Short-Answer Quizzes: Chapter 1
Study Questions
1. Give a brief summary of the end of the novel, The Adventures of Tom
Sawyer.
2. Why did Twain choose a young boy as the narrator for the novel?
3. Name one of the major themes of the novel.
4. Give an example of superstition in Chapter 1.
5. Compare the character of the Widow Douglas to her sister, Miss Watson.
6. At what period in history does the story take place?
7. Give an example of satire (a device in literature that blends criticism of society with humor) in Chapter 1.
8. What do the Widow Douglas and Miss Watson try to teach Huck in order to civilize him?
9. What did the slaves do before they went to bed at night?
10. Who gave the catcall after midnight?
Answers
1. Tom and Huck found the six thousand dollars in gold that the robbers had
hidden in the cave. Judge Thatcher invested it for them.
2. Twain uses Huck’s comments as an innocent and truthful criticism of society.
3. One major theme of the novel is individual freedom. Huck searches for freedom from the constraints of a corrupt society, and Jim searches for freedom from slavery.
4. Huck accidentally flips a spider into a candle and is sure it will bring him bad luck.
5. The Widow Douglas seems less demanding of Huck than does Miss Watson. She asks her sister to “ease up” on Huck during the spelling lesson.
6. The story takes place before the Civil War, when slavery was still legal in the southern United States.
7. One example of satire is Huck’s decision not to go to the “good place” if Miss Watson would be there.
8. They teach him proper dress, proper manners, and regular Bible reading.
9. They came into the house for prayers.
10. Tom Sawyer was calling for Huck.
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