Hiloni Desai Period: 5 Tom Sawyer Chapter 11-15 Recalling and Interpreting Questions

February 7th, 2009 Reading

1. In chapter 11, the villagers blame Muff Potter for the murder of Dr. Robinson, as his knife was found next to the crime scene. Injun Joe tells the crowd that the knife belongs to Muff Potter, and everyone believes that Potter committed the crime. Tom repeatedly visits the little grated jail window to ease his own conscience. 2. Tom and Huck dont reveal what they know because they made an oath with their own blood, and they wouldnt break that oath, as both boys are extremely superstitious. Huck and Tom believe that Injun Joe has sold himself to the devil because he is blaming someone who is innocent for his sinful doings. The villagers react to this by supporting Injun Joes story and intensely interrogating Muff Potter, and completely ignoring his plead of innocence. 3. Aunt Polly doesnt ask what Tom would prefer, instead she just tries to give him whatever her opinion tells her to do, so she gives him and unpleasant Painkiller. Aunt Polly gets angry when Tom gives a dose of the painkiller to the cat, and the cat goes wild, and loses control. Tom attempts to do a series of heroic stunts to try to catch Beckys attention, but she completely ignores his presence. In chapter 13, Tom, Huck, and Joe Harper want to live a pirate life; a life of freedom, and no restrictions. 4. The reason behind Toms melancholy behavior is because he enjoys the freedom, but he is not used to having no one to depend on. Tom is trying to punish Aunt Polly by leaving, because he is trying to make her feel a loss, and regretful ness. Joe and Tom have a motive, but they are finding it harder to forget the past then they thought it would be. Joe and Tom have both been feeling left out, like a torn piece of their family, and they no longer wanted to live like that, they either wanted to be accepted or have nothing to do with anyone. Huck goes on with their plan as well, because he has no set plans for his life anyway, so he acted indifferent, and just went along with them. 5. The boys arrived at Jacksons Island,by traveling three miles below St.Petersburg. Each boy brought along their own hooks and lines, and they also brought bacon, a skillet, a leaf of tobacco, and a few corncobs to make pipes with. Tom and Joe felt guilty because they began to think about how wrong and sinful it is to run away without giving any warning to anyone, and they thought about how their families must be acting since they are missing, and how sorrowful they would be. 6. In the beginning stages, the boys felt proud, free, and enjoys the individuality, but as time went on Tom and Huck began to feel guilty, because they have a family, and they have no right hurting them like that, but Huck has no on to apologize or feel sorry for, as he has been alone his whole life. Tom and Joe both know that they have down wrong, but they dont want to confess it to anyone, so they just keep the

thought inside themselves, and since they are all very superstitious, they decide to pray, hoping that will wipe out their sins. 7. When they see the ferry boat shooting cannons, the boys realize that the village thinks that Joe and Tom are dead. Tom could not take al this guilt anymore, so a night while Huck/Joe are sleeping he sneaks out leaving all his possessions behind, just to see his Aunt Polly in order to ease his conscience. When he reaches, he hides behind the couch and listens to Aunt Polly and Joes moms mournful conversation, about their children. 8. Their realization makes them feel excited, because the towns mournful state shows that they mean something in everyones lives, and everyone cares for them, so the importance they were looking for has been accomplishes because their loss impacted everyone. Tom is eager to know what his Aunt Pollys view is on this matter that he is dead, so he decides to sneak home that night. The conversation that Tom hears is sad, because he never wanted to hurt anyone, he just wanted Aunt Polly to realize her mistakes. The humorous part is that during the whole conversation, the person Tom was feeling bad for the most is himself. 9. Tom and Joe have had support, dependence, and someone to make their decisions for them their whole life, but the pirate life, and Hucks life is completely opposite; Hucks heart is tougher as he has never been loved, or had to love anyone. They didnt want to discuss their guilt, because running away was their idea, and they didnt want to look weak, or incapable. 10. Throughout these years his aunt has punished him more than Sid, but in a way he knew he needed that to stay under discipline. His motive was never to see her in sorrow, just to realize her mistakes. Tom would rather take the punishments then to see his Aunt Polly in pain; after all, she has taken care of him all these years. But, Tom sometimes doesnt realize that the results of his pranks can really hurt someone, as his intentions are never evil.