Mark Twain, a Famous American Writer

Paulina Ermachkova,7th Form Pupil,

Monastyrshchinskaya Secondary Comprehensive School named after A.I.Koldunov

Monastyrshchina, Smolensk Region.

Tutor: Valentina Vasilyevna Sergoushina

the English Language Teacher

Contents1. Mark Twain, a great American writer.2. His birthplace.3. A small town of Hannibal.4. School in Hannibal.5. Beginning of work.6. A new pilot on the Mississippi.7. The beginning of literary work.8. His first readers.9. Novel “The Prince and the Pauper”.10. Mark Twain’s awards.11. Mark Twain’s works in Russia.12. Sources

Mark Twain, a great American writer

Mark Twain is one on the greatest American writers, the father of the realistic American novel of present day, one of the best authors of humorous stories.

Mark Twain’s real name was Samuel Clemens.

His birthplace

He was born in 1835 in a small wooden house in the village of Florida, Missouri. His parents had come to the state some years before.

A small town of Hannibal

When Samuel was four, the family moved to Hannibal. The town was small, with the Mississippi-river running past one side and the prairie surrounding all the rest. Samuel liked to swim in the river and shout to the boats passing by.

School in Hannibal

He went to school in the town and met his friends there. Later his playmates became heroes of his famous novels,

“The Adventures of Tom Sawyer”, and “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”.

Beginning of work

In 1847 Samuel’s father died and left nothing to his wife but 4 children. 12-year old Samuel had to leave school and go to work in a print-shop. He worked there for some years. He called the print-shop the “poor boys” college. There he could read much.

A new pilot on the Mississippi

Once young Samuel went down the Mississippi to New Orlean. While the boat slowly went down the river he remembered his old dream and he decided to become a pilot. Other young pilots told him that he could never learn the river, but the captain agreed to teach him.

Very soon Samuel became a very good pilot.

The beginning of literary work

Samuel began to write political articles for newspapers when he went to the west. In 1867 he published “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” and 8 years later “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”.

His first readers

The first readers of his manuscripts were usually members of his family: Mrs. Clemens, his wife, and his three daughters.

Here Mrs. Clemens, Susy aged nine, Clara aged seven and Jean aged one, are listening to the manuscript of his new novel, “The Prince and the Pauper”.

Novel “The Prince and the

Pauper” Mark Twain was interested in

history of the middle ages. In one of his famous novel “The Prince and the Pauper” Mark Twain laughed at the life of the court and at the social prejudices of the rich. He showed that a common boy could be a better king than the lawful to the throne.

Mark Twain’s awards

He was awarded the honorary Doctor of Literature Degree by the University of Oxford.

Mark Twain’s works in Russia

Mark Twain’s works are well known in our country. Many boys and girls read and re-read them. His best novels were published in the “Golden Library for Children”. He was one of the favorite writers of Gorky and Kuprin.

Sources

K.O.Piare, “Mark Twain, Reader for form 7” M., Prosveshchenie, 1983.