910. • Newspapers around the country proclaimed that “the world is in mourning” “I was sorry to have my name mentioned as one of the great authors, because they have a sad habit of dying off. Chaucer is dead, Spencer is dead, so is Milton, so is Shakespeare, and I’m not feeling so well myself. ” —Mark Twain
“I came in with Halley's Comet in 1835. It is coming again next year (1910), and I expect to go out with it. It will be the greatest disappointment of my life if I don't go out with Halley's Comet. The Almighty has said, no doubt: "Now here are these two unaccountable freaks; they came in together, they must go out together. "
“Wisdom teaches us that none but birds should go out early, and that not even birds should do it unless they are out of worms. ”
• Views on politics. . . “Fleas can be taught nearly anything that a Congressman can. ” "It could probably be shown by facts and figures that there is no distinctly native American criminal class except Congress. "
“Get a bicycle. You will not regret it. If you live. ”
“Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side which he never shows to anybody. ”
“Nothing is made in vain, but the fly came near it. ” “I'd rather have ten snakes in the house than one fly. ”
“The dog is a gentleman; I hope to go to his heaven, not man's. ”
“Humor is mankind's greatest blessing. ” “The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter. ” “Against the assault of laughter, nothing can stand. ” “The best way to cheer yourself up is to try to cheer somebody else up. ”
“The man who does not read good books has no advantage over the man who can't read them. ” “Classic--a book which people praise and don't read. ”
“It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt. ”
and one more… • “Persons attempting to find a motive in this narrative will be prosecuted; persons attempting to find a moral in it will be banished; persons attempting to find a plot in it will be shot. ”
The Adventures of Huck Finn • • Considered a continuation of Tom Sawyer Huck is an important member of Tom’s group of boys Book centers around the journey of Huck and Jim, a slave. Twain represents and makes fun of people by exaggerating their character. • Both author and character show a desire to correct the wrongs of society. • Today, Huck Finn is considered a classic, although it is on the banned books list for children.
THE END
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